The Fascination of Dogs with Socks and Shoes: Exploring the Reasons

Sometimes dogs have strange preferences. The socks and shoes that their caretakers wear are at the top of the list. Owners often have to keep their footwear out of the reach of their four-legged friends because the dog would steal the socks and shoes. Find out here what could be causing this.

Your dog is stealing like a raven and preferring to steal your socks and shoes? It could be the odor that sticks to your shoes. It could be a behavior disorder if your dog is always eating socks and swallowing. If your dog bites your shoe, it’s usually because they are teething. Learn more about the causes of the strange dog behavior.

To a dog, socks and shoes are pleasant to smell.

Even if your feet aren’t prone to being sweaty, you still have a lot of sweat glands. We sweat on our foot and secrete our own odor. This scent is then transferred to our socks and shoes. For the human nose, this is just an unpleasant foot smell. To the dog, however, this scent is an accumulation of stimuli.

Dogs find the smell of their favourite people particularly appealing and familiar. Your dog may steal socks and shoes to be around your scent. Your dog might miss you if your socks and shoes disappear, particularly when you’re not around. He may try to calm himself down by smelling your familiar shoes.

Separation anxiety can be the cause of this type of behavior. For more information, please see our guides “Dog separation anxiety: Symptoms and Causes” and “Overcoming dog separation anxiety: How to Help Him.”

Boredom and a lack of toys can cause sock theft.

Your dog may not be getting enough exercise if he is stealing items to play and being destructive. Dogs will look for something else to do when they are bored and have no toy available. Socks are not only soft and smell good, but they also have a pleasant texture. Shoes have tabs and laces that encourage exploration.

You can try to change your walk route more often and incorporate games. Also, you could come up with small tasks that require intelligence and games at home for your pet. This may distract him from his “silly ideas”. Consult a dog trainer if that doesn’t help.

Shoes and socks as substitutes for prey for hunting dogs

Some hunting dogs were bred for retrieving. They have an instinctive, well-developed bite inhibition. The dog will gently take the toy or game in its mouth and bring it to the owner or to a safe location.

Your dog may take your socks or shoes if he has a tendency to retrieve and carry objects but does not have enough toys. Some of the dog breeds affected are:

The following breeds are available: * Golden Retriever* Labrador Retriever* Curly Coated Retriever* Nova Scotia duck tolling RetrieverChesapeake Bay RetrieverAmerican Water Retriever* Poodle

What if your dog steals and hoards socks and shoes?
Your dog may have not understood that your socks and shoes were yours. He now considers the socks and shoes as his loot or toys that he can keep. To ensure that his belongings and resources are not taken away, he stores them in a safe place. It can be a basket or a special hiding place.

It is possible that your dog’s resource defense has been exaggerated if he shows aggressive behavior, growsls or becomes aggressive when you approach the sock supply. To solve the issue, it is best to seek help from a professional dog trainer.

Training mistakes are the reason for four-legged socks thieves
Sometimes, we reinforce unwanted behavior in dogs unconsciously by not communicating clearly and consistently. If your dog is allowed play with shoes and socks that have been discarded, it may not understand why they aren’t allowed to be played with in general.

When you punish your dog for stealing your shoes, he will pay attention. This can be a rewarding experience for your dog and encourage him to repeat the unwanted behavior. You may cause your dog to think that you are playing tug-of war by taking away his socks or shoes. You can try to make your dog like another toy so he’ll leave your items alone.

Young dog biting shoes?
Remember, even a young puppy should know what is acceptable and what is not. Your young dog may be teething if he chews on your socks and shoes. The gums become irritated as baby teeth fall and the permanent teeth begin to grow. Dogs massage their gums by chewing. This relieves pain. Chew toys and chewing bones are great for your puppy to let out steam and teach him not to bite your clothing.

Is your dog constantly eating socks?
Does your dog eat socks constantly? Pica syndrome, a form of behavioral disorder, may be the cause. This disorder can also affect humans and cats. People with this condition eat things that should not be consumed. You should have your dog evaluated by an animal psychologist and veterinarian to determine the cause of his problem.

This may be mild, depending on the size of your dog and the size sock that he swallowed. If you’re lucky, the hose will be digested and come out on its own. You should not rely solely on luck. This is especially true for small dogs and puppies. Instead, immediately take them to the veterinarian. He can induce vomiting, for instance, so that your pet throws out the sock again. If, however, the incident occurred more than one hour ago, only an emergency surgery will prevent intestinal obstruction.

You can observe your large dog first. You can wait to see if the dog excretes it again if they behave normally, eat as usual and seem cheerful and energetic. You should consult your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms.

* Vomiting
* Loss of appetite
* Listlessness