How Do I Get My Dog To Stop Stealing Socks?
There are lots of strategies that are helpful to make your furry mate stop stealing socks. Practicing them one by one with your four-footed can help you overcome the sock stealing habit. But remember to be patient with them; here are all the strategies you can try with your dog:
Which Dog Breeds Are Most Likely To Steal Socks?
The addiction to stealing socks: it happens more often than you may think. Despite the fact that most dogs like to steal toe-flavored items, there are some that don’t. The dog breeds that are more likely to be involved in stealing socks include Golden Retrievers, Terriers, Cockapoo, Corgis, and more…
Why Does My Dog Steal My Socks? 6 Possible Reasons
There are several reasons that could be the answer to your query, “why does my dog steal my socks,” and some of them require your attention. Here we are going to describe the causes behind a dog stealing socks, so let’s get started:
The most common cause of dogs stealing away socks is separation anxiety. If your dog is stealing your socks, it might be an indication that your dog is suffering from separation anxiety. When you’re away, socks serve as a source of comfort and safety for your anxious dog because your socks have your peculiar scent.
Understand that canine anxiety is a painful experience for your pet. If you suspect your canine friend is experiencing this problematic behavior, then you should talk to your vet or a dog behaviorist.
A dog getting bored and stealing stuff is a weird yet common behavior you will witness. If your dog is bored and has enough energy, it will pick up the next thing and chew on it (let it be a sock or shoe).
Bored dogs can spend hours playing with stolen socks – they’re soft, easy to throw around, and highly entertaining to rip apart. Small dogs are more likely to show this behavior because they love chewing on socks, so if your puppy is exhibiting this behavior, you need to discourage it.
Dogs, especially puppies, love biting or chewing on different things. The texture of the socks can sometimes be really fascinating for your dog. When dogs discover that socks are soft and mushy, they won’t leave the socks alone.
To soothe their aching gums, puppies need chews that are soft; socks are the perfect choice for them. Adult dogs also enjoy chewing on the stretchy fabric of socks.
Lack of attention can cause your dog to behave weirdly. Running away with your socks is one such weird behavior. If your dog is picking up the socks in your presence, it clearly wants your attention.
If you run behind your dog to get your socks back, you are giving your dog what it wants. If given attention, your dog will repeat this behavior whenever it wants your attention.
It could be that your dog loves the smell or taste of your socks which makes it carry them around. You might find it gross but yes, dogs like the smell of your socks because it possesses your scent. It gives your canine a sense of comfort and safety.
Your scent and the softy feel of the socks are what makes them want to steal them again.
Dogs were domesticated around 15,000 years ago. Before that, they used to live in the wild and hunt other animals for a meal. Although our furry friends have been domesticated for a long time, their hunting capabilities are still there.
Dogs play with socks and steal them to fulfill their instinct of hunting and then hiding their prey. Dogs make cute thieves, whether it is a sock or a treat from the table.
There are many items that are lying around, available for your dog to play with, but one may think, “why are dogs attracted to stealing my socks particularly?”
Dogs love the scent of the socks we wear every day, as they’ve been soaked in our sweat all day. Moreover, the texture of socks is soft, and it really attracts young puppies who like to chew soft things. If they get socks for chewing, this can become a habit, and they may carry on doing so when they are grown up.
Why Do Dogs Steal Socks & Underwear
Have you come home from a long day at work to find evidence of chewed up socks? Or do you feel like your socks keep disappearing? Socks are among the many items that dogs love to chew on, and it can be frustrating when your favorite socks end up in pieces. In this article, we will discuss why dogs like socks, and more importantly, different ways to keep your dog from chewing socks while still allowing them ample opportunity for playtime fun!
The basic answer is that dogs need stimulation and chewing on toys is fun for our fur babies. Why socks though? Our socks are soaked in our scent, and because our pups love us, they tend to like anything that smells like us. Socks are made of all sorts of materials that dogs find delicious such as cotton, especially when mixed with the sweat from your feet. Chewing socks might be tasty to them!
Puppies will generally chew on socks because they are teething, and socks are soft and can comfort their gums. And we have all been there – when we try to pull the sock away it becomes a fun game of tug-o-war, creating the association of socks with fun.
As dogs get older they may find the texture of socks to be interesting and, because they find our smell enjoyable, they get an added bonus. Plus, they likely get attention (bad or good) when they are caught with a sock in their mouth, adding to the pleasure associated with socks. Lastly, socks can provide comfort to dogs with anxiety, as it keeps them busy chewing and they are comforted by a familiar scent.
No matter whether you find sock chewing adorable or infuriating, it is a dangerous behavior because socks can lead to intestinal blockages if they are swallowed. It is our responsibility as pet parents to do all we can to keep our fur babies safe, so it is important to take action and stop this behavior.