by R. Renee Bembry

Created on: June 26, 2010   Last Updated: November 18, 2010

A puppy chewing things it should not chew can prove costly for pet owners and hazardous for puppy. Whether puppy targets consist of furniture, books, toys, or shoes, when puppies sink their teeth into your belongings you can pretty much kiss those things goodbye. In order to make your home safe for puppies who sometimes chew objects that cause them injury you will need to teach your puppy what is and what is not appropriate for him to chew.

In order to deter puppies from chewing things they should not chew you must first try to figure out why they are chewing those objects.

Reasons a Puppy Chews Shoes

Young puppies often chew shoes and things to help their aching gums through the teething process. Teething feels unpleasant to puppy dog mouths similar to the way teething ails human baby mouths. When dogs chew on things they sooth their gums and help baby teeth break through their gums.

Chewing on shoes because their gums hurt is not the only reason a puppy might chew things, however. Aside from the physical aspect of a puppy chewing shoes and things, a puppy might chew inappropriately if it is bored, lacks training, seeks attention, is afraid, or if he is experiencing separation anxiety.

How to Help Your Puppy and Save Your Shoes

The easiest thing to do that will prevent a puppy from chewing on shoes is to put the shoes away in the closet or somewhere else the puppy cannot get them. The thing is, however, that putting shoes away is simple but not always feasible. For example, when family members get together in the family room to watch television, play games, or whatever, they often take off their shoes to relax.

Taking off their shoes should be an okay thing for family members to do without worrying about a puppy confiscating their shoes and chewing them to smithereens. Therefore, even if pet owners opt to hide their shoes from puppies in the short term, hiding shoes does not prevent future problems wherein a puppy might chew on shoes. Should a pet owner step out of their shoes on a rainy day and leave them on the porch so as not to wet the floor, for example, a puppy out for a bathroom break could easily gain access to the shoes.

The best way to stop a puppy from chewing on shoes is to train puppies, keep puppies active, and make sure puppies feel safe.

Alleviate Puppy Boredom

In cases where a puppy chews shoes and other objects because it is bored, the puppy may simply be trying to entertain himself. Unlike humans who can watch television, play

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