Why does a dog carry shoes? A dog chews shoes: reasons, how to stop it, review of situations

Quadrupeds, without a doubt, have earned a number of clichés attached to them. The dog chews shoes, drools, makes puddles - all this is expected " side effects» Puppy age. Moreover, the majority of animal lovers perceive these destructions as a given, justifying them with age. Let's take a closer look at why pranks are not always pranks and how to distinguish misdeeds from warning signs.

If a puppy or several dogs grew up in your hands, you probably remember that nagging, rolling feeling that came when you opened front door, returning from work. Every day you were ready to see a “testing ground” with broken flower pots, slobbered things... and a triumphant puppy with a stub of your slipper in its mouth. Surely you will remember scandals with family members whose belongings came into the sight of the little destroyer. Surely you will be surprised, but almost all of this destruction could have been avoid knowing what feelings your four-legged pet was guided by.

Important! When a puppy chews on shoes, it is annoying, offensive, but not fatal. However, do not forget that electrical wires, a box of washing powder or other unsafe objects can get into the baby’s teeth.

When identifying the reasons, it is more correct to talk not only about damaged shoes, but also about items unsuitable for food in general. After all, a puppy can chew clothes, furniture and other personal belongings of the owners.

So, in a global sense, destructive chewing can be explained by a number of reasons, which are more conveniently divided into groups:

Health problems– unpleasant taste in the mouth, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, dental disease. Very often adult dog begins to chew things made of leather and leatherette if he suffers from toothache.

Changing teeth in puppies, especially if the puppy has nothing to chew (toys, special treats).

Hunger- This is also a reason for chewing shoes. Leather products have a factory finish and (to the dog) smell nice. If the baby is malnourished, soft, sweetish shoes with an alluring smell can awaken the appetite.

Lack of attention– a dog may intentionally do bad things to attract attention. Punishment is also attention, no matter how sad this fact may seem.

Feelings of anxiety, fear, disappointment– this point can be combined with the above one, since dogs suffer from lack of attention. The second “subreason” is lack of education or incorrect pack hierarchy. Only a driven dog can feel safe, since it places the responsibility of protecting the pack on the leader (owner).

Self-affirmation– a dog can spoil things to prove to itself that “anything is possible.” In this case, the issue of temperament and lack of education is raised.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder – mental disorders, giving rise to obsessive states. The dog chews shoes, but she doesn’t know the reasons, it’s just that something happened, she chewed a shoe, she felt better and this chain “turned” into an obsessive conditioned reflex. Let us immediately note that there is no technique for diagnosing obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs. This diagnosis is arrived at by exclusion.

Boredom– deliberately in last place because it’s a cliché. If a dog chews shoes when no one is home, it is not necessarily bored. It is likely that the true reason is described above and the puppy is looking forward to your departure in order to calm his nerves and chew on your shoes.

Read also: Why does a dog eat stones: we answer in detail and give advice

How to rid your dog of a bad habit

The first thing you need to try to do is identify the cause. Knowing what the dog reflects on, it is much easier to solve the problem. Make it a rule next algorithm, whatever problem you encounter:

Make sure your pet is healthy - in our case, visit a veterinarian who will examine your pet's teeth and mouth.
Observe - you may notice patterns in events and consequences.
Act - by identifying the reason or at random. We’ll figure out how and what to do below.

Exploring the world by testing the teeth is an unconditioned reflex characteristic of all cubs. The puppy needs not only random chewing, but also sucking. K 4 one month old The baby's teeth begin to change and this is a very exciting moment. Added to the insatiable curiosity severe itching and the puppy chews everything that gets in its way. The solution is to accustom your pet to personal toys and teethers.. If the baby’s build allows it, give him large bones, but strictly under supervision.

If you want to stop your dog from chewing shoes, make sure it eats well and gets a balanced diet. The question is not always about the quantity of food, but more often about the quality! To check if your dog is eating enough, you need to do the following test:

Give the dog a regular portion of food and time it. The first 4-5 minutes, the pet eats quite quickly or at a normal pace.
By 6–7 minutes into the meal, the bowl is half empty and the dog eats more slowly.
From 10 to 20 minutes, the quadruped either finishes the food or leaves it.
If there is food left or the dog leisurely licks the bowl, it is full.
If the meal ends 6-7 minutes after it started, there is not enough food.

Pay attention! This test is not universal because dogs that have experienced starvation eat much faster and will eat everything, even if there is too much food.

