Seriously, He has never been destructive the entire time we have had him, since last July. Why all of a sudden does he develope a shoe fetish? The past week and a half, he tore up 3 pairs of shoes, the last time.. all I am going ot say is that I thought I got my point across that shoes were not chew toys.

I leave today to go pick up my daughter from school, was gone maybe 45 minutes, come home, and he has a pair of house slippers, one of them already in shreds. One tennis shoe, and Brad's nice dress shoes laying in the living room floor. We have been keeping the doors to the rooms closed off so he couldnt get in and get anything, but I forgot to close them earleir because I was in a hurry.

I hate to crate train him at this age when the only issue we have is with shoes. Plus, I have no idea where we would even put a crate.

What are my options? Im lost on how to get him to leave shoes alone. If he had always been into things, I might feel different, But it a sudden onset of this. He goes to the dog park every other day just about for about 2 hours, and when I left, he had just come in from being out in the backyard for an hour running and romping with Jackson, so I dont think excersise is an issue.


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I think i remember reading something about a spray you can spray int he shoes. Their super sensitive noses pick up something they really don't like, so they leave the shoes alone... I can't remember what it's called though.. It's on here somewhere

There is a spray, as previously stated, but that didn't work on my Kota... It actually made him more intrigued so definitely test the spray before leaving him alone with things not-to-be-chewed. I wish I had more advice to give but I only have a pup so I don't know what it's like :/ best of luck though!

MyKeeonah wrote:

I think i remember reading something about a spray you can spray int he shoes. Their super sensitive noses pick up something they really don't like, so they leave the shoes alone... I can't remember what it's called though.. It's on here somewhere

Maybe Bitter Apple ??

I have no real advice on this matter. Blaze chewed up two pairs of favoite shoes.. We told him that they were not Blaze's toys that they were mine.. He hasn't chew any more up but we have not give him a chance either.

I had the same issue with Thor it start with little things like the soda bottles but when we took those away he moved on to something else. He eventually ate the cushion of the loveseat a mattress pad 3 xbox controllers and a ton of games some blankets and just misc. stuff he could get a hold of.
Yea, he has a cage now and he loves it.

ljelgin wrote:

MyKeeonah wrote:

I think i remember reading something about a spray you can spray int he shoes. Their super sensitive noses pick up something they really don't like, so they leave the shoes alone... I can't remember what it's called though.. It's on here somewhere

Maybe Bitter Apple ??

You got it! Never had to use anything myself, but have heard of some success with it

I don't remember the reason but I use Four Paws Bitter Lime once for Biko after the 2nd application he stopped and haven't had a problem since. Its is listed for use on furniture but I see no reason why it wouldn't work else where.

You want it PM your mailing address I'll send it to you.

Here4thePics wrote:

You want it PM your mailing address I'll send it to you.

People like you are the reason I enjoy this forum so much. Shared interest, but you don't meet people who care about their dogs enough to be active on a forum without meeting good people too.

Kudos for good karma

How old is Thor Deb? If its him turning into a rebellion teenager and it just starts with shoes and then moves on to bigger and better things, then I would def invest in crate training lol. I would be livid if I cone home and found my nice new leather couch with a hole in it.

Thanks Len! Will do! I'd rather try something else before a crate.

i<3neo wrote:

How old is Thor Deb? If its him turning into a rebellion teenager and it just starts with shoes and then moves on to bigger and better things, then I would def invest in crate training lol. I would be livid if I cone home and found my nice new leather couch with a hole in it.

He was I think a month shy of 2 years old. My husband called me at work and told me I went right to CL and found this really big dog cage for 35 bucks.
Brought it home set it up and he ran right in it and laid down. When we go any where we just tell him Thor get your cage and he runs in.

