Regardless of how much you adore your puppy, there is nothing more frustrating than coming home and seeing that they have chewed up your valuable shoes. Puppies are curious animals and love to chew on things to know their taste, texture, and smell.
While scolding makes no difference in their instincts, proper training of your pets can help alleviate this habit forever. And maybe not just shoes; your puppies will also not chew any household items.
Why Does Your Puppy Chew on Your Shoes?
Firstly, pets chew on things because they are teething, and their gums are sore. Therefore, teething is one of the fundamental reasons for wanting shoes. Secondly, pets may also chew on your shoes because they are highly attracted to your smell. Lastly, pets chew on shoes because they are trying to figure out what the object is. For pets to explore their surroundings, chewing becomes an effective medium.
However, if you are flustered with this habit, here are a few tips for training your puppy to avoid chewing your shoes:
1. Provide a Lot of Chew Toys
When teething, your puppy needs to chew. Nothing soothes their gums like chewing an object. If they are not able to find something, shoes become their favorite items to chew. To avoid this urge, provide lots of chew toys for your pet. Ensure that those toys are of good quality and safe for putting in the mouth.
2. Keep Your Shoes Out of Their Reach
A simple way to not let pets chew your shoes is to keep them away in a closet or cupboard with proper doors or lids. If your pet cannot access it, they will not chew it. So, try to keep your shoes in a tightly closed shoe rack, cupboard, or storeroom that can be locked.
3. Use a Barrier to Keep Pets Out of Certain Areas
You may not know, but baby-proofing items for the home are also helpful for pets. For example, if you do not want your puppy in the kitchen when cooking, consider using a gate near the entryways to barricade them. Likewise, to avoid puppies chewing on shoes, keep a gate near the shoe area. So, gates and playpens are a great way to give yourself peace of mind.
4. Never Reward Problematic Behavior
To discourage the chewing behavior, make a loud noise or say “no” and then offer your pet a chew toy instead of a shoe. Gradually, your pet will understand and reach out for the chewy toy. Reward pets when they are reaching out for chew toys instead of shoes.
The ideal time to train your pet and make them attracted to a chewy toy and not shoes is before the behavior sets in. Also, direct its attention to one of the toys or chew sticks before it can get any satisfaction from chewing on your things.
5. Be Consistent
The success of any training is dependent on consistency. You have to encourage pets to choose other things instead of shoes consistently. If you ignore their habit for a long time and suddenly get strict, your pets will never understand the situation. Therefore, be consistent with your commands and rewards, and your pet will get the idea soon.
6. Start Training as Early as Possible
The earlier you start puppy training, the better. Pets are like sponges; they learn quickly. If you start teaching them the right actions early, they will be less likely to chew on your shoes later.
Positive reinforcement is crucial to training your puppy to avoid chewing your shoes. Make sure you provide your pet with plenty of chew toys and keep your shoes out of reach. If you have a little patience and are consistent, training your puppy to avoid chewing your shoes will never be a problem.