What are the Causes of Shoe Obsession in Dogs?

Although dogs are extremely loyal and fun companions, some of their behaviors may need to be controlled. Shoe obsession in dogs, and the accompanying problem of chewing on objects they shouldn't chew on, is one of the behaviors that needs to be controlled. If this behavior is not prevented, dogs may injure themselves by swallowing pieces of shoes or other objects. Moreover, they can occupy the family's agenda due to the damage they cause to belongings.

Whether it's shoes or other objects, if your dog has a tendency to chew, there's no need to worry. This is a common occurrence in most dogs. However, to have a good life with your dog, you should control its behavior and solve the chewing problem. In this article, you can find answers to questions such as "Why do dogs chew on shoes?", "Why do dogs steal shoes?", and "How can dogs be prevented from chewing on shoes?".

The Origins of Shoe Obsession in Dogs

There are opinions that the obsession with shoes may be a legacy from dogs' ancestors. Dogs' ancestors living in the wild had to overcome the arduous task of hunting to feed themselves. Large dogs would leave leftover pieces of prey around so that dogs who were not yet old enough to hunt could improve their hunting skills. So, chewing on shoes may actually stem from dogs seeing shoes as a good chew toy. They may find the size and durability of the shoes suitable for this purpose. Also, they may enjoy the taste and/or texture when chewing on leather or fabric shoes. At the same time, dogs also needed to hide their food and leftovers when they managed to hunt. Therefore, it is possible that they carry shoes to various places inside the house.

The Role of Environmental and Behavioral Factors

Many behavioral and environmental factors can be behind shoe obsession in dogs. We can list them as follows:

Its teeth may be itchy: If your dog is still a puppy and is teething, it may be chewing on your shoes because its teeth are itching. In such a case, since chewing on objects can be seen as a way for a puppy to soothe its teeth, your dog will most likely chew on other objects besides shoes.

Obsession: There are opinions that there may be a connection between early weaning of dogs and their obsession with shoes. They may also bite shoes due to a habit stemming from sucking on items like toys. However, your dog's shoe obsession could also stem from an obsessive-compulsive disorder. In such a case, the dog may feel an irresistible urge to chew or hide shoes. If the shoe obsession appears suddenly and continues for several weeks, you may need to discuss this with your veterinarian. Anxiety: Anxiety experienced by your dog due to any situation may trigger chewing behavior. Examples include when you are about to leave the house, when they experience a frightening event, or when they are around someone they dislike. Also, because your shoes carry your scent, your dog may try to relieve themselves by taking them with them to another place, or in other words, stealing them, when you are away from home for a long time. You can find detailed information in our article titled "Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Separation Anxiety in Dogs".

Anxiety: Anxiety experienced by your dog due to any situation may be triggering chewing behavior. This behavior, such as when you are about to leave the house, when something frightens your dog, or when there is someone they dislike around, can be given as examples of chewing triggered by anxiety. Also, because your shoes carry your scent, your dog might try to comfort itself by taking them with it to another place, or in other words, stealing them, when you are away from home for a long time. You can find detailed information in our article titled "Symptoms and Treatment Methods of Separation Anxiety in Dogs".

Encouraging the behavior: Your dog's chewing problem may have progressed because you are inadvertently encouraging this behavior. If you give him treats or start playing with him to distract him when he chews your shoes, your dog may think that this behavior is being rewarded.

Methods for Controlling Shoe Obsession

To control your dog's shoe obsession, you should first pay attention to when and before, after, or during which event he chews or hides his shoes. This will give you an important clue if he doesn't do this behavior constantly. For example, he may do this when he wants to play or when you are away from home for a long time.

Dogs don't know what they shouldn't do when they are not trained. Your dog's shoe obsession may simply be because he doesn't know that he shouldn't do it. When you catch your dog chewing on your shoe, you can give a command to release it in a firm but quiet voice. If your dog hasn't been trained to release an object from its mouth before, it will take longer to obey this command. You can modify the behavior with positive reinforcement by giving it a treat when it obeys your command. However, to avoid inadvertently reinforcing negative behavior, you shouldn't give your dog a treat until it releases the shoe. Over time, you can also try training techniques that involve understanding your dog's body language to show that the shoe belongs only to you. Once you identify the problem, addressing it will help reduce or eliminate the behavior completely. If your dog isn't getting enough play and exercise, or spending enough time with you, you can play with it and interact with it more. Taking them for walks and socializing them outside can also be effective. You can also keep chew toys in the house that they can use instead of chewing on your shoes. You can browse dog toys that your dog enjoys playing with here. Edible products you can give your dog can also offer an effective solution for managing chewing behavior. For this, you can examine dog treats produced in different forms and ingredients.

After identifying the problem, addressing it will help reduce or completely eliminate the behavior. If your dog isn't getting enough play and exercise, or spending enough time with you, you can play with them and interact with them more. Taking them for walks and socializing them outside can also be effective. You can also provide chew toys indoors that they can use instead of chewing on your shoes. You can browse dog toys that your dog enjoys playing with here. Edible products you can give your dog can also offer an effective solution for directing chewing behavior. For this, you can examine dog treats produced in different forms and ingredients.

A deficiency in a dog's diet can trigger shoe chewing behavior. Giving your dog a complete and balanced dog food formulated specifically for its needs can help control the shoe chewing obsession. You can browse different types of dog food here.

While the most effective way to combat shoe chewing obsession in dogs is to address the underlying problem, this process may take longer for some of our canine friends. Therefore, you can consider placing the shoes out of their reach or spraying scents on the shoes to deter dogs. If you suspect your dog's shoe obsession stems from a larger psychological issue, you should consult your veterinarian about this.