Just out of interest.....
This morning we come down stairs to find my wellies in Roxi's bed, not chewed just placed in her bed, this has happened a few times before, not just with wellies my shoes as well, and she only does it now and again, i think it was a good few months since the last time. she has access to put other items in her bed, but it just seems to be my shoes!! (they obviously smell good :)) is this a sign of stress?
She was spade after her first season and is now 4 years old, she is a timid dog always has been even from when we got her as a puppy.
Any suggestions? or similar experiences?

Thanks

My dog used to chew our shoes when he was young. Now he no longer chews them but often collects any left lying around and puts them in his bed. I think he likes the smell. He also particularly likes flip-flops and my plastic clogs.

Our middle aged boxer always picks up a slipper or shoe and rushes to give it to him when her Daddy comes home. Never chews them, just carries them about wiggling. :-)

I have a puppy with a shoe fetish.  Sneaks into the wardrobe whenever she can for her fix.  I think (without being gross) they smell of their owners so dogs love them.

Hi, you say she's timid, so having something that smells very strongly of you in her bed probably helps her to feel more secure. It's a bit like a canine moat. She perceives you as stronger and your smell is a barrier to any outside aggressors. This is why certain odours can deter foxes. It's the smell of a bigger, stronger predator saying "keep off, this is my patch".

I know it's not totally dog related but with regards to the odours that deter foxes, we have a very large aviary and my husband regularly p***s around it to deter foxes and it works, he read that in one of his bird keeping mags. Talking of dogs collecting things and putting in their beds, I have 5 bitches varying from 10 years to 6 months, there is a toy basket full of toys (usually spread all over the place), the youngest bitch will collect all of the toys up and fill her bed with them, if I put them all back in the toy basket she will set about getting them all out again and taking them back to bed. She is not possessive over them and is quite happy for any of the other girls to get in the bed or take the toys away.