Is your dog constantly gnawing on your shoes? Maybe they’re going through their teething stage, or they’re well past it and you haven’t found a way to stop them! This can be incredibly frustrating to deal with, especially if you have to replace your shoes repeatedly.
In this article, we’ll discuss why dogs chew shoes and ten ways to stop the behavior for good.
Why do Puppies Chew Shoes?
At around four months old, puppies begin teething. Like human babies, they explore the world by sticking everything they can find into their mouths. They also look for materials that will soothe their aching gums as their teeth grow in.
Why are puppies known for chewing shoes in particular, though? It seems like everyone has a story of their new pup destroying their favorite sneakers!
Shoes are often kept on or near the floor for human convenience, which puts them right within a puppy’s reach. This can make them easy to forget about when puppy-proofing. Shoes also have many fun textures to chew, from the laces to the rubbery texture of the soles.
Why do Adult Dogs Chew?
While teething puppies chew the most, chewing is important to all dogs. It’s a natural behavior that decreases stress and provides mental enrichment. Adult dogs may chew for all kinds of reasons, including:
- Leftover habits from puppyhood: If you allow your puppy to chew shoes, they’re very likely to continue as an adult.
- Lack of appropriate things to chew: A dog who doesn’t have chew toys will take out their need to chew on other items.
- Boredom: If your dog isn’t getting enough exercise or attention, they may chew shoes. They aren’t trying to be bad, but to release their pent up energy in the only way they know how.
- Lack of training. Dogs don’t automatically know not to chew shoes; they have to be taught!
- Stress or anxiety. Major life changes, such as a new pet or baby coming home, or anxiety disorders such as separation anxiety can cause problematic chewing behaviors.
Remember that chewing isn’t something that dogs want to do, it’s something they need to do. As a dog parent, it’s up to us to give them appropriate outlets. If we don’t, we can’t really blame them for chewing our shoes!
How to Stop Dogs from Chewing Shoes
1. Keep Shoes Out of Reach
First, put the shoes somewhere that your dog cannot reach them. This will keep your shoes safe until they learn better.
If you haven’t already, be sure to dog-proof the rest of your house as well, putting up anything dangerous or that you don’t want your dog to chew.
2. Never Use Shoes as Toys
Shoes aren’t toys! If you want your dog to learn this rule, every human in the house must follow it as well. This means not playing with your new puppy using your shoelaces or feet, not giving them old shoes to chew, and not giving them shoe-shaped toys.
3. Provide a Variety of Chew Toys
Now that you’ve taken the shoes away, make sure your dog has items they can chew. It’s best to provide a variety of textures and shapes to keep your dog interested, and so they can choose a favorite.
When buying new chew toys, think about the kinds of things your dog likes to chew. For instance, dogs who chew the soles of shoes may prefer rubbery toys to cloth ones.
4. Exercise with Your Dog Daily
One of the most common reasons for misbehavior in dogs, including problem chewing, is lack of exercise or boredom. Some people don’t realize how much exercise their breed needs, and the dog is left to vent their energy in other ways.
If your dog is chewing a lot, try adding an extra walk or more playtime to their day. Tire them out and see if their behavior improves.
5. Provide Mental Enrichment
Another common mistake is spending hours upon hours trying to tire a dog out physically, and wondering how they still have the energy to chew shoes. This may be because you’ve tired out their body, but not their brain!
There are endless ways to provide mental enrichment for your dog, including puzzle games, sniffing on walks, and activities like hide-and-seek. For best results, try something that matches up with what your dog was bred to do. For instance, give your Collie a herding ball or play scent games with your Beagle.
6. Address Underlying Anxiety
If your dog chews due to stress or anxiety, this must be addressed before any training can be done. For stressed dogs, try to resolve the cause of the stress. Keep their environment as calm as possible.
For dogs with anxiety disorders, you may need to work with a force-free trainer or behaviorist, or consult with your veterinarian about anxiety medication.
7. Ensure Your Dog is Eating Enough
Dogs who have a poor diet may chew inappropriately. Make sure your dog is not only eating enough, but also getting all of the nutrients they need from their food. Often, homemade meals for dogs lead to nutrient deficiencies.
If you’re in doubt, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to talk about your dog’s diet. If you’re feeding a homemade diet, make sure it’s properly formulated by a certified veterinary nutritionist.
8. Crate Your Dog When You’re Away
It’s easy to keep your dog from chewing shoes while you’re supervising them, but they may not know the rules well enough yet. This can cause them to chew shoes while you’re at work or asleep.
Crating your dog when you can’t supervise them will stop them from chewing inappropriately, destroying shoes, and potentially hurting themselves by swallowing torn pieces.
Just remember to use the crate responsibly. Dogs should never spend the entire night and work day locked in their crate, as this is too long for them to handle. Crates are also not recommended for dogs who chew due to separation anxiety, as they can hurt themselves trying to escape confinement.
9. Redirect Your Dog
When you do catch your dog chewing shoes, redirect them to a chew toy. This is better than outright saying “no” to shoe chewing, as it helps your dog understand what you’d like them to do instead.
10. Never Punish a Dog for Chewing
Please remember that chewing is normal and healthy for dogs. It’s up to us to teach them what they can and cannot chew, and punishments aren’t needed for this. In fact, punishment is less effective than other training methods such as redirection or positive reinforcement.
Yelling or otherwise punishing your dog after the fact is also confusing for them, because dogs tend to live in the moment. They’re unlikely to know what they’re being scolded for unless you catch them in the act.
Final Thoughts
From puppy teething to lack of exercise, there are several reasons that dogs chew shoes. We hope this article has helped you to stop your dog’s chewing and keep your shoes intact! Remember to keep shoes out of reach, provide plenty of chew toys, and exercise with your dog daily.