A couple of weeks back, one of my players showed up to practice with a half-torn glove. I’m pretty strict about player etiquette, and I expect a certain level of discipline from the kids I train. So naturally, I asked for an explanation. I couldn’t help but crack up a little when I heard the answer.
“My dog chewed on my baseball glove.”
That excuse was pretty common back in my school days, just with a homework assignment instead of a glove. But I’d never heard it from a youth ballplayer before. Turns out, it’s a real issue for a lot of families.
If you’ve dealt with this yourself, I’ll tell you what I told him. It’s on you to keep your gear out of your dog’s reach. Dogs will chew just about anything they can get their teeth into, and to them, a leather baseball glove doesn’t feel any different than a chew toy.
Beyond the damage to your glove, a dog chewing on your gear can also turn into a real safety concern for your pet. So it’s worth understanding why this happens and what you can actually do about it. That’s what I’m covering here.
Why Do Dogs Chew on Baseball Gloves?
For anyone wondering why a dog would go after a baseball glove of all things, the honest answer is it doesn’t take much. Dogs are simple creatures when it comes to this stuff. They like sinking their teeth into things, which is exactly why there’s a whole industry built around chew toys.
The difference is that dog toys are made and tested specifically for chewing, including what happens if a piece gets swallowed. A leather baseball glove isn’t built with that in mind. Your dog has no way of knowing that, though.
When he spots a glove sitting on the floor, he sees a new toy you left out for him. He’s not going to think twice about biting down on it. It really is that simple.
Is It Safe for My Dog to Chew on a Baseball Glove?
Your glove and ball should stay out of reach of your pet. The occasional accidental nibble isn’t something to panic over, but letting your dog have regular access to your baseball glove isn’t a good idea.
The main concern for most pet owners here isn’t the glove, it’s their dog’s safety. Even if you take your gear seriously, if you catch your dog gnawing on your old leather glove, I’d bet his wellbeing crosses your mind before the glove does.
So here’s the real question: is leather itself dangerous for a dog to chew on? Based on what vets generally say, plain leather isn’t toxic, and a bit of casual chewing usually isn’t cause for alarm. But there’s more nuance to it than a flat yes or no.
Dog teeth are strong, and given enough time, they can chew clean through the material on your glove. If your dog swallows a piece of leather he tore off, that’s where the real risk shows up.
The biggest documented danger with dogs and leather isn’t poisoning, it’s gastrointestinal blockage. A dog’s digestive system can’t break leather down, so a large enough piece can get stuck, and in serious cases that can mean surgery. Choking on a chunk of leather is a real risk too, along with stomach upset like vomiting or diarrhea if smaller pieces pass through.
There’s also the question of what’s on the leather, not just the leather itself. Baseball gloves go through tanning, dyeing, and are held together with laces and sometimes glue. I couldn’t find solid evidence that a normal glove’s tanning or finishing chemicals are acutely toxic in the amounts a dog would pick up from chewing, and most everyday leather goods aren’t treated with anything designed to be dangerous. Still, I can’t rule it out entirely for every glove and every finish, so I’d treat it as an unknown rather than something safe to bet on. If your dog does bite off and swallow a piece of your glove, don’t wait around. Call your vet, and if you’re not sure how urgent it is, an emergency vet line or clinic can help you figure out the next step.
Bottom line: keep your glove away from your dog’s mouth. It might make for a fun makeshift chew toy in his eyes, but the risk isn’t worth it. And if you’ve got an old glove you’re not using anymore, dispose of it properly instead of handing it over as a toy.
How to Prevent Dogs from Chewing on Your Baseball Gloves?
By now you probably have plenty of reason to keep your glove away from your pet’s mouth. So how do you actually pull that off? There are a handful of solid, easy options. Here are the ones that work for me:
· Proper Storage
The best way to keep your dog off your glove is to limit access in the first place. Discipline matters here. It’s tempting to toss your glove on the couch when you walk in the door, but it belongs somewhere else.
Even without a locker, put it somewhere your dog physically can’t reach. If it’s sitting on the floor and he starts chewing, that one’s on you. Don’t get lazy when you store your baseball glove.
· Train Your Pet
Training matters. You need to set boundaries your dog understands and respects. You’re the owner, and it’s on you to be consistent. If he misbehaves, that’s a training gap, not a dog problem.
Whenever you catch your dog biting something he shouldn’t, be firm and redirect him. When he plays with his own toys instead, reward him for it. Positive reinforcement works better than scolding when it comes to breaking a chewing habit.
· Get Some Toys
Dogs get bored easily, kind of like kids. If yours is anything like mine, he’ll happily gnaw on whatever he can get his paws on. The fix is simple: pick up a few dog-safe chew toys and spread them around the house so he has something appropriate to find.
After a few days with his own toys, he usually loses interest in things he shouldn’t be chewing anyway. Every dog is different though. This trick worked well for mine, but if yours doesn’t care much for chew toys, try burning off his energy with more time outside instead.
What Should You Do if Your Dog Chews on Your Baseball Glove?
If you store your glove properly, odds are good you’ll never deal with this. But accidents happen, and you’re only human. Messing up once in a while is fine.
If it does happen, here’s what to do next, both for your glove and for your dog.
· Check Your Dog and Glove
First, check both. If your dog only nibbled a little, chances are low he actually swallowed any leather. But if you notice a visible chunk missing from the glove, don’t guess. Call your vet.
Keep an eye on your dog over the next day or two for vomiting, straining or difficulty passing stool, loss of appetite, or lethargy. Any of those, especially combined with a missing piece of leather, is a reason to get him seen right away rather than waiting it out.
· Patch Up Your Glove
If the damage isn’t too severe, there’s a decent chance you can save the glove. If the leather is cracked or torn at the seams, a leather repair specialist is worth a visit, though I’d keep my expectations realistic.
If you got lucky and there’s no real structural damage, some basic glove care usually does the trick. Clean it up, then work in a proper glove oil or conditioner to keep the leather from drying out and cracking where your dog got to it. I’ve got a full walkthrough on how to clean a baseball glove if you want the step-by-step version. Let it dry fully afterward.
· Replace Your Glove
If your dog tore through a finger slot or ripped the webbing apart, there’s not much left to save. At that point, replacing it is really your only option.
Look at the bright side. If you need a new one, my guide to the best baseball gloves under $200 is a good place to start comparing options.
A Small Recap
At the end of the day, keeping your baseball gear safe is on you. Storing your glove properly and taking care of it should be second nature if you take the game seriously.
Dogs can and will chew on your baseball glove if they get the chance, and yes, they can wreck it fast. Even if replacing the glove isn’t a big deal to you, remember that the real cost here is your dog’s safety, not just the leather.
I hope this rundown on whether dogs can chew on baseball gloves helped you understand why keeping your gear out of reach actually matters. If your dog does get into your glove and swallows anything, don’t guess, call your vet. Cheers!
With 4 years of Division II experience, a .272 career batting average, .410 on-base percentage, and 7 home runs, I’m now in my fifth season. I’ve played baseball since age 3, alongside future MLB Draft picks, and I aim to pursue a career in baseball professionally, be it playing, coaching, or scouting.