Second or more probable cause– this is a false feeling of hunger caused by a lack of microelements. In a state of acute deficiency, the dog is constantly haunted by the desire to eat something that has an unusual taste, and shoes are quite suitable for these requirements. A deficiency can cause a desire to eat things that are absolutely unsuitable for food - sticks, stones, plastic, feces, etc. Typically, such behavior is accompanied by a number of additional symptoms: unhealthy coat appearance, fatigue etc.

Don't know how to stop your dog from chewing shoes? Tired of calculating the damage and ready to break? Do not rush to label yourself as a bad owner and call the dog stupid. Once you identify the reasons why your pet has chosen your shoes, correcting the behavior will not take much time.

Statistics show that problems with chewing shoes and damaging the owner’s personal property are the most common reasons for owners’ disappointment in their pets. Thousands of owners around the world turn to dog trainers and experienced “colleagues” every day for advice.

The problem is that the owner does not take into account the fact that the dog never spoils things for nothing.

Pay attention! Any destructive chewing in the home is undesirable.

Even if the dog does not ruin your shoes, but often chews other things, the weaning methods are similar. Preserving shoes becomes more difficult because they retain the owner's scent for a long time.

Dogs need to chew inedible items and there are many reasons for this:

Puppies chew shoes when they experience discomfort during the eruption of their molars.
An adult dog may be attracted to the smell of shoes.
No objects or toys that can be chewed.
Old and well well behaved dogs can ruin your shoes from time to time in order to exercise your gums and eliminate plaque.

If you really want to stop your dog from chewing your shoes, punishing him for it, much less yelling at him, is useless. Behavior correction should take place in a calm environment, because the more excited the dog is, the more likely it is to ruin your things again.

Many inexperienced owners believe that the puppy must be severely punished and he will not touch shoes again. Statistics suggest that this method works in 15% of cases. In 85% of cases, the dog continues to chew shoes, but in the absence of the owner.

For effective fight with unwanted behavior, it is necessary to determine its cause. Experience shows that shoe chewing is most often associated with:

Boredom– when a puppy or adult dog has nothing to do, it can (and most likely will) destroy everything around it.
Disadvantage physical activity – Chewing takes a lot of time and energy, especially for puppies. Finding shoes and getting them off the shelf requires some ingenuity. Simply put, if you don't exercise your dog, he will find something to do on his own, even if he knows you won't like it.
Stress and anxiety or disappointment and remorse– the smell of the owner helps him feel calmer, in addition, chewing is a fascinating process that allows him to be distracted.
Lack of communication with the owner– a dog can chew your shoes, things and even underwear, just because it craves communication. When you come home and punish your pet, the dog will receive it. This is a very delicate moment educational work, which is important to remove and correct in time. Otherwise, the dog will be in constant stress and spoil your things more often.

To reveal the real reason unwanted behavior analyze:

How often does your dog get physical and mental stimulation? If the load is not enough, the reason for the bad behavior is obvious.
Does your dog get tired during walks? Some dog breeds need very serious exercise.
Does your dog chew your shoes in your presence? If not, the reason is boredom and lack of communication.
Does your pet have enough toys to chew?
Is chewing shoes related to teething?(in puppies), toothache (in adult dogs), the presence of tartar (in older dogs)?

In order not to provoke your ward into unwanted actions while he is still a puppy, it is advisable to put your things in an inaccessible place immediately after coming home. For most puppies, easy obstacles are enough for them to give up searching for shoes and turn their attention to toys that can be chewed.

Important! Carefully examine your dog's mouth to see if he is chewing on shoes to relieve discomfort associated with his gums or teeth. If you do not have the experience to determine possible problems V oral cavity It's better to consult a veterinarian.

Weaning a puppy from chewing shoes

When you discover your first damaged pair of shoes, don’t rush to start correcting your behavior. To be successful, you need to learn all aspects related to your pet's destructive chewing. Some dogs only chew shoes at night when the owner is sleeping. To attract attention, your dog may chew your shoes in your presence. To cope with boredom and anxiety, the puppy will destroy shoes when no one is home.

As soon as the puppy appears in the house, you should have at least 10 durable toys that the baby can chew. It is important to constantly maintain your pet’s interest in toys, so they are constantly replaced. Restock toys once or twice a month to make swapping more frequent and fun.

In some cases, dogs will ignore legal chew toys simply because they don't like the taste of the shoes. Most often, this addiction is associated with the presence of leather shoes in the house. To process raw materials, tannins are used, which lead to numbness of the gums.

