“Help! How Do I Get My Dog to Stop Eating Socks”

Lily is a one-year-old Lab mix who eats everything in sight — mostly socks. She has destroyed clothes, shoes, hair ties...my couch! Nothing I do stops this behavior. Even when I tried using a crate, she chewed the plastic tray at the bottom, then started chewing the floor through the crate bars. Recently, she had emergency surgery to remove a child’s sock. She gets a ton of attention and has a large yard to roam (where she digs holes). What should I do? — Amanda

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Your dog is adorable (obviously). Not so cute? Her appetite for eating more than just food — socks, shoes...your couch. Nobody wants their dog to be a picky eater, but you do want them to be discriminating enough to draw the line at things that are not food, since a) it’s dangerous for dogs to eat socks and other non-food items, and b) it’s a considerable financial strain. Here are some suggestions to minimize both the danger and the expense, and to hopefully stop Lily from eating dangerous items.

Keep Inedibles Out of Reach

Helping your dog stay safe (and keeping yourself sane!) will always involve some management. To keep her insides free of items that should remain on the outside, keep her favorite inedibles out of reach. I’m not suggesting that you Marie Kondo your home to the point that visitors think Lily is the only thing that “sparks joy” for you, but known offenders have to be unattainable. This might be a lot easier said than done.

A deterrent such as a citrus or bitter apple spray might work; if it does, feel free to use it (honestly, since they rarely seem to be effective with such eager eaters, I’d be surprised if it did, but would feel irresponsible if I didn’t mention it).

Add Stimulation to Your Dog’s Life

Some dogs develop a habit of swallowing strange things (also known as pica in dogs) out of boredom; a dog looking for something to do often explores with their mouth, and for some, ingestion of the treasure is their next logical step. Adding stimulation to Lily’s life can help with this, so try to add more fun and activity to her days. Consider new activities such as agility, obstacle courses, nosework, more walks or outings, short training sessions throughout the day, play sessions, or car rides.

Another option is to feed her via sturdy enrichment toys: Dogs need to be able to chew on things that they can’t swallow or that are digestible if they do eat them. Kong toys in the largest size are a good choice for many dogs. Stuff one with wet food, freeze it, and then give it to her. If she is a voracious eater, talk to your veterinarian first and supervise her whenever she has such an item.

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Use Reinforcement Training

While it’s not a quick fix, positive reinforcement training can also help. Improving Lily’s response to “drop it” and “leave it” is important so that any possessive behavior (you can’t take it away if it’s in my belly!) doesn’t lead to harm. Start using these cues with items that she is not very excited about and that are too big to be swallowed. Use the tastiest treats you can find so it’s worth it to her to do the right thing. Trading up (“give me that mediocre item and I will give you this far better one”) is a great way to improve this behavior.

Another training strategy: If seeing you head toward them prompts Lily to swallow things she shouldn’t, instead of chasing her down, encourage her to move away from items that pose a risk. To do this, toss a handful of treats to another spot in the room so she has to get up to get them. Then retrieve the sock while she munches away.

Give Your Dog More Exercise

Though it’s not the cure all it is sometimes made out to be, exercise can certainly help. Dogs who are tired and content from a hard effort, preferably off leash (in your yard or other fenced-in area), are less likely to get into whatever trouble they are prone to find, and they are more likely to sleep.

If All Else Fails, Hire a Trainer to Help

I know how hard it can be to keep Lily from eating everything in sight. Hopefully some of these tips work so she can enjoy the world in safe ways from here on out — and you can stop worrying about replacing items she’s chewed up. If not, go back to basics with Kinship ’s free dog obedience courses or look into local certified trainers to help lend a hand in person.