Chewing and licking socks may be a thing that brings calming ease and feels good to your canine.Sometimes your furry friend develops a craving for non-food things. This behavior can be due to underlying psychological stress, separation anxiety, or a behavioral issue such as pica.You share a special bond with your pooch, and he also follows you everywhere. The dirty socks you have worn have your scent or are soaked in sweat from your feet. This is a factor that is very appealing to them. It might be gross, but several dog behaviors are due to their instincts. So, stealing and chewing your socks, especially the ones with a soft and fluffy texture, releases more of the body odor, which is satisfactory to your dog as the socks smell like you. Owners of teething puppies know very well that they love chewing on many things. Dogs also steal and carry around other dirty clothes from the laundry. Some vets suggest that if this behavior persists, then you need to check your dog’s diet as missing vital nutrients can cause such behavior. However, a dog on a proper diet won’t necessarily stay away from socks.Pay attention to your dog’s behavioral changes. She/he might steal socks to get you to pay attention to them. Once you chase them around to let go of the dirty socks, they associate this with a game and playtime and try to get your attention by stealing socks like a thief. So, dogs will continue to steal socks whenever they get bored. This is an indication that dogs need more playtime with you. For every dog behavior there is always something that they are trying to communicate and like their owners, identifying these signs can be healthy for your companions. If you are still unable to solve the problem behind this behavior, you might need to visit the vet. But first, let’s look at a few other reasons a dog might love chewing your sock.If you enjoyed reading these facts about why do dogs like socks, then make sure to read some more interesting facts about why do dogs like sticks? and why do dogs like squeaky toys? here on Kidadl.Why do dogs steal and carry their owner’s socks?There are a number of reasons why a dog likes to chew, steal, and carry socks: teething, attention, playtime, boredom, or just for fun.One of the ancestral behaviors that have been retained in dogs is to carry things. It is also due to the fact the socks are easy to hold onto, contain the owners’ scent, and are soft to chew. There are many reasons your furry friend steals socks for chewing even with so many toys lying around the house. A dog can steal and hold onto socks in its mouth for many hours before getting bored of them. When your dog steals smelly socks or even dirty laundry clothes, the puppy is simply trying to get your attention. Your puppy is very smart, it observes that whenever it steals your socks you chase them. This is associated with a game or playtime. Carrying socks can also be due to separation anxiety as your smelly socks give them a sense of security and comfort. Also, a puppy needs to chew toys or even socks with a soft texture when they are teething. It is not specifically known why but dogs love things that smell.These animals also need an adequate amount of attention and playing time with toys or sticks. Otherwise, out of boredom, they start to steal and chew on socks or other things. Another reason for chewing socks is because your pooch might be stressed. You can play with them using a toy or take them out for a walk. If the dirty laundry is easily available for your pooch to chew on or if the socks are lying on the floor next to his toys or food they will make sure to check them out. Try to keep the dirty clothes away from these animals as dogs might start chewing on socks simply because it feels good to them or begin to play with them just like when they are fetching sticks.Is it normal for dogs to eat socks?It is normal for a dog to chew not just on socks but on anything they like. However, swallowing socks can cause serious issues in your furry companion.It is quite normal for your pet to chew on socks or dirty laundry during teething and once in a while, which can be avoided. However, a dog should not eat and swallow any non-food objects as it is damaging to your dog’s internal organs. Even if the dog eats just fragments of fabrics it can be dangerous. Socks can easily ball up into small sizes and can block a dog’s normal stomach activity. The cells around the stuck sock material can get inflamed. If the socks are not removed immediately then the cells start to die (necrose), which can cause life-threatening septic infection. It can be serious any time a dog swallows socks. A tiny dog swallowing a small-sized sock is more dangerous than a big dog swallowing the same sock but in any case, they should be taken to the vet particularly if the dog becomes lethargic, loses appetite, or vomits. Also, never try to make your dog vomit out a sock, but let the vet take care of it. The vet will conduct several tests and use conventional methods to get the sock out of the body. However, if the sock still doesn’t come out, then it will have to be removed surgically.Why are dogs obsessed with feet?Feet obsession might be due to rewards, attention, smell, or taste.There are a number of reasons for a dog to be obsessed with your feet. Again, when they feel they are not receiving adequate care, this is one way to get your attention. When you move around, your feet resemble prey and the dog instinctively tries to catch your feet. Your dog can do this, however, when you are moving your feet when sitting or when walking. Your dog might want a belly rub. Most of the time they are closer to your feet than your face, so when they need a belly rub they will give the signal through your feet and roll over. The dog might do this when you are seated on the ground. This obsessive behavior could also be due to the taste of your feet. If your feet have a strong taste, your canine might lick your feet. You might also be encouraging this behavior by either giving them more attention, treats or toys. So, next time they lick or play with your feet it is better to ignore this behavior. Another possible reason is that your feet might have a strong odor. So, your dog might sniff and lick your feet too. Pay attention if your dog displays this behavior suddenly as the reason behind it could be due to rewards or belly rubs!If your dog is obsessed with your feet only when you move it is more likely that your feet look like prey. You can avoid this behavior by creating distractions with toys and sticks, not rewarding this behavior, and as last resort, wear shoes. Training from a young age also helps a lot.How do I get my dog to stop stealing my socks?You can stop your dog from stealing your socks by training, tidying up, proper diet, and distraction.Dogs do not understand fashion as we do so a dog will only associate things, including socks, with food or play. So, the responsibility falls on the owners to give them the healthy life they deserve. Firstly, avoid a messy floor around your house. If socks are lying around the floor near their water or food, your dog will surely sniff around them and might even start playing with them. You can also increase playtime with your dog using interaction, toys, and goodies. Also, games that increase the mental simulation of your dog are also great alternatives. It is always advised to train your pooch when they are still a puppy to cultivate certain positive behaviors. In this way, the risk of ingesting anything they chew on can be avoided. You can teach them commands like ’leave it’ or ‘drop it’ with positive associations using treats. Using distractions like a squeaky toy could also help. However, try not to wrestle it out trying to remove the sock from the mouth as it will only encourage them to play with it even more!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestion for why do dogs like socks then why not take a look at why do dogs like to be pet, or English springer spaniel facts?
Chewing and licking socks may be a thing that brings calming ease and feels good to your canine.