Your puppy may have started chewing shoes for the first time due to discomfort associated with teething. Having stumbled upon leather shoes, he will remember for a long time what they have special taste. Moreover, the dog will chew more and more new shoes in order to find a “treat” with an unusual taste. To eliminate your dog's craving for tannins, it is enough to provide him with chewable treats.

Practicing the “Fu” command

From the first days of living in a new home, the puppy must be taught the “fu” command. To practice this shoe command, place a shoe in the middle of the room and watch it. As soon as the puppy approaches the shoes, sternly say fu.

If the puppy does not react and begins to chew on the shoe, silently take him by the collar and lead him to his place. Once the puppy is on the bed, tease him with the toy for a few seconds and praise him when the baby begins to chew it. If the dog moves away from the shoes after the command, it must be generously praised.

It is important to practice the “fu” command when the puppy does not understand that he is being watched. You can watch your pet through a crack in the door or install a web camera and monitor your pet from the next room.

You will be surprised how difficult it will be for a puppy to overcome his desire. If the dog has learned the command, left alone with the shoe, it will approach it several times, try to take it in its mouth and move away again.

Observe your pet until he begins to chew the shoe or becomes distracted. If destructive desires take over, quickly return to the room, give the command “fu” and take the puppy to its place by the collar.

If the dog coped with its desires and did not chew the shoes, do not give special significance to the event! The puppy did not do anything supernatural - he behaved correctly, and this is normal.

Distraction method

When you return from a walk, do not let your dog off the leash until you take off your shoes and put them in an inaccessible place. Let the puppy see where you put the shoes! As soon as the shoes are hidden, immediately take the dog to wash his paws, and then play.

Take your puppy by the leash every time guests come to the house. Ask guests to put their shoes out of your pet's reach, but allow your pet to observe the process. If the dog behaves absolutely calmly and does not try to get into the closet, reward it with a treat. If the puppy intends to get to the shoes, distract him with toys.

If you don't remove your shoes and the puppy starts chewing them, restrain yourself and don't swear. Calmly approach the dog, offer it a toy or treat, and as soon as the puppy is distracted from the shoes, put them out of reach.

Pay attention! Until a puppy is six months old, it is normal for a puppy to “attack” your shoes.

It usually takes several weeks for a puppy to completely wean himself from chewing shoes.

How to stop an adult dog from chewing shoes

It takes less time to wean an adult dog, but more persistence and control.

If an adult dog chews shoes, the reason is most likely a matter of taste. To ruin your pet's feelings, you can use people's councils and means.

Dogs do not like the smell of mint, menthol and citrus. Generously spray your shoes (on the inside) with water and a few drops of essential oil.

Many owners recommend rubbing inner side shoe powder boric acid. This method is acceptable with an adult dog, but a puppy may unknowingly be poisoned.

Important! Do not use pepper or other hot substances, as you may damage the dog's sense of smell and it will make it impossible to wear shoes.

Pets can sometimes be incredibly annoying with their stupid antics. One of them - when a dog chews shoes - hits not only the nerves, but also the owner’s pocket.

The dog's hooliganism greatly harms the trusting relationship between him and his household. And the habit of “testing” everything that comes along is unsafe for your pet. If you don’t eradicate it, the animal’s teeth may end up with electrical wiring, disinfectant, or a box of medicine.

Causes of dog pranks

Any predator by nature is a hunter. He must catch, gnaw, tear into pieces. The hunter's instinct awakens in the dog along with teething. Chewing shoes is the most accessible “exercise in predation” for a healthy, adventurous puppy.

However, other reasons may be added to this natural passion.

Why does a puppy chew shoes?

When the time comes to change teeth, your pet begins to experience painful itching of the gums. To calm him down, he begins to sharpen his barely erupted fangs on household items: books, shoes, slippers, furniture, walls.

Why does an adult dog eat shoes?

The reasons for the mischief may lie in the mentee’s claims to leadership. They appear during the period of puberty of the dog, which was not allowed to understand in time who is the leader and who is a member of the family pack.

If the owner does not pay due attention to this issue during the training process, then one day he will be surprised to discover that the dog has chewed the shoes, although it has not done this before. Such “tricks” must be understood this way: the maturing pet has not yet moved into open confrontation, but is already testing the waters.

Sometimes a smart animal, having learned the intricacies of the family hierarchy, torments the most defenseless members of the household. Then children's sneakers and grandma's slippers suffer from dog teeth.

In addition to the above points, a dog of any age can carry shoes if:

toils from idleness;
craves attention;
is in captivity of fears;
misses the owner;
takes offense at household members.