Thats funny because Neo will be 2 April 12th!

oh, maybe time

I will probably get blasted for suggesting this, but I was told by a dog trainer that there is one time tactic to try that is often effective. But you have to be ready to use it the second you get home and find something new chewed up. And the puppy needs to have his dew claws still. Basically, you rip a piece of duct tape in half lengthwise (like an inch wide) grab whatever was chewed up, ie: the shoe, stuff it in his mouth and wrap the duct tape snug around his snout. He will eventually remove the tape and get the shoe out, but it won't be too pleasant for him and will most likely deter him from ever chewing another shoe. If it doesn't work, do not repeat.
May sound cruel, but it is not, because YOU are the firm pack leader, no questions. If the there is a question in the dogs mind of who is the pack leader in all instances, he will only take advantage and push the envelope. When there is no question, everyone is happy!

massak wrote:

I will probably get blasted for suggesting this, but I was told by a dog trainer that there is one time tactic to try that is often effective. But you have to be ready to use it the second you get home and find something new chewed up. And the puppy needs to have his dew claws still. Basically, you rip a piece of duct tape in half lengthwise (like an inch wide) grab whatever was chewed up, ie: the shoe, stuff it in his mouth and wrap the duct tape snug around his snout. He will eventually remove the tape and get the shoe out, but it won't be too pleasant for him and will most likely deter him from ever chewing another shoe. If it doesn't work, do not repeat.
May sound cruel, but it is not, because YOU are the firm pack leader, no questions. If the there is a question in the dogs mind of who is the pack leader in all instances, he will only take advantage and push the envelope. When there is no question, everyone is happy!

oh my ... this sound's horrible! I could never do this!! seem's just cruel and inhumane, but whatever works for you're dog!

Hayden_69 wrote:

massak wrote:

I will probably get blasted for suggesting this, but I was told by a dog trainer that there is one time tactic to try that is often effective. But you have to be ready to use it the second you get home and find something new chewed up. And the puppy needs to have his dew claws still. Basically, you rip a piece of duct tape in half lengthwise (like an inch wide) grab whatever was chewed up, ie: the shoe, stuff it in his mouth and wrap the duct tape snug around his snout. He will eventually remove the tape and get the shoe out, but it won't be too pleasant for him and will most likely deter him from ever chewing another shoe. If it doesn't work, do not repeat.
May sound cruel, but it is not, because YOU are the firm pack leader, no questions. If the there is a question in the dogs mind of who is the pack leader in all instances, he will only take advantage and push the envelope. When there is no question, everyone is happy!

oh my ... this sound's horrible! I could never do this!! seem's just cruel and inhumane, but whatever works for you're dog!

Wow, ok. I can see how that might work, but it does seem very cruel. Duct tape?! That wouldn't be something that I would EVER do to any of my dogs. I think holding their snout shut for a few seconds while holding the shoe in the other and giving them a firm NO would work just as fine in a non-cruel way. Just saying. Whatever works for you though.

Yep your right .........cruel. I'm strict with Adobo & Biko but never in a million years would I resort to something like that.

No offense meant to you your just relaying the message but next time you see that trainer feel free to knock him/her on their ass.

I have always grown up being told that dogs do not know why your yelling/talking loudly at them if your doing it for something they did 10 mins ago. So of course if your not home to catch them in the act to correct them it's really pointless to yell. All they know is your are yelling and they have no clue why but they are scared and will coward away.
Soooo... Maybe just a suggestion, for those you that might be able to do this. If you have 2 laptops with build in mic and camera you can set one up inside the house and then take the other one out to the car and watch your dog. If you see him getting ready to do something he should not be doing then do your command through the mic. He will hear you and will probably be confused because he can not see you. But it might work.
oh will have to be wireless also for this work and to keep it simple you can probably use like yahoo or msn messenger.

Does he only do this when you are gone? If you brought all your shoes out into the living room and put them on the floor, would he try to go for one while you are standing there? I learned on a CM episode that if you put the object of their desire in front of them, then you can immediately correct them when they go for it in front of you. This worked really well with Willow. She loved my shoes when I first brought her home so I brought all of them out onto my living room floor and sat there and waited for her to go for one. I would then say "hey" in a firm voice and nudge her shoulder. It would always get her to stop advancing on the item and look at me. I stopped her everytime she went for one until she gave up and left them alone. It really didn't take much to get it across to her that those items were mine and off limits to her.