How to Stop a Puppy from Biting Shoes
If you've ever had a puppy, you know that they tend to bite, some more so than others. While some puppy nibbles can be more annoying than others, when they start biting and destroying shoes and other belongings, it's time to kick the obedience training into overdrive. Unless, of course, you're prepared to go without shoes...or spend a fortune replacing your footwear.
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Instructions
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Provide proper training. There are plenty of do-it-yourself puppy training manuals that you can use to discourage biting in your puppy. If you're not the do-it-yourself type (or just don't have the time or patience to train your puppy), seek a local obedience training course. Some chain stores that sell pet products offer training courses, or you can call a training school.Contact the local Humane Society for guidance.
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Wear your pooch out. Puppies tend to have a lot of pent-up energy, and if they don't have a way to release that energy through physical exercise, they might turn to active chewing instead. To help nip this behavior in the bud, make sure your puppy gets plenty of exercise. Take puppies to a local dog park to interact with other pups, play fetch in the backyard, or bring them along for a stroll through your neighborhood. One or two short periods of supervised playtime can not only wear your pooch out, but will also provide some quality bonding time between the two of you.
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Offer chew toys. Some breeds have a higher tendency to chew than others, so you might say that it's just "in" the dog to bite its way through any object of interest. To combat this, you have to teach your dog what is acceptable chewing behavior, and provide objects that he or she can chew on without reprimand. This might be a tennis ball for larger dogs, a squeaky toy for small breeds, or a bone for all types. Be sure to keep an eye on your puppies while they chew, though, to be sure they don't bite off and swallow a piece of the toy, which could potentially be dangerous. If that happens, take your puppy to the vet right away for an exam.
The next time you catch your puppy biting on a shoe or other prized possession, say a firm "No" and immediately direct the puppy to the appropriate chew toy. It might take a few times for your puppy to grasp onto the idea, but eventually your pooch will leave your shoes alone in favor of that tasty bone or fun chew toy.
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Lavish praise for appropriate behavior. If your puppy passes your shoe and settles down with his chew toy on his own, bend down and give him great praises. Say something like, "Good boy for using your chew toy!" while rubbing his belly. He may not completely know what he's being praised for, but he'll love the attention and, knowing that it's associated with his chew toy, will head there again for more love and praise.
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