Why Does My Dog Steal My Shoes? 6 Vet-Verified Reasons & Tips

You go to grab your favorite sneakers and find that one is missing. You eventually find it in your dog’s bed. Or maybe you’ve discovered that your shoes are destroyed or hidden somewhere in the house. Why is your dog a shoe thief? If you’ve had to chase your dog down to get your shoe out of their mouth, you may be wondering what’s going on.

In this article, we look at six possible reasons that your dog is stealing your shoes and what you can do about it so your shoes stay where you put them.

The 6 Possible Reasons Why Your Dog Steals Shoes

1. Your Dog Wants Attention

If you haven’t been able to play with your dog or go out for as many walks as usual lately, they may just be looking for a way to get your attention. Your dog may associate you putting on your shoes before you leave the house, and stealing a shoe can stop you from leaving.

If your dog knows that once they grab the shoe and run away, you’ll stop what you’re doing and chase them. They may view this as a game and consider their behavior successful since they got what they wanted.

How to Stop It

If you think that your dog is stealing shoes because they want attention, try to schedule more time throughout your day to focus on your pup. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, give your dog pets, playtime, and walks. If your dog still tries to steal your shoe, don’t react. Ignoring the behavior will not give them the attention that they want, making them less likely to repeat the act.

2. Your Dog Is Playing

Your shoes may look like toys to dogs, so they may steal your shoes because they like to play with them. If you see your dog take your shoe, try to see what they’re doing with it. Are they looking at you expectantly, waiting for you to start playing too? Are they tossing it up in the air and catching it? Your dog may think that your shoe is their new favorite toy.

How to Stop It

Instead of letting your dog play freely with your shoes, redirect their attention to a proper toy they can safely carry and chew. Avoid chasing them, as that can make the behavior more exciting and rewarding. Once they lose interest in the shoe, you can pick it up and put your shoes out of their reach. Ingesting a part of your shoe can lead to serious digestive issues, such as gastrointestinal blockage, so it’s important to keep all shoes safely stored.

3. Your Dog Needs Exercise

If your dog is not getting enough exercise, they have the energy to direct to other things, like stealing shoes or destroying furniture. If your dog is a highly active breed, like a Husky, Shepherd, Retriever, Cattle Dog, etc., they will need regular daily exercise, mental stimulation, and training to keep them from becoming destructive.

How to Stop It

Plan to spend certain hours of your day exercising your dog. If you have a fenced-in, safe area for them to run, let them get out their energy by chasing a ball or toy. Take them on long hikes and let them sniff as much as they want to. Use puzzle games to keep their mind engaged as well as their muscles. Dogs that don't have much energy to spare are usually relaxed and happy at home. This makes them much less likely to steal things.

4. Your Dog Likes the Smell of the Shoes

Dogs have a strong sense of smell and like to be around items that smell good to them. If your dog likes the smell of your shoes, they might want to steal them to sleep next to them. Shoes and socks have our sweat on them, making them attractive items for dogs to steal. In some cases, your dog might be comforted by having your scent near them when you’re not home. The issue may arise if they try to rip it up or eat it, leading to serious health issues.

How to Stop It

You can try to keep your shoes in an area of the home that your dog can’t access. If this isn’t possible, you can spray your shoes with an anti-chew spray to make them less desirable to your dog. If your dog is stealing leather shoes because they like the smell of leather, try giving them a safe leather dog toy that they can chew and play with under supervision, often making them forget about your shoes. Always make sure your dog is supervised while chewing, so they do not ingest an inedible material or object.

5. Your Dog Is Teething

If you have a teething puppy, they could be looking for things to chew on. Your shoes are easy targets. Teething is uncomfortable for puppies as their adult teeth are growing in, and chewing can soothe this pain. This is a temporary situation, but it can cause a great deal of frustration — and teeth marks on your sneakers.

How to Stop It

Invest in more chew toys for your dog so they have plenty of options to choose from. You can leave the toys strewn around the house so they are never far from one. By giving them more chewing options, they’re more likely to leave your things alone.

6. Your Dog Is Bored

Your dog may be stealing shoes because they have nothing else to do. Boredom can make dogs resort to making up their own things to do for entertainment. It can be fun for your dog to steal your shoe and run off with it, chew it, or hide it somewhere.

How to Stop It

Give your dog more toy options to play with throughout the day, engaging them in physical exercise and mental work, such as agility and scent work, depending on their breed, age, and lifestyle. Interactive toys are ideal because they can keep your dog occupied when you're not home.

Summary

There are various reasons that your dog is stealing your shoes. The good news is that once you’ve figured out why it’s happening, you can try to stop the behavior. That said, if they aren’t damaging your shoes, you may not mind them swiping a shoe every once in a while. It could simply be a sign that they want to be close to you. However, be mindful that they don’t end up ingesting any part of it, causing a serious health issue that requires urgent veterinary care.

• See also: Why Does My Dog Steal My Socks? 6 Likely Reasons & Solutions

Featured Image Credit: CHNBro3rD, Pixabay