How to Train Your Dog to Not Eat Socks

Hello Eleana, In addition to keeping socks picked up I suggest teaching a strict avoidance of socks in general. Since this is such a dangerous behavior that could result in a blockage I suggest hiring a professional trainer who is very experienced with e-collar that use stimulation. Use a high quality collar with a lot of adjustable levels and have the truck do avoidance training with him around the socks to teach him not to touch or approach them (removing the temptation to eat them). Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! Rottweiler's are working breeds. Not only do they need a fair amount of physical exercise, but they need their minds stimulated as well. If one or both areas of their lives are lacking, they will find something to entertain themselves with! My "formula" to turn these behaviors around involves a mixture of physical exercise, a little bit of training time for bonding, and toys that your dog can have access to, to keep themselves busy. And out of your socks. If possible, 2, 20 minute walks per day. If a walk isn't possible, a game of fetch or any other physical activity your dog can enjoy. Spend just a few minutes a day working on training commands your dog knows. This keeps them on their toes and working to please you. Purchase a buster cube or kong that you can give your dog in your absence, or during times where your dog may seem a bit more restless than usual, or if you are unable to do any physical activity. These toys activate the reward centers in their brains. Working to get the food or treats out of the toys gives them a sense of accomplishment, and it will substitute the nuisance behaviors they develop out of boredom. If you have additional questions, please let me know. Thank you for writing in!

Hi! Golden Retrievers are working breeds. Not only do they need a fair amount of physical exercise, but they need their minds stimulated as well. If one or both areas of their lives are lacking, they will find something to entertain themselves with! My "formula" to turn these behaviors around involves a mixture of physical exercise, a little bit of training time for bonding, and toys that your dog can have access to, to keep themselves busy. And out of your socks. If possible, 2, 20 minute walks per day. If a walk isn't possible, a game of fetch or any other physical activity your dog can enjoy. Spend just a few minutes a day working on training commands your dog knows. This keeps them on their toes and working to please you. If you have any additional questions, please let me know. Thank you for writing in. Purchase a buster cube or kong that you can give your dog in your absence, or during times where your dog may seem a bit more restless than usual, or if you are unable to do any physical activity. These toys activate the reward centers in their brains. Working to get the food or treats out of the toys gives them a sense of accomplishment, and it will substitute the nuisance behaviors they develop out of boredom.

Hello Lucy, I am so sorry to hear about all the struggles you have been through with him. I do hope he improves and there is not a serious issue this time. If pup recovers well, I do recommend hiring a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues and has experience with teaching avoidance, in hopes of avoiding such heartache in the future with pup. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! I have a 6 month old Labradoodle and had this exact issue last week! I've done some research over the years. There seems to be a behavioral component to the sock or inappropriate item eating. My best suggestion is to teach him the command leave it. And once he has mastered leave it, you can practice with socks and items on the ground. That will desensitize him to the socks or other items and he won't go after them in real life. Teaching “leave it” is not difficult. Begin the lessons inside your home or in an area with very few distractions. Here are the steps for teaching “leave it”: Make sure you have two different types of treats. One type can be fairly boring to the dog, but the other type should be a high-value treat that he finds pretty delicious. You will also want to make sure that the treats are broken up into pea-sized pieces so it won’t take him too long to eat them. Put one type of treat in each hand. If you like to train with a clicker as your marker, you can also hold a clicker in the same hand that holds the high-value treat. Then, place both of your hands behind your back. Make a fist with the hand that is holding the treat of lower value and present your fist to your dog, letting him sniff. Say “leave it” and wait until he finishes sniffing your fist. As soon as your dog is done sniffing, you can either click with the clicker or say “yes.” Then offer him the higher-value treat in your other hand. Repeat until your dog immediately stops sniffing your hand when you say “leave it.” When you say “leave it” and he stops sniffing right away, leash your dog and then toss a low-value treat outside of his reach. Wait until he stops sniffing and pulling toward the treat. As soon as he does, either say “yes” or click and then give him a high-value treat from your hand. Practice this exercise a number of times. Over time, by practicing “leave it,” your dog should stop pulling as soon as you give the cue. When rewarding him with a treat, make sure that it is something good, not plain old kibble. By doing so, you are teaching him that asking him to leave some food doesn’t mean he won’t get anything, but that in fact he might get something even more delicious. When your dog is reliably responding to the cue, you can teach him that “leave it” can apply to other things as well, not just food on the floor. Repeat the exercise with five different items that are fairly boring to your dog. After using five different “boring” items, start using slightly more exciting items. You know your dog, so you alone know what items he would consider more interesting, but don’t jump to high-value items right away. To increase his chances of success at learning the cue, you want to work up to high-value items gradually. If Kleenex or a piece of plastic, for instance, would attract your dog on a walk, don’t start with those. Choose the items based on your ultimate goal: Anytime you say “leave it,” you want to be confident that your dog will indeed leave whatever you are asking him to leave. . The reward he receives when he leaves an item can change as well. If your dog has a favorite toy, squeak it and play for a moment when he comes running to you after leaving the other item of interest. Most dogs love interacting with us, so a moment of praise or play with a toy can be just as effective as a treat. Keep it fun Even though you’re practicing “leave it” as a way to keep your dog safe, you want him to see it as a fun game you play. When your dog is proficient at the game in your home, start practicing in a variety of locations with more distractions.