9 reasons why your dog puts your shoes in her bed
All of a sudden, your pooch starts burrowing like crazy in her place.
She also takes your shoes in her bed. Along with ripped blankets and newspapers all over the area.
“OMG! Is my dog obsessed with my shoes?”
Or, “Is she decorating her personal spot?”
If your Fido is pregnant, this is only a nesting behavior.
So congrats in advance because she’s close to being a mom. And you’re going to be a grandma/pa too!
Female dogs will do this in their last stage of pregnancy or while in labor. Making sure they have a warm and snuggly nest before giving birth.
If you’re sure about it, your dog might be having a false pregnancy.
Same with real preggy Fidos, those who have this will also show similar signs. Hence, the name.
This is due to hormonal imbalances. And one culprit is the rise in prolactin which causes their nesting behavior.
Note: Some dogs don’t need to be pregnant to act like this. Others may also create den-like spaces because they feel comfy in them. And this is mainly observed in natural burrowers such as Chihuahuas, and Pomeranians.
#3: She finds comfort in your scent
You’re back at home after work.
Then you see your sneakers on your Fido’s bed.
And you notice that she’s been doing this for weeks now. So your head is buzzing with a huge question,
“Why does my dog take my shoes and sleep with them?”
To you, your shoes are merely items of clothing that cover your feet, right? (Well for collectors, they’re much more than that.)
But for your pooch, they might be her only source of comfort when she’s lonely or missing her human.
She’s using them as a substitute when you’re gone because they remind her of you.
This is why you see her cuddling them when you arrive home. Or at night, when she’s not allowed to sleep with you.
Your odor is deeply ingrained in them. But I suggest you refrain from smelling them right now.
Research proves that Fidos are attracted to the scent of their humans.
So your pooch probably prefers the worn-out ones as they’ve been used more. Because the stinkier, the better!
Fun fact: Did you know that each of our feet contains around 125,000 sweat glands? And together, our soles hold the title of having the most perspiration produced daily among all body parts.
You might also wonder: Why does my dog sleep on my clothes?
The Scent that Comes from the Shoe
The scent that comes from the shoe is your scent and this is very comforting for the dog. When you are not around your dog might go into your room and lay on your shoes as a way to comfort himself while you’re gone. Dogs are very sensitive to smells so anything that smells like you as the owner is something the dog will gravitate towards. You might notice this with your shoes or notice this with other items you own, such as a shirt or your socks. Shoe smells are some of the most common that dogs will go after.
Your shoes both smell and taste like you, which makes your dog feel secure and safe. There is also the fact that shoes have smells on them from everywhere you’ve been. The dog might love the earthy smell of the shoes if you were out in the garden or out hiking in them. All of the places you go leaves a scent on the sides and bottom of your shoes, and many dogs love that about shoes.
Leather shoes also give off a “natural” smell that many dogs love, so if you own leather shoes or plan to get them then you should be aware of that (and potential chewing consequences). The leather shoes tend to hold in smells, including of the natural leather, and dogs find this smell to be appealing.
What Your Dog’s Sleeping Position Reveals About Their Personality, Health and Character
Do you ever wonder, ‘why do dogs take things to their bed?’ Has your pup ever grabbed their toys and brought them over to their bed before sweetly snuggling into sleep? When I leave my house, one of my dogs tends to take one of my shoes and just place it in the bed with her. She doesn’t chew it, she just wants it near her. So let’s get into reasons why your dog may take things to their bed.