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Why Do Dogs Like Socks? 4 Vet-Reviewed Reasons

The post Why Do Dogs Like Socks? 4 Vet-Reviewed Reasons by Ashley Bates appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Our dogs are always getting into some sort of shenanigans! It’s hard to tell just why they want to eat the poop-filled baby diaper in the trash can or the piece of ice you dropped from the ice dispenser.

So, if your dog has been sneaking your socks, it might just be another thing to add to the list of weird items our dogs are attracted to. But you might wonder why on earth they are attracted to them. Here are some reasons—and they might not be what you think!

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The 4 Reasons Why Dogs Like Socks

1. Your Dog Is Attracted to Your Scent

Let’s face it, your dog loves the way you smell! It tells them so much about you and makes them feel safe and secure. Since your dog loves your scent so much, it is no wonder that they gravitate more towards the socks since the smells can be pretty strong!

golden retriever lying next to owner with xmas socks
Image Credit: Prystai, Shutterstock

2. Your Dog Might Be Teething

Human babies are not the only ones who teethe! That’s right, your puppy might be teething and your sock is within reach of them. Socks are soft but have some texture that might be soothing on your puppy’s gums. But if your puppy is teething, they probably won’t stop at just socks. Other clothing items might attract them, too. However, since your socks usually end up on the floor, your pup will go for them first.

3. Your Dog Is Experiencing Boredom

When a dog gets bored, they could get destructive. This could mean ripping apart toilet paper, going into the trash can, and, you guessed it, carrying around or chewing on socks. The dog is not trying to be malicious; they are just feeling bored. This is why having dog toys around can help curb boredom if you need to leave them alone for a few hours.

Bored spaniel dog home alone with messed up bedding and a sock
Image Credit: Ian Dyball, Shutterstock

4. Your Dog Smells Something of Interest

Have you been walking around with your shoes off lately? You might be getting into something that your dog can smell, but you can’t detect. Maybe you were walking around in a friend’s house that has another dog. Or maybe you accidentally stepped in a few food crumbs, and your dog can smell it on your socks.

It’s hard to tell what kind of scent impulses they will be getting. If it was a one-time deal and they seemed very obsessed, but don’t seem to care otherwise—it’s probably a fluke or something you had on your sock at the time.

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Why Your Dog’s Love of Socks Can Become an Issue

Most people think the main reason their dog’s love of socks is an issue is that they destroy them. No one likes a holey sock!

However, there are some other reasons why you want to keep your socks out of your dog’s mouth.

  • Ingesting non-food items: If your sock chews on the sock for a while, they could swallow pieces of the yarn. Dogs will sometimes swallow socks whole or eat large chunks. While some dogs will pass socks without issues, eating socks can lead to dangerous gastrointestinal obstructions. If your dog has ingested all or part of a sock, you should contact your vet straight away.
  • Underlying behavioral issues: We had already mentioned that dogs might snag a sock out of boredom, but they could fixate on socks for other reasons. Separation anxiety causes dogs to chew to relieve stress. The dog could also be suffering from other kinds of stress, like past trauma, issues within the home, or problems with other pets.
sick male beagle dog lying on the sofa
Image Credit: Przemek Iciak, Shutterstock

How to Prevent Your Dog Stealing Socks

The easiest way to keep your socks away from your dog is to keep them off the floor. We know it is nice to kick off your shoes and socks at the end of a long day; however, leaving them out will only entice them.

If your dog manages to get ahold of one of your socks, you want to get it from them carefully. If your dog growls, stiffens their body, or points their ears down when you approach them, they might be guarding that sock. Grabbing it is never the answer, as the dog might lash out. Chasing them will make them think it is a game, so avoid doing that as well. Try swapping the sock for something else—like their own toy! Once they are distracted, use positive reinforcement or a treat reward. Then, retrieve the sock.

Early training can help prevent your dog taking things they shouldn’t. Train them to listen to commands such as “Drop it” or “Leave it”

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Conclusion

So, now you have a firmer understanding of why your dog has taken a shine to your socks. The bottom line is, if they like the textures, it smells like you, and they can fit in their mouth—they’ll usually be all about it. Maybe they just think you are extra cheddar-smelling!

However, sock-chewing could mean behavioral issues. They could also swallow bits or all of it. Aim to prevent this behavior or work with an animal behaviorist to find the cause.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Javier Zapatero, Shutterstock

The post Why Do Dogs Like Socks? 4 Vet-Reviewed Reasons by Ashley Bates appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

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Why Do Dogs Yawn When You Pet Them? 5 Possible Reasons

The post Why Do Dogs Yawn When You Pet Them? 5 Possible Reasons by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Yawning certainly isn’t something out of the ordinary if you have a dog. However, you may wonder why it seems to occur more often when you pet them. What purpose or, more correctly, purposes does yawning serve? Therein lies the answer to this question.

