What to do about my dog... please help!

United States
January 11, 2007 6:09pm CST
I have two dogs and they keep on taking my socks and underwear and putting them all over the house. I tried putting them in the hamper and they will knock it over and get them any way. Then they will put them all around the house. Mainly on the living room floor right where i can see them. I know this may sound disgusting but i have no idea what to do and they won't stop! What should i do?
4 people like this
31 responses
• United States
12 Jan 07
I know it isn't really funny but I can't help but laugh. I can just imagine my dog dragging my underwear out when my inlaws are here visiting! Hmm...maybe try giving them old socks to play with? Or buy them toys they can tug?
2 people like this
@Pekachu (1112)
• United States
12 Jan 07
its funny untill company comes over and your panties are in the middle of the livingroom lol
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
I did but she likes the underwear and socks instead.
@drmt57 (295)
• United States
12 Jan 07
move the hamper and give them something old that they can get your scent from. I believe that is what they want when u are not around.
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
Yes, that's exactly what they want, something that smells like you.
@Randync (544)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Some people have doggy fences in their homes, that restict the dogs to one part of the house. Or my own soloution would be to toss them outside, unless they are really small lapdogs that couldn't cope outside.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
Doggy doors work really well, it's what a friend of mine does ..... I'm lucky, my dogs never did this
@kareng (55044)
• United States
12 Jan 07
It's a doggie thing. You will have to close off that room is about the only solution I know of. Dogs have a way of finging undergarmets. You are lucky if they are not destroying them. Good luck!
@kareng (55044)
• United States
1 Jun 20
@rebelann This was an old one!!!
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
Exactly, dogs love how their family smells and will drag things like sweaty socks or tshirts or undergarments around because they like how you smell. It's a doggy complement but like you said, just keep them in a closed off room.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jun 20
Yep, @kareng but you know I like to go diggin.
1 person likes this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I would suggest you start disciplining them and also putting your hamper in a area where they can't knock it over.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Jan 07
I do disipline them. I don't do it to heavy but i do. thank oyu for the comment.
1 person likes this
• United States
12 Jan 07
I'd keep your laundry in a closed room so they cannot get to it. Put a hamper in a bathroom or other area where you can keep the door closed at all times. Do not let them in this room as they'll just go right back to the habit.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
Very true and thank you for the advice.
@sanell (2112)
• United States
12 Jan 07
okay here are a couple of things you can try. One, if you see the dogs getting into the hamper, spray them with water, right in their face or somewhere near their face, that will teach them that "pavlov" that if they go near the hamper, they will get sprayed and they do not like that, well most do not anyway, Also if they get into your underwear, same thing, when you see them have it or get into it, spray them with the water....you can also use what they call bitter apple, you can get it at any pet store I believe....it does help... I would try to gather your underwear and sucks and stick them in a box way up high in your closet where they can not get to it, that would be the next step, they will still go to the hamper, but just continue to spray them so that it gets them in the habit to stay away from the hamper, and you can still use the hamper for your dirty undies... I had a dog who would do this and we did the spray thing and after about a week or so it worked like a charm, we also kept her off the counch after our daughter was first born, althugh the spray was not as effective on her, we did do a diaper - we would slap the diaper near her face and anytime we brought out a diaper (cloth diaper) if she saw it she would just head the other way... Hope that helps out some.
• United States
13 Jan 07
Thank you very much.
@blueman (16509)
• India
12 Jan 07
i think why they are after your socks, and underwear maybe because they are dirty or stinky. or they just love playing around with you.
@enemies (739)
• India
13 Jan 07
This is a territory issue. You may need to have a separate run area for the Chihuahua until the Husky/Chow becomes more familiar. For now, mixing the two spells disaster. When we introduced a small dog into the mix of two large dogs, we had a "treat time" scenario where everyone gets a turn, and with multiple rounds. Treats were taking a turn out of a canned food, Pupperoni, etc. In this way, it became a shared, positive experience and the way the large ones warmed up to the small one. A little extra time and positive attention to all aids when you are deemed the ultimate Alpha dog to them! Best of luck. This should work for you as it did for us.
• United States
13 Jan 07
They have been together for a while and they are not having territory issues. They are stealing underwear and socks. This is not useful to me. Thank you though.
