If you have a dog –or several– at home, it is more than likely that at some time you have destroyed some other valuable object. A cushion, a rug, a sofa… and, of course, clothes and shoes. The latter seem to be the main object of his predilection.
Although a small dog carrying a shoe bigger than himself can be funny, the truth is that this behavior can become a habit in the dog that is annoying to the humans with whom he lives. Above all, when he completely destroys some shoe that we appreciate and that is not exactly cheap.
Therefore, getting your pet to stop biting and eating your shoes becomes a training challenge. Achieving this is essential to get an educated and obedient dog. In addition to your safety, because some parts of the shoes can be toxic or cause you to choke or suffocate. Now, you have to know how to get it correctly.
Dogs have a predilection for nibbling everything in their path. It is part of their instinct and accompanies them for practically their entire lives. As puppies, they chew on objects because they are exploring the world, as well as because their gums hurt from teething. As adults, they continue this behavior because this is how they exercise their jaws.
But also, a dog can dedicate itself to biting shoes for other reasons. One of them, quite common, is boredom. When they are alone or lack both cognitive and physical stimulation, they need to invest all that extra energy into something. And, as a general rule, shoes are usually within reach and are neither too soft nor too hard, making it the perfect pastime.
First of all, you will have to be persistent and say no every time you see him eat a shoe, as well as try to remove it as soon as possible. Do not leave it on for a while and want to take it off when he starts to break it, because that way he will not learn that shoes are absolutely prohibited.
But, to help him combat the boredom that has led him to sink his teeth into your favorite trainers, you have to offer him another alternative. Here you can choose between giving him a suitable toy or teether, or playing with him or taking him for a walk to exercise.
If you opt for a toy or teether, you must choose one of the right size and material based on your pet. Those made of silicone, hard plastic or with sounds usually enchant them. But you can also offer them other hard teethers that also help them strengthen their jaws.
Also, playing with them, suggesting a smelling game or taking them for a walk will help them entertain themselves, lower stress levels, feel cognitively stimulated and burn excess energy. Ultimately, if the behavior persists, you can enlist the help of a canine trainer or ethologist to help you combat this behavior from your four-legged best friend.
