I've just gotten a Mini Dachshund?

[Biscuit]

Hi I just posted in the intro thread. I have never owned a dog before and I'm loving the newest member of our family and of course want to do right by him so here are some questions. My puppy (Biscuit) is 10 weeks old.
What kinds of toys are safe for my puppy?
My puppy is teething and I'm wondering what kinds of bones or hides are good for him and safe for him to chew?
Is it ok for him to have food in his dish all the time or should I limit how much he gets, he seems to empty his dish only once in a 24 hour period.
Yeah I think that's it for now.
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Pippinislove]

Get some Kong toys. They are red hollow rubber toys shaped like snowmen. You fill them up with yummies, such as peanut butter or canned dog food, and the dog has to work to get the food out. It's an awesome toy, and you can stock up on them. You can also freeze them with the peanut butter in them to make them more challenging. They're mentally stimulating for a dog... if you can't watch a dog, you can put them into a crate with a stuffed Kong. It's distracting and rewarding.

I also recommend Nylabones... but the actual hard nylon ones, not the edibles. My dog enjoys them, but not all dogs do.

I don't recommend rawhide, pig's ears, hooves, or any of that. They can have some nasty chemicals and preservatives in them that are probably not good for a dog to ingest. Plus, the stuff on them aren't good for teeth. I prefer to give my dogs raw beef bones, such as knuckle or marrow bones, to chew on.

Also, don't forget to get some plush squeaky toys. Most dogs love to run around and shake them and squeak the squeaker. As well as rip them to shreds!

If you haven't already, I would get your pooch a crate. Buy a size that the puppy will be able to lay down, stand up, and turn around in as an adult. This is an awesome potty training tool, and when you can't watch the dog (like you're sleeping, grocery shopping, vacuuming), the dog won't be able to get into trouble by chewing on the furniture.

And don't forget to enroll in an obedience class. =) Even small dogs need training, and the class is a great place to socialize a dog. Puppies should get out and about as often as possible so they can get used to different types of people and dogs, and things like traffic, shopping carts, small children, honking horns.... etc. An unsocialized dog can be a nightmare to deal with.