Ways to eradicate a bad habit

The problem of how to stop a dog from chewing shoes is solved depending on the reason that gave rise to it. Let's look at typical cases and reasonable ways out of existing “dead ends”.

Situation 1. The little “smile and bite” tries out the things available to him. Age-related changes in teeth add fuel to the fire.

Such attempts must be immediately nipped in the bud. But this should not be done roughly. Proven - delicately switching attention to items specifically purchased for sharpening teeth.

There should be chewing bones, elastic balls, rubber or plastic bars around the house. A similar trifle can be tied to the door handle. This is terribly interesting: tearing off a funny little thing, dragging it into a secluded corner and then “figuring it out” there.

There is no need to give out the entire range of toys at once. When the puppy gets tired of the usual chew-bone, you can slip him a tchotchke-squeaker. It is very important to do this when the playful girl begins to approach the coveted “prey” - shoes. At this moment, you need to call out to the dog, rustle the paper, squeak with a toy - and switch attention from the harm to an innocent game.

This current problem in most cases, it darkens the lives of those owners who have recently gotten a puppy. But sometimes an obedient adult dog begins to surprise its owner with such unpleasant surprises. What's the matter? How to stop pets from chewing shoes? Let's listen to the recommendations of experienced dog breeders and zoologists.

Freeing your puppy from a bad habit

As practice shows, puppies are more likely to show interest in their owner's shoes because they can smell his owner. And the basis of an unpleasant phenomenon is natural instinct. After all, by their nature, dogs are predators. When they catch prey, they tear it into pieces. The dog tries to do the same with shoes, catching smells familiar to him. Following certain rules will help correct this behavior at a young age:

The puppy has his own fenced-off corner where he can run the show. At the same time, he must see from there what is happening in the house, observe its inhabitants and owner.
Availability of toys. These are special objects that the dog can chew. Keep in mind that he gets bored with the same toys, so they need to be changed periodically: hide the old one and give the new one for a while and vice versa. When the young pet plays with them, praise and encourage him.
Abstraction. If you catch your young ward in front of his shoes when he is just about to chew them, immediately distract him with rustling, noise, or other sounds. Give him a toy or something to chew on.
It is forbidden for a dog to chew on old shoes or slippers. The dog simply does not know how to distinguish between old and new shoes. Therefore, such an educational alternative is inappropriate.
Punishment. If you caught your young pupil at the scene of a “crime”, then scold him, lightly pat him on the scruff of the neck, lightly slap him on the rump. The dog must understand that you don’t like it, and you can’t ruin your shoes. And when you teach your dog to commands, then it’s time to strictly say “ugh” or “no”.
Pepper preparations. They are sold in pet stores and are very effective in stopping puppies from chewing their owners' shoes.

So, young pupils need attention, care, toys and control from the owner. Wean them off bad habit much easier than adult dogs. Arm yourself with patience!

We stop adult dogs from chewing shoes

Well-formed and obedient animals will not simply damage shoes or furniture. There's always a reason for this.

Most often, pets do this out of boredom. If you leave your child alone in the house for a long time, he will feel lonely and offended. Out of boredom, he will look for the smell of the owner and, having found his shoes, will begin to spoil them. To prevent this from happening, take your dog for a good walk in the morning, let him run around as much as he can and get tired. Feed your child after a walk.

Experienced dog breeders advise owners who are often late from work and leave their pets alone all day to leave the radio or TV on to create the effect of presence. But in this case, you need to be sure that the wires are out of your pet’s reach.

Sometimes dogs damage shoes if they are left alone for a long time in a confined space, for example, in a corridor, where shoes are usually placed. Try to expand the movement area, leave the kitchen and room open. Be sure to leave toys, adult dogs should have them too. It is recommended to give them to your dog immediately before leaving home.

When you see that your pet is busy damaging your property, that is, gnawing on your shoes, then say “no” in a stern voice, hit him on the rump and take away the item of damage. You just don’t need to hit the dog with the boots themselves. By the way, one of the reasons for damage to shoes may be revenge. If a dog chews on his owner's shoes or shits in them, then most likely he is simply offended by him. Perhaps the owner physically punishes him or deprives him of food. Then the dog will definitely show his indignation and resentment.

So, when deciding to get a dog, you must realize that you will need to devote a lot of time to it, play, walk it at least twice a day, and even more often at a young age. This is vital. Otherwise, the dog will spoil not only shoes, but also furniture, linoleum, wallpaper, and clothes.