Think of the many situations where you may yawn. It’s both a voluntary and involuntary act. Scientists know it happens across species and animal class lines, making it multifunctional. So, let’s get into some of the most likely reasons your dog yawns when you pet them.

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The 5 Likely Reasons Dogs Yawn When You Pet Them

1. Your Dog Is Tired

Let’s begin with the obvious answer for why your dog is yawning when you pet them. Your dog could simply be tired, and the response might have nothing to do with your actions but the animal’s internal state. Scientists have theorized that yawning increases intracranial circulation, thereby readying your dog for quality time with you.1 It can facilitate the transition from a restful state to an attentive one.

It occurs with the enhanced flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Intracranial circulation can also modulate levels of an inhibitory neurotransmitter called adenosine. This chemical rises during the course of the day to eventually promote sleep. If your pup was sleepy when you started petting them, they may yawn instinctively to rouse themselves.

beagle yawning
Image Credit: RogerMayhem, Pixabay

2. They’re Excited

In the same context, your dog may yawn when they’re excited to increase intracranial circulation for a similar reason. Remember that the research points to it being multifunctional. As the excitement ramps up, so too may the degree and frequency of yawning. Other factors may influence it, including your pet’s internal state, the context, and even the ambient environment.

Another function of yawning is the regulation of the animal’s brain temperature. Research on humans has shown that reflexive or contagious yawning decreased when participants held a cold pack to their foreheads while watching a video of people yawning.2 This phenomenon is well-documented in humans, but not so much in dogs, so we can’t know for sure

3. Stress

The spike in intracranial circulation may also serve a calming function. A dog yawning when petted may be trying to settle itself down with this instinctive act. Research has demonstrated a correlation between arousal levels and yawning. It is quantifiable by increases in cortisol, the so-called stress hormone. The same study identified yawning as a response to moderate stress in social settings.3

The context is significant when you apply this information to petting. Your dog will welcome your attention with responses that are non-indicative of stress. A fearful pup may react differently to a stranger or an overly affectionate child. In these cases, yawning may signal a stressed animal perhaps trying to calm itself.

pomeranian dog yawning
Image Credit: Fayzulin Serg, Shutterstock

4. It’s a Neurophysiological Response

The biological reasons behind yawning underscore the fact that it may or may not have anything to do with petting your dog. The animal is simply responding to the circumstances. Yawning also serves to maintain homeostasis or a state of internal stability. It’s a vital way an organism ensures reproductive success and survival.

Remember that dogs still have what we may call primitive instincts. They may act seemingly inappropriately in a modern context, but they also haven’t had much pressure to change some behaviors. Yawning can be one way your dog is trying to maintain the status quo to conserve resources.

5. Yawning Is Canine Body Language

Some research suggests that yawning serves social functions, specifically with empathy. These questions are fiercely debated, with evidence supporting both hypotheses. However, an underlying social element may exist. One study considered the yawning contagion and mimicry between dog-dog, wolf-wolf, and dog-human pairings. Their findings support emotional sharing in these interactions.

Yawning can convey any of the emotions we’ve discussed, including ways to avoid conflict. A dog may be signaling that they are friendly. We must stress the context and its implications in interpreting this behavior. After all, it could also be coincidental.

dog in bed resting and yawning
Image Credit: Javier Brosch, Shutterstock

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The How and Why of Canine Yawning

Canine yawning opens two exciting avenues of research. We’ve discussed the concept of yawning contagion. One animal does it, and another observing it does the same thing. You’ve undoubtedly experienced it yourself when a family member yawns, and you respond in kind. It may even occur with people you don’t know.

One study documented this behavior between dogs and humans. Surprisingly, the animals detected the difference between yawning and a similar gesture used as a control. It provides further evidence that our canine companions can recognize our emotions. Interacting with your pet is certainly a positive experience. You may even encourage it by how you talk to your pup.

A team of researchers took this body of evidence to the next level to test the neurophysiological basis for yawning between dogs of different sizes. They hypothesized that a larger animal would have a corresponding longer yawn to support the variations in intracranial circulation based on the brain size. The data also suggest biology trumps the purported social functions.

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Conclusion

Yawning is such a simple act that we may not consider its other implications. Yes, it serves physical functions to maintain homeostasis. However, it can also relieve stress, possibly communicate emotions, and prepare a pet for social interactions with their owner. All these reasons help explain why your pooch might yawn when you pet them. This body language may have helped forge our bond with our dogs.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Lucia Romero, Shutterstock

The post Why Do Dogs Yawn When You Pet Them? 5 Possible Reasons by Chris Dinesen Rogers appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.