It’s All About the Shoes

Dear Mr. Smart T. Pants

I am having trouble with my 16 week old puppy.  No matter how many toys I give him, he always seems to want to chew on my shoes.  And they are not flip flops from the Dollar Store – oh no.  They are the expensive shoes from DSW.  How can I get him to stop?

Mary Lou and Max

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Dear Mary Lou and Macey:

First of all where are you leaving the shoes?  Are they in the middle of the floor?  If so, I would say that is entrapment!   You have to pick up your shoes and put them somewhere your puppy can not get at them.  Put them in your closet and close the door! 

You have to understand that puppies put everything in their mouths. Your shoes smell like you and at 16 weeks, you are the center of her universe and your scent calms her.  Here is what my human did with me.  When I took her shoe, she would take it away and replace it with one of my toys or a chewy. She never made a big deal out of it.  But when I chewed on the right toy, she told me I was a good boy. 

We dogs always like to hear the word “good” in front of our names and will do whatever we can to get it.  So help Macey out – put your shoes away, make sure she has plenty of other things to chew on and when she does something “good” go overboard in your praise.  Good Luck!

Mr. Smart T. Pants