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Dogs love to chew things. It’s in their nature, and we can’t begrudge them too much for doing it. But sometimes, they chew on something they shouldn’t, leading to frustrations, costly replacements and potential health problems.
So, what happens if your dog likes your shoes a little too much? Do you need to know how to stop your dog from chewing shoes? Are you curious if this is just a “your dog” thing or a wider issue? We're here to help.
We've interviewed two dog owners who own shoe-obsessed Golden Retrievers. We also explain why dogs may do this and share some guidance on what to do if your dog eats leather or plastic. Let’s get a foothold on this issue.
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So, do dogs like shoes?
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Well, some dogs do, especially during the puppy teething phase. The combination of shoes being chewable and having a familiar scent can comfort some pups.
We recently interviewed Rimma and Alexis about their Golden Retriever, Vesper, and they mentioned their dog loved shoes a little too much:
“She was eating everything - everything from the walls to furniture. She was teething, as every puppy does, so she was trying to find an outlet. We found that we had to be there with any other toy just in time, to give it to her instead of the thing she shouldn’t be chewing."
"She ate one shoe - a slipper, actually - when she was bored. She was about six months old. One morning, we woke up and we saw that a quarter of a slipper had gone!”
“Nowadays, even though Vesper has grown out of her 'eating things' habit, she still remains a big fan of shoes, and she just likes to have them around when her humans are not there.”
“Every time we leave, the first thing she’s going to do is take a shoe and put it in her bed. A few shoes even - she’ll stash them around her, like a nest. Sometimes, you come back after being away for a couple of hours and there's one on the couch, one downstairs, one on our bed, everywhere! We think that it’s just her coping mechanism."|
Another owner we interviewed, Della, and her Golden Retriever, Bertie, also had a shoe-related story:
“Bertie will walk around with a sock in his mouth. One time, he gently pulled out the insoles from my trainers and my husband's slippers, not on the same day, different days, and chewed them, nibbled them, and chewed little chunks off.”
“He's got this thing about smelly socks and shoes. So, when anyone came to visit, we had to say: ‘Can I have your shoes please and place them in a high place or away in the cupboard?', because otherwise, he would take out the insoles and shoe around. But that's puppy teething for you."
So, be extra careful during that puppy teething phase, as shoes aren’t the safest things for dogs to munch on.
How to get a dog to stop chewing shoes
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Keep your shoes out of reach – If your dog can’t get to them, they can’t chew them! Thanks for this tip, Della.
Give them something safer to chew on – Getting them used to chews and dog toys early on helps.
Exercise and mental stimulation – Sometimes, chewing is a sign of anxiety or boredom, so exercise your dog regularly. That includes mental stimulation, too!
Redirect attention – Redirecting your dog’s attention away from chewing a shoe is a good way for them to unlearn the behaviour.
Avoid scolding or shouting at your dog, as that can reinforce the behaviour and can make your dog anxious. It’s better to use positive reinforcement training to help them unlearn it.
Our guide on how to stop a dog chewing has more advice.
My dog ate leather or plastic from my shoe – should I panic?
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No, there’s no need to panic. But you may need to take steps and get your dog to a vet. Panicking will only make your dog feel worse.
As you know, most shoes are made from leather and plastic, which are far from ideal for dogs to eat.
The first steps depend on how much leather or plastic your dog has eaten. If it’s a small amount and your dog passes it through their stool, they’ll probably be OK.
But you need to go to a vet if you notice symptoms or if they’ve eaten a lot of it. Worrying symptoms can include:
Behavioural changes, like unsteady walking or lack of energy
Blood in the stool
Gagging or retching
Loss of appetite
Signs of abdominal pain like whining, looking at their stomach or adopting abnormal body positions
These can indicate conditions like:
Airway obstruction — This is rare, but if it happens, you’ll notice breathing difficulties, like coughing, choking, and heaving. You may also notice pale gums, too.
Digestive obstruction – Non-digestible items can lead to a blockage in the stomach or intestines (guts), which causes repeated vomiting, heaving, constipation or diarrhoea, loss of appetite and dehydration. It’s a serious issue that needs veterinary intervention.
Oesophagus injury – If this happens, you’ll notice choking, coughing, excessive swallowing, loss of appetite and visible discomfort. In minor cases, your dog may only want to eat soft food.
If the plastic or leather from your shoe is sharp, your dog can suffer from:
Internal bleeding – Sharp, foreign objects can cause internal bleeding as they move through the gut, leading to issues like vomiting, blood in the stool, lethargy and faster, laboured breathing.
Mouth cuts – Sharp bits of plastic and leather can create lacerations in your dog’s mouth, causing bleeding, dental issues and uncomfortable eating.
You must take your dog to the vet if they have one or more of these issues.
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Action plan if your dog’s swallowed something dangerous
Don’t panic. Staying calm is very important, and you don’t want to stress your dog out too much.
Talk to your vet as soon as you can. They can recommend appropriate treatment or let you know if there isn’t an issue.
Once you get to the vet they’ll monitor your dog. If your dog seems fine and the vet's happy that the foreign object is unlikely to cause issues, they may not recommend treatment.
If treatment is required, this may include:
Diet changes to help the foreign objects pass through the intestine quickly.
X-rays to gauge the extent of any blockages and if any treatment is needed.
Induced vomiting which can help remove plastic or leather.
Surgery, which is only for severe obstructions.
Dog insurance that does more than what you need
So yes, dogs can do things that surprise us sometimes, and it can land them in a bit of trouble.
That’s why dog insurance is so good – it’s there for things you know you’ll need, like covering vet fees for illnesses. But it’s also there for the things in life that’ll surprise you, like catching your dog wolfing down a second course of New Balance.
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