A recent survey on dog chewing behaviour 1 found that 2.5% of all dogs chew on soft household objects daily, with 1.4% specifically targeting clothes and shoes. Not surprisingly, younger dogs under the age of one were more likely to engage in this behaviour.
Chewing often occurs in situations that can cause stress or anxiety, such as being left alone or changes in routine. While no one wants their favourite shoes destroyed, there are often understandable reasons—at least from a dog’s perspective—for this common behaviour.
The Natural Side of Chewing
Chewing is a completely natural and rewarding behaviour for dogs. As members of the Canidae family (which includes wolves), dogs have evolved with specialised teeth designed for biting, shearing, and chewing. While wild canines use these abilities to break down meat and bones, domestic dogs sometimes develop problem chewing behaviours. Understanding the underlying causes can help redirect their chewing to more appropriate objects.
To prevent your dog from chewing on shoes, you might consider these options:
Store shoes properly: An obvious tactic! Consider removing the temptation by keeping shoes out of reach on shelves or in shoe cabinets.
Make chewing shoes unappealing (and other more appropriate chew items more appealing): You could use a pet-safe deterrent spray on shoes to make them less appealing, and reward ‘good’ chewing using reward based training. This would mean rewarding your dog when they are chewing on appropriate chew toys for example – with whatever reward tactic you are aware works for them (eg, treats or praise).
Train early: When you reward your dog for responding to cues such as “leave it” you can use this as a signal to discourage unwanted chewing, through reinforcing the desired behaviour. Consistent obedience training can help to shape the dog's behaviour so that she/he understands what is acceptable when living with their humans.
Common Reasons for Shoe Chewing (and How to Address Them)
Here are some of the main causes of chewing shoes, along with some practical solutions:
Teething
Chewing (almost everything) is a puppy behaviour often linked with teething. Just like human babies, this developmental phase that can cause discomfort and unfortunately for animal owners, chewing to relieve the discomfort, can often be directed towards soft chewy items such as their human carer’s shoes. If not checked, the behaviour can be learned and maintained even after teething has ended.
Solution: Provide puppies with more appropriate (and safe) chew toys that can soothe their gums. These include pet safe rubber toys or teething rings, and dental chews. Ask your veterinarian or pet supply shop for help with selecting the right toy for your animal. If what was puppy chewing has become a habit, read on to see what else you can try.
Lack of stimulation (boredom)
Like all animals, our dogs need mental and physical exercise, including positive experiences and social stimulation. It’s not natural for dogs to live alone and when the human pack all leave for work and school, and they are home alone with nothing to do, they will often redirect their energy, /frustration, or anxiety towards destructive behaviours such as chewing on shoes as a way to relieve underlying tension and entertain themselves.
Solution: Increase playtime and provide interactive toys or puzzle feeders to keep your dog engaged. Train your dog so that she/he becomes accustomed to being alone and ensure that alone time is associated with being provided with their favourite toys to keep them occupied. Maintain regular walks and play sessions to reduce any boredom-related chewing.
Learned Attention-Seeking Behaviour
Sometimes dogs learn that chewing shoes gets an immediate reaction from their humans – even if it's negative attention like scolding.
Solution: Consider what might be rewarding about the behaviour. Do you immediately stop what you are doing to attend to your dog? Try not to react as you usually do – and reward more appropriate behaviours instead. Ignore the dog when it picks up a shoe, but instead redirect their attention to an appropriate toy, which elicits a rewarding consequence from you (eg playing, food, lots of attention). They will soon learn what gets them the attention they crave.
Anxiety or Stress
When dogs are anxious about being separated from their owner, they will often exhibit behaviours to try to alleviate the stress they are experiencing. Separation related anxiety2 is often associated with destructive behaviours, including urinating, ripping, and chewing. Dogs may chew on shoes as a part of their coping behaviour, and if this is the case then it's essential not to act in any way that is likely to make the situation worse for the dog.
Solution: Help your dog gradually adjust to being alone with desensitisation training. Sometimes pheromone diffusers can be helpful along with the use of comfort items and creating a safe contained ‘den’. For more information about how to deal with this sort of behavioural response, consult a veterinarian or a CANZ-accredited behaviourist (find one here).
The Comfort of your scent
Even though we might not like it – our shoes carry our own special scent, which can be comforting to your dog. When they chew your shoes, they're actually seeking closeness to you!
Solution: Offer your dog items that smell like you, but that you don’t mind them ‘owning, such as an old t-shirt. This will help to redirect their chewing behaviour to more acceptable objects.
Natural Curiosity
Dogs are naturally curious animals, and they explore the world using their mouths. Shoes are unique objects to a dog, and they might be simply investigating the strange textures and smells.
Solution: Allow for your dog’s need to investigate things but provide safe and suitable items for exploration, like chew toys or bones, to satisfy their curiosity.
Final thoughts
Remember that shoe-chewing, while frustrating, is often your dog's way of expressing a deeper need. By understanding the underlying cause and addressing it appropriately, you can help your dog develop better habits while maintaining a positive relationship. The key is patience, consistency, and providing appropriate alternatives.
Want professional help? Consider consulting a CANZ accredited behaviorist who can provide personalised guidance for your situation.
References:
Arhant, Christine & Winkelmann, Rebecca & Troxler, Josef. (2021). Chewing behaviour in dogs – A survey-based exploratory study. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 241.
Harvey ND, Christley RM, Giragosian K, Mead R, Murray JK, Samet L, Upjohn MM, Casey RA. Impact of Changes in Time Left Alone on Separation-Related Behaviour in UK Pet Dogs. Animals. 2022; 12(4):482.