My dog steals socks out of the hamper. He usually just sits in the living room with them hanging out of his mouth, until someone notices. When he sees that we see him, he starts shaking a little. We'll grab the sock and sternly say "Drop it!" Then we return the sock to the hamper.
Half the time, he drops it. But the rest of the time, he flips onto his back, exposes his tummy, and cries, still holding onto the sock.
To me, it seems as though he knows he isn't supposed to have the sock, yet he won't let go. Why? Is there something in our response that is encouraging his sock-stealing?
We do not hit him, and neither did his previous owners. His previous owners did bribe him with treats to get him to drop the socks, so they pretty much trained him to steal socks.
2006-12-29 02:00:07 · 9 answers · asked by Pink Denial 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I can't move the hamper...there isn't anywhere else to put it. The dog has tug toys, which he loves. But if it's only a cry for attention, I can deal with that.
2006-12-29 02:26:31 · update #1
He just wants to play tug. Get him a tug toy. The reason he is going after the socks is because they have your scent and they make the perfect tug toy. Replace it with his own toy and only tug back if he brings that to you. Good Luck.
2006-12-29 02:05:04 · answer #1 · answered by st.lady (1 of GitEm's gang) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Put the hamper out of his reach.
Buy him various toys from the pet store, ropes knotted, stuffed animals, chew bones ( all dogs love Greenies) that is a type of dental cleaning bone. Supervise his consumption of any treats to see that he doesn't choke by just gulping it rather than chewing it.
I would take a used sock and rub the inside of it on the toys. He clearly finds the scent on the sock very desirable. Keep stinking up his toys and playing with him and the toys while he gets weaned off of the socks that he can no longer find. He will have to give in and accept the next best things. When he discovers that you praise him for playing with these new "his own" toys he will learn to love this more than the old days of being "bad" and shameful. He just needs his own smelly toys without access to socks.
I would gradually stop smelling up his toys as he get accustomed to his new routine.
2006-12-29 02:12:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a hamper with a lid or make a lid for it.
My dogs play with socks too but they are trained to ONLY play with the socks that have knots in them. And they DO know the difference!
If your dog happens to get a sock (and you can only blame yourself if he does-sorry) tell him to drop the sock and then give him one of his own toys. It sounds like your dog is doing it to get attention. If it's old owner let it play with socks it will be difficult to retrain him. You just have to be concientious and make sure that he cannot get them if you don't want him to.
We have a Dalmatian mix who went through a phase of chewing clothes to shreds (her favorite was my underwear-EEK) but I always blamed myself for leaving stuff where she could get it. She now only plays with the sock with the knots or sometimes I'll take an old pair of jeans and cut them up and knot them together. The 2 dogs LOVE to play tug of war with that!
2006-12-29 03:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep, he's been taught that if he's got a sock he gets a treat. You are going to have to teach him that it's a bad thing to get the sock. I would get him a "choke collar" if he doesn't have one. One you can pull on the end and tighten when pulled. When you want him to drop the sock just firmly pull on the collar and say"Drop it" until he does it. It has to be a negative so he unlearns that behavior, it isn't cruel, it's just training. When he does something you like, then give him a treat. Good luck.
2006-12-29 02:08:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister-in-laws dog does that too, except she gave them to him when he was a puppy. If you gave him socks to play with when he was a puppy, you should find a trainer who can get you past this bad behavior.
My dog brings down a 3 foot manatee I bought 5 years ago when no one is paying attention to him. He drags it around until we say "Bailey, that's not your's" then he's fine and leaves it where he dropped it. It's most likely attention that your dog is seeking. Spend more time with him.
2006-12-29 02:20:09 · answer #5 · answered by Sara S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its become a game.
The dog is mentally bored and looking for some fun - you need to play a game of catch or do some agility with him.. practice Obedience lesson stuff too...
also move the hamper to where he cannot get it so he forgets that game...
2006-12-29 02:05:23 · answer #6 · answered by CF_ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the socks are clean, trust me the dog will not steal it but if they are stinky the dog will steal them.
2006-12-29 02:24:12 · answer #7 · answered by Nitin T F1 fan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's doing it for attention.
Don't leave the socks where he can get them.
2006-12-29 02:08:44 · answer #8 · answered by DaBasset - BYBs kill dogs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well dogs like to play and want to play games with you I guess
2006-12-29 02:14:50 · answer #9 · answered by :) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