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A blue merle Border Collie puppy sits on the floor with a gray slipper in his mouth and an innocent expression. 27 / 31

One Slipper Went Missing and the Suspect Isn't Hiding Very Well

AI imageborder collieblue merleslipper

The evidence is clear: one gray slipper, one blue merle Border Collie puppy, and a guilty-looking pair of eyes peering over the top. The pup is sitting very still on the floor, the slipper clamped between his teeth and the toe dragging on the boards, as though if he does not move, nobody will notice. Behind him, a cluttered room with clothes on the sofa suggests he has had plenty of other opportunities.

Puppies chew slippers for very simple reasons. Shoes smell like their people, they are soft and chewy and they feel great on sore gums when baby teeth are coming out. Scolding after the fact rarely works, since a pup does not link the scolding to the chewing earlier. A calmer approach is to trade the slipper for a proper chew toy, praise the swap, and keep shoes in a closed closet or on a high shelf.

Border Collies are smart enough to learn quickly what is allowed and what is not, but they are also bold enough to test the rules. Giving a young dog plenty of exercise and a few things to occupy its mind usually means fewer slippers disappear. If chewing is a big problem or the pup swallows pieces of fabric, check with your vet.

For this fellow, the slipper is a prize, and he looks ready to defend it. His eyes say it was already like this when he found it.

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