Hayden is getting in a horrible habit of eating shoes. We've been very good about picking up our shoes, because he's destroyed so many. Before he was mainly attacking my flip flop's, which was frustrating, but didn't make me terribly mad, since they are only $20. Tonight on the other hand Hayden ate the heel off my $120 Guess boots! I am so FURIOUS!!!

I really want him to stop, because we've had guest's come over who take their shoes off at the front door and he goes right for them! Should I spray him with water every time he goes for them? Tell him "NO" with a time-out? Set a booby-trap with an old pair and spray with bitter apple? Has anyone else broke their Husky of eating shoes??

I always use the bitter apple spray and it has worked like a charm for me in the past. Just dont get it in your mouth. I know some people on here though that bitter apple doesn't phase their dogs. Also, I would try the water bottle spray with a firm NO as well! Good luck!

Have you tried claiming the shoes? Willow was bad about shoes and socks when I first brought her home so I claimed them and she doesn't touch them anymore. It worked fairly quickly too. Throw a bunch of shoes on the living room floor and every time he goes for one, step in front of him (between him and the shoe) and say no in a firm voice. I did this will Willow and she finally gave up when I wouldn't allow her to get near one. If he already has one in his mouth, go stand in front of him. He will try to turn away with the shoe but keep getting in front of him until he stops. Then just calmly stare down at him. He should lower his head and drop the item. Anytime Willow is too interested in something I always put it in her reach and then stop her from taking the item. She will try a few times and then give up.

I had success with Bitter Lime, which I passed off to another member not sure if it worked for them.

Well for one pick up every shoe and lock all doors to shoes, I know you say you try but everyone in the house needs to be on board to make sure no shoe is out for him to get. Can you get a tall shoe rack for near the door for your guest? You can try what the othes have said, but for me the best thing is to not set him up to fail, it could just be a stage right now. I lost to many things from sierra thinking I had removed it from her reach till I learned the only safe place for the things I love is way out of her way!

The way our house is set up, putting any sort of shoe rack is kind of out of the question. Everyone has gotten really good about picking thing's up and making the house "husky proof", but there is a 16 year old living here as well, who isn't always the tidiest person. I just want Hayden to know, just because something is out it is not ok to eat it. I wasn't sure if there was something I could do that would make chewing shoes not as tempting. I'm going to try the claiming it trick like Mindy suggested and see how that goes.

Hayden_69 wrote:

I'm going to try the claiming it trick like Mindy suggested and see how that goes.

i was just trying to point out that you can try all those things (and i hope it works)but i hope he does not sneak in another pair of $100+ shoes
i lost a few photo albums and it sucks to lose stuff when you "thought" you cured the habbit. to this day we can not leave ANY paper, or tissues out or sierra will eat them, no matter how many times we caught her in the act and yelled and punished her, she still goes for it. i hope you have better luck!

Oh, I didn't mean it like that, I'm sorry.

Yeah, I thought after I yelled and punished Hayden last night he would never eat another pair. Well, he ate my last pair of flip flop's this morning too lol. I came in from getting the mail and took them off for just a minute to walk in the other room to grab something and sure enough he ate them! I couldn't believe it!

Right now I live at my mom's house (b/f and I are getting our own home in about a year) so until then there's only so much I can do to her house. Guess I'll just have to make due for one more year and try to keep thing's put away as best I can.

After the "claiming" I did with willow, I can and do leave my shoes out. I can even leave a pair on the floor in the breezeway with her while I'm at work. It's worth a try to see if Hayden responds to it.

Oh I'm for sure going to try it!

Good luck! Let us know if it works for you.

Try claiming, I hear it can work. But I swear by bitter apple, my lab was terrible with chewing things. Worked on her.