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Puppy is stealing our clothes?

We have a 9week old italian greyhound/miniature pincer/chinese chested cross puppy who we have had for a week. She has settled in really well and appears happy. She is already learnt to go toilet on the puppy pad at the back door (we hope to move this outside when she has had all her immunisations) and some commands ie 'sit' and 'leave'. However although she seems happy, she has started taking our clothes,ie socks and putting them in her basket. Is this normal? she doesn't play with them, just lies with them, we are a bit concerned that she is insecure. Are we over reacting?

Public Comments

1. she has your scent and so does your clothes..try putting them in a clothes hamper...
2. she is using it as a comforter, your smell is on the clothes, it make her feel secure, give her a jumper or shirt that is old and she will be a happy puppy.
3. Have you provided toys for her? Dogs don't understand people rationization. Basically if its on the floor, anywhere, its hers. If she can reach it, its hers. If its small enough for her to carry, its hers. Your puppy is young, and it needs to be taught not to take your things. Keep them away from where she can get to them, but if you catch her with one, take it back and hand her a toy. That way she'll realize that shes not supposed to have a sock, but rather her chew. Once you see her taking to her chew - praise her for chewing on something she is allowed to.
4. It's a very normal thing to do. Your clothes smell like you. But it can become a very bad habit cause as she is teething and gets more playful, she may try to chew the socks and other clothes and choke or worse yet, swallow them. This would be a very bad thing to happen and your pup may die from it. It also would be a very expensive operation to get any type of fabric that your dog may ingest out of her. So, I would make sure that all of your clothes and shoes and anything else that you don't want your baby to have, is in a hamper, put in drawers or in a closed closet. You don't want your pup getting into trouble.
5. she wants you near her! since she can't put your family in her basket your clothes are the next best thing. my pups have done very similar things! she's fine!
6. Part of the problem is that she's too young to have left mom. This could absolutely be creating some separation issues and some insecurity issues. Some dogs just like doing this. It doesn't always have to do with "your scent". Some dogs just like collecting things. My dog adores carrying socks around, and toilet paper tubes, and bringing them to the sun shining through the windows. She likes the shape and the texture.
7. Awww, that's sweet. It sounds like she just likes your scent. I say give her a piece of unwashed clothing. The scent will wear off, so exchange it for a new piece in a couple of days, and gradually increase the time between the exchanges. She'll grow out of it eventually.
8. ok your gonna laugh i just got my puppy hes a minpin chawa he takes my lil guys underwear and.i find them under the couch.. puppy also takes my clothes to.so yes its normal .its funny though.i also find my plastic dishes under the couch. its just they like the sent of there owners is all.try giving her lil stuffed animals to play with that might help.
9. Your scent on your clothing is comforting to her. This is a good thing - it means she's bonding with you. Go ahead and let her have an old sock or something in her basket. Just be aware that whatever you let her have now might get chewed in a few weeks when she starts teething.
10. my dogs a year old but he went through a stage of doing this, if became common in my house if anything went missing to check under the dogs blankets.you would find mobile phones and all kind of things there but he would never chew them.
11. Not really overeacting. It depend how you handle it. You can always tell your dog to stop doing that. Thats what I always do with our golden retriever and he listen everytime.