So ten week old lab pup, she chews everything (which I know is normal) but she is increasing obsessed with shoes. I have to wear slip-on boots without laces just to function in peace but they are an old pair and my feet are killing me. Today I tried to walk around in a comfy pair of sneakers, and she is just going crazy. It's not just the laces, she will actually bite at the shoe. I've know dogs that had real behavioral issues with biting at shoes (into adulthood) so I want to discourage it as early as possible. I just don't know how.
Also, related question: If I leave an old pair for her to chew on (any distraction is worth it's weight in gold) will that reinforce a bad habit, or is this something she will grow out of?
I suspect your puppy is biting at the shoes you are actually wearing as a way of engaging with you. Try to make sure that you have frequent, short games with your puppy such as tug with a rope, soft toy or sock tied to a length of bungee cord. When you want your puppy to settle and chew I think it's probably best to avoid giving her an old shoe and instead go for something like a filled kong (or even a kong with a smear of soft cheese or fish inside), a large frozen carrot or a rice-bone (rice-bones are great while pups still have their baby teeth - once the adult teeth arrive they crunch them to bits in seconds.)
I think that's it. We do plug lots of tug but that can sometimes get her a little overexcited. The ropes are great. I had to google rice bone, was it something like this: https://www.amazon.com/WHIMZEES-Natural-Grain-Dental-Treats/dp/B079YX6L6G ?
I would not ever give a pup a shoe or anything else that you did not want them to chew on. We let Tilly tear up corrugated cardboard boxes when she was a pup and regretted it later. Shoes would be much worse.
@Apupalypse Now! Yes those are the sort of thing I meant. In the UK you can buy them from Pets At Home (a pet store) and they're fairly cheap. They are great for little puppy teeth to gnaw on but don't last long enough once the adult teeth have come in. When playing tug I suggest you play really short tugs (say 20 seconds) and then ask for a release (you can train this by dropping your end and offering a swap for a treat) and then restart the game. Hiding treats around the room or scattered in long grass can also provide mental stimulation. I found large cardboard boxes a life-saver when Molly was small - and she doesn't touch anything she shouldn't as an adult.