• Australia
12 Jan 07
Have you ever taken your dogs to dog obedience training? I believe every dog owner should be on a provisional licence until he/she and the dog have completed a dog obedience course run by a reputable and qualified trainer. I am NOT classing your dogs in this category, and I do not know the laws in your country, but here we constantly have "nuisance" dog problems, with other pets and humans being attacked, and dogs running loose and chasing cars, bikes and children. Here, the saying is that there are no bad dogs: only bad dog owners. As I stated, I am NOT inferring you are one of these. No doubt you love your dogs and do your best with them, but maybe a few words of advice from a qualified dog trainer would help with your particular problem.
• United States
13 Jan 07
I have not enough money to take my dog to obiedienceschool. She is trained properly but she just get the underwear. Thank you anyway
@classy56 (2880)
• United States
12 Jan 07
funny.but are these males dog? an are these dirty under wear?if so you need to put them in the washer,male dogs can sence an women.just like if you were a female dog.i know this sound crazy} but it true,have you ever had a dog to sniff your crouch? i would put the underwaer in the drawer if {clean} or washer if {dirty} then they can not get to them..i know its not funny ,but again it is funny..
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
It is a male and female. That true to just make sure they are not around.
@aqua58 (50)
• Italy
12 Jan 07
Your dogs suffer from loneliness, they have need to feel that you are always together with them! They love you!You must give them your old garments: the dog will put them in the kennel and so you will be always near to them! Hi!
• United States
13 Jan 07
That sound right. I will try it and buy her some more toys.
• United States
12 Jan 07
What kind of dogs are they? Did you raise them or did you get them from a kennel? In my experience with animals, the more attention you give them, the more they want to please you and if you show them that what they are doing is wrong they will understand. Of course, it will take time depending on how long they have been doing this. Buy them some toys and play with them a lot. Treats will grab their attention for doing something good, once they realize that they will not get a treat for running your underwear and socks all over the house they will stop doing so.
• United States
13 Jan 07
Thank you for the advice.
@amyh2637 (82)
• United States
12 Jan 07
I had the same problem for a while but my dog eventually just got tired of it. And it was only my underwear and socks and not those of my husband or son. It is because they can smell the female on them. It doesnt matter if they are male or female dog for some reason they are attracted to the smell of female.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
Thank you for the comment!
@msqtech (15074)
• United States
12 Jan 07
they need to teach you in obedience school and you need to learn how to use the crate training. they have to know what is theirs and what is not.
• United States
13 Jan 07
I will try that thank you very much. have a nice day.
@chanfrado (1157)
• Portugal
12 Jan 07
How old are your dogs? If they are young it is normal they do that. Try to educated them not to do that.
• United States
13 Jan 07
They are young and I kinda figured that they would be that way b/c they are young. Well one is young about 9 months old and then my boy doy is already 2 yrs and he like to get the clean one and chew off the buttons. I bough him toy and her toys as well but they still do it!
@tocika (970)
• Romania
13 Jan 07
I believe that they are animals,they like to play,so you must to be carefully,because If is happening something like this is not their fault...You have to put your socks in other place where they couldn't overtake. I wish u luck and have a nice day;)
@Pekachu (1112)
• United States
12 Jan 07
i had a similar problem my labrador/shepard was getting into the garbage in and out of the house so i watched and every time she went near the cans i would say no real load this would startle her and she got away from the cans so now every time she starts to go toward them i yell no! she is learning takes some patience but you have to wait and watch catch them right before they actually do it with a load noise a clap of the hands whatever keep doing it and soon im sure they will stop
• United States
13 Jan 07
Thank you. This is the problem with that. You never really know when she gets them until she is right infront of your face and she is looking at you like what did i do. She makes me crazy.
• United States
12 Jan 07
You have to get them to understand it is wrong even if you have to punish them. It will take some time on the count of them being attracted to any scent.
• United States
13 Jan 07
Thank you for the comment.
@rebelann (111235)
• El Paso, Texas
29 May 20
First off it's normal dog behavior to find something that smells like their family (you) and then drag it around until they get tired of it and secondly that hamper should be somewhere that they can't get to it, maybe if you keep it in the bathroom with the door closed.