Coming home to find your beloved pet chewing on your torn shoes is an unpleasant sight. While it's hard and painful to scold a dog, you also don't want to constantly replace your shoes. In this article, we'll reveal the secret behind why dogs pay so much attention to your shoes.
The pet is bored and lonely
Dogs are incredibly social creatures and are very attached to their people. Being close to their owner is the most important thing in their lives. Even an adult or elderly pet will greet their loved ones with delight after work. But if it's a puppy or a young dog, loneliness is unbearable.
When bored and bored, a dog seeks out any activity. In this case, it doesn't feel any particular connection to your shoes; they're simply the first thing it sees at the front door. And that's where it will spend most of its time. After all, it sees you leaving through that door and remembers that's where its owner comes from. In an attempt to entertain itself, the dog begins chewing on everything in sight. And that's where its owner's shoes end up, or rather, their teeth.
To avoid this unpleasant phenomenon, leave your dog plenty of toys. When leaving for work, remember that your dog will be incredibly bored; every hour spent without people will feel like an eternity. Change the toys as they get bored, but try to keep your pet entertained.
The dog is worried about you
When you get a dog, you take on full responsibility for it. A new family member, regardless of breed, is strongly attached to its people and is sensitive. When an owner works late, a dog naturally becomes anxious. There have been numerous reports of pets sensing that a person is in trouble and attempting to express their emotions to others. It's not uncommon for a dog to run away from home, sensing that a family member is in danger.
So, when their owner doesn't come home on time, their pet becomes anxious. They'll always sit by the door, expecting it to open and their loved one to return. Trying to drown out their anxiety, the dog might inadvertently grab something that carries their owner's scent—their shoes. While the dog chews on their owner's shoes, it will calm them down. Don't scold your pet if you stay late at work and find them with shoes in their mouth.
The pet is changing teeth.
In puppies, teething is accompanied by constant itching of the gums. Leather or imitation leather shoes are quite comfortable and soft. In this case, puppies' attempts to chew on shoes are simply an attempt to relieve the itching and discomfort in their gums.
If you have a teenage dog or several puppies at home, make sure you have soft, rubber toys that the little ones will enjoy chewing on. It's also helpful to give them edible, easy-to-chew dry treats. It's best to replace dry food with soft, canned food, as puppies' gums are quite tender during teething. When leaving the house, carefully hide your shoes; it's not the puppies' fault they're going through this difficult period.
The dog attracts your attention
What do most people do when they see a dog chewing on their shoes? They yell, wave their arms, and try to shoo the dog away. They take the shoe away and give it a toy instead. The person gets angry at the dog, unable to understand why the dog is ruining their shoes. From the dog's perspective, however, the situation is a little different. The dog forms a clear connection: "I started chewing on the shoe, the owner paid attention to me, and gave me a toy." The next time the dog wants your attention, you can be sure it will grab the owner's shoe again.
To stop your pet from chewing shoes, you need to break this connection. If you catch them doing something unpleasant, don't yell or scold them. Say a firm, "No!" Immediately, don't give them toys; wait 5-10 minutes. Let the dog understand that if they don't chew shoes, they'll play with them. And, of course, give them more attention. Play, take them for walks, and don't ignore them. This is especially true for active breeds that require long walks, such as terriers and huskies. If such a pet spends most of the day alone, you'll soon find not only your shoes but also most of your apartment torn up.
