Dogs are well-known when it comes to chewing and eating things. Some will chew and eat almost anything. Why does my dog eat my underwear all the time? Believe it or not, there are reasons for that. He doesn’t do this just because he can. Once you know the reason why your dog does this, you can put an end to this.
5 Reasons Your Dog Eat Your Underwear
1. Teething In Puppies and Older Dogs
Why does my dog eat my underwear and chew other things? If we are talking about a puppy, the answer can be obvious. He has teething issues. All puppies ate age 4-7 months will experience teething. It is painful, problematic, and can be unbearable for some puppies. The same thing toddlers experience so you may know a complete story. The only thing you can do in this case scenario is to give him a toy to chew. There are special toys that are ideal for this purpose only.
Teething can occur in older dogs as well. It is not as common but it is possible. Most likely your dog has some tooth-related issue. You will want to take him to a vet and make sure everything is fine. You can still give him toys that are ideal for this purpose. Keep in mind that cleaning the teeth of your dog is expensive. It is much better to brush them on a daily basis.
2. Your Dog Wants Your Attention
This can be present all the time and with all dogs. They will do all sorts of things. Eating your underwear is one of them. Basically, your dog needs and wants your attention. Even negative action will get him attention hence he will get what he wants.
Dogs who do this are usually nervous and obsessed with something. Although this can be a separate reason, it is most commonly a part of the main one here. You must find the cause of obsession and eliminate it. Give your dog something better to chew.
3. He Is Honing His Hunting Skills
Dogs are predators and they hunt. Well, they used to hunt when they lived in the wild. But, they still have the instinct. A dog can eat your underwear because he is practicing his skills. He will search and find an object that has a strong smell and eat it. Your underwear is an ideal item for this. This is not the most common reason here but it can be the explanation why your dog has been doing this.
4. Pica
Pica is a behavior that affects dogs and humans. It means that a person or a dog will chew and eat all kinds of things that don’t have any nutritional value. Your underwear can be an ideal example. There are multiple reasons why a dog will do this. He may need additional nutrients that are not present in his diet. There might be some psychological reason for this. You will have to take him to a vet and find the cause. Changing the diet can be an effective method and works well.
Pica looks like a harmless thing but it isn’t. It is not a good idea to eat things that are not food. Your dog can end up with an upset stomach or something worse. Gastrointestinal problems are common.
5. He likes you
Yes, this is an actual reason. A dog will mark you and the territory. But, he will also find the items that have the strongest scent, your scent. Socks and underwear have the strongest scent hence they are the first on the attack. Dogs will search for your underwear and eat it or play with it. They believe this is a good thing and they will improve the bond with their owners. They don’t know that most owners don’t like it.
Ending the behavior successfully
If you want to end this type of behavior and we believe you do, here are a few tips and tricks you can use. It is better to try all of these and find the one that works best and in the least time.
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Visit a vet
The first thing you should do is visit a vet. It is possible that a dog has some health issue or teething issue. A vet can help your dog and prescribe or provide treatment. If everything is fine with your dog, you can move to the next tip.
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Anti-chewing spray
These are excellent and work fast. The process is simple. You will have to spray it on the underwear. You can use old underwear for this purpose and hide the rest. The bitter taste is unbearable for most dogs so they will stop eating the underwear. They will believe that all underwear tastes bad. Some dogs like the taste so you will have to use a different type of spray.
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Hide your underwear
This is the best additional tip. This means that you should use it alongside other tips you are using right now. Basically, you will hide your underwear as long as you train the dog not to eat it. Once he is ready, you can keep your underwear as normally.
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Give your dog a special alternative
You can use food dispensing products that are similar to toys. They will dispense food or even better, treats. Keep in mind that treats must be delicious and your dog must love them. A dog will focus his attention on the item and he will wait for the treats. He will simply forget about the underwear.
The Final Word
Still curious about why does my dog eats my underwear? These are all the reasons that explain the topic. It is not appealing nor acceptable behavior so you will want to end it as soon as you can. With a bit of time and a few tips from here, you can do it. It is a fast process and an easy one. Always remember that dogs don’t do things without a reason. Usually, there is a simple or complicated explanation of why they are doing something.
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