You adore your Goldendoolde, but some of its weird behaviors leave you speechless. Like, the love this dog has for your socks. Why do Goldendoodles love socks?
If you are a proud owner of this wonderful mix, this love for a weird part of human clothing like your socks might be quite surprising.
But, believe me, there are some valid explanations why Goldendoodles might even get obsessed with your socks.
Let’s dive into these explanations.
Why Do Goldendoodles Love Socks?
Both male and female Goldendoodles might show love for some of your possessions you were not expecting, like – your socks.
But, your sweet pooch probably has its own reason for this behavior you might not understand at first. This is why I am here to list you all possible reasons why your Goldendoodle might be stealing your socks from the laundry basket!
1. They Love To Chew Anything
Is there a dog that does not like to chew? I am sure there isn’t!
All dogs love to chew all kinds of things, so does the Goldendoodle. I am sure this used to drive you crazy when you first started sharing your lifespace with your dog.
Dogs especially like to chew things when they are teething – in these situations, they try to alleviate their pain by chewing anything.
So, there is a big chance your Goldendoodle is crazy about socks because they are super soft and a delight to chew!
This might sound like nothing to worry about, but, one should be careful here. If a dog owner does not respond to a dog that is constantly chewing or licking his socks, this might grow up to be even destructive chewing behavior in a dog.
So, I suggest you not to ignore it if you notice your Goldendoodle is always playing with your socks, and putting them out of the laundry basket.
Dogs need boundaries – otherwise – they will do whatever they feel like doing, since they will not understand that some behavior is unacceptable, if you don’t let them know this.
2. Attention Seeking
In some cases, Goldendoodles might be playing with or chewing your socks simply because it wants your attention.
These dogs need a lot of attention and socialization – so much that some of them will refuse to leave their owner’s side.
So, a Goldendoolde is a great dog for people who have enough time to dedicate to their pet. If your dog feels neglected and misses your attention, it might show you by chewing your dirty socks!
3. They Love Their Owners’ Scent
All dogs love to sniff around. I bet your Goldendoodle is not an exception. It is even hard to imagine that there are some smells our dogs hate!
Well, your Goldendoodle might just enjoy the smell of your socks, too. It might sound so weird, but it is what it is – your dog just likes it!
Also, many dogs feel comforted and safe when they have their owner’s piece of clothing near them. This way, even when you are away, your Goldendoodle feels your scent, which will make it feel better even if it is anxious about being separated from its owner.
So, hearing your Goldendoodle enjoying your socks’ scent might seem so weird, but, when you think about it as a method for your dog to miss you less – it kinda makes sense!
4. Boredom
Goldendoodles are high-energy dogs. This means you need to provide your hybrid dog with plenty of physical exercise, as well as with mental stimulation.
If a Goldendoodle gets bored, it gets unhappy. Your dog will show you this with some form of unwanted behavior, like, for example, chewing your socks!
This dog will enjoy all kinds of activities – you just need to ensure there is some form of exercise for your Goldendoodle on a daily basis.
Also, you should try to, from time to time, think of some new fun activities, toys, and games for your canine companion. There is nothing that will make your Goldendoodle happier than something new, interesting to do with you!
5. Pica
If your Goldnedoodle loves to put your socks in its mouth, or even eat it, it might have Pica.
This is a condition where a dog has a compulsive urge to eat non-food items, such as dirt, grass, or humans’ clothing.
This can lead to serious consequences in dogs. If a dog swallows some non-food item, it is under danger of hurting its teeth and gums, and causing damage in its digestive system.
Of course, if a dog eats something that is not dog food, you can never be sure that something is not toxic for your dog.
If you notice your Goldendoodle is becoming obsessed with chewing your socks, you should take it to the vet’s for a check-up. Your dog swallowing a sock might seem harmless, but you never know what can happen.
Also, you can not be sure what will be the next thing your Goldendoodle will try to ingest.
Should You Keep Your Goldendoodle Away From Your Socks?
I would suggest you keep your Goldendoodle away from your socks.
If this behavior is due to your dog’s urge to have something with your smell on it when you are not close, this might sound charming.
But, you should better nip this behavior in the bud. If you don’t show your Goldendoodle it should not chew on your socks, the dog will continue with doing it.
This way, you are not showing any kind of dominance to your dog – therefore, you are not training your dog to become an obedient and well behaved dog.
Also, your dog might get hurt if it swallows your sock.
So, once again, I would strongly recommend you not to allow your dog to play with your socks.
How To Stop Your Dog From Touching Your Socks?
If you are now convinced that your Goldnedoodle should not be playing with your socks for all day long, it is time to learn some additional tips on this issue.
Let’s see what are the best ways to stop your Goldendoodle from touching your socks.
Keep Your Socks In A Safe Place
The most effective way to keep your socks away from your Goldendoodle is to keep them in a place that is unavailable to your dog.
So, you should keep your laundry basket in a place where your Goldendoodle won’t be able to reach it.
Also, be careful while folding your laundry, so that this little thief doesn’t sneak up on you and steal a pair of socks!
Dog Training
Goldendoodle puppy training is an essential step for all dog owners that want to raise well-behaved, obedient dogs.
Training your Goldendoodle might be challenging, but it will all pay off. When a dog has learnt the basic commands, you will be able to say No! Leave it!, when your dog tries to take away a pair of your socks.
The best time to start with dog training is from your Goldendoodle’s young age. Dogs learn best while they are young and, this way, you will be able to enjoy so much more in the company of this intelligent, adorable dog!
Keep Your Goldendoodle Busy
Since there is a big chance your Goldendoodle is obsessed with your socks due to its boredom, or due to its attempt to attract your attention, the best solution is to find the perfect way to keep your Goldendoodle busy.
When this dog will have enough activities, it will not show undesirable behaviors like stealing your socks.
I suggest you take a look at our list of the best Goldendoodle toys. You can find some great ideas on how to entertain your high-energy pup here.
Conclusion
So, why do Goldendoodles love socks so much? What could be so interesting about socks?
Many of these dogs are crazy about socks because socks are so soft and enjoyable to chew. Some of them might just be bored, and will chew on your socks to try to get your attention.
Socks will even be a comforting item for some Goldendoodles. You should be careful if you notice your dog is getting seriously obsessed with socks, since this could also mean your dog has Pica.
So, a Goldendoodle chewing on your socks might be harmless, but it also might indicate boredom, or even anxiety in your dog.
Therefore, I suggest you try some of my advice on how to stop your Goldendoodle from constantly chewing on your socks.
Try finding the best way to always keep your Goldendoodle busy. This way, your dog will stop on chewing your toys, and you will not have to buy new socks all the time anymore!