How Do I Stop My Great Dane From Eating Socks?
The best way to look at any one issue your Great Dane is having, (in this case we’re talking about inappropriate chewing) is to take a look at the overall picture, and then break it down. Your dog’s overall well-being (this includes health and temperament) is contingent upon 4 factors being met. These are:
- Nutrition/Hydration
- Medical Care
- Exercise
- Training
If your dog is showing any signs of ailing health or inappropriate behavior (like eating socks) the heart of the issue falls into one of those factors. Let’s take a closer look…
Nutrition/Hydration: Your dog needs a diet that is high in protein and that does not include by-products. Like humans, the quality of a dog’s diet directly affects his (or her) quality of physical and mental health. You can find excellent dog food information right here in the Big Dog Den by reading the 2 following articles:
Small, Medium & Large Breed Dog Food: What’s the Difference?
Is Pedigree Dog Food Good for Rottweilers? *Please note the information is reliable for ANY dog breed.
Additionally, always have a fresh supply of clean water for your Great Dane. Change the water daily, and wash the water bowl daily, as bacteria will collect and present a potential health problem. It’s okay to remove water access during feeding if your Great Dane eats dry kibble. The water can react with the kibble in your dog’s stomach and cause uncomfortable bloating. In this case, replace the water 30 minutes after mealtime.
It’s also acceptable to remove the water bowl about an hour before bedtime, curtailing the amount of middle-of-the-night bathroom mishaps. If you do this, please remember to replace the water bowl (filled with clean water) first thing in the morning!
If your dog is suffering from a lack of good nutrition, he (or she) could develop behavioral problems (eating socks, for example) as a result.
MEDICAL CARE: Regular medical check-ups are as important to your Great Dane’s health as your medical check-ups are to yours. The veterinarian will track your dog’s growth, treat for parasites and administer life-saving vaccines. Additionally, early detection regarding painful joint conditions and even cancers is key to having the best possible prognosis.
As with humans, your Great Dane’s mental health is as important as his (or her) physical health. You are most responsible for this mental health care! A dog has a sound mind when he (or she) is treated with kindness and affection. The bond you form with your Great Dane is ongoing and life-long. Every interaction you have is an opportunity to strengthen and reinforce that bond.
If your Great Dane is suffering from an illness (be it physical or mental) or is in pain, it can manifest as behavior problems (like chewing socks).
EXERCISE: Your Great Dane will require about 90 minutes a day of exercise in his (or her) adolescence. This will decrease slightly in adulthood to about 60 minutes a day. Much of this exercise is accomplished on walks for pottying, but more exercise than those walks will be required. If at all possible, get outdoors with your Great Dane and PLAY. It will be good for both of you, I promise!
TIP: When bringing your dog home, DO NOT give him/her socks or anything other than dog appropriate toys to play with!
Your dog is a member of a very smart breed! For this reason, he (or she) is susceptible to boredom. You can help “exercise” your Great Dane’s brain to keep it “fit” too! Interactive toys are a great option for doing this, but primarily your interactions with your dog engage his (or her) mind the most! This engagement is “brain exercise”!
A dog that isn’t exercised physically or mentally can develop restlessness or boredom (or both!). The results of either might be disruptive or destructive behavior…like eating socks.
TRAINING: Begin training your Great Dane the day after he (or she) comes into your care. Start with the 5 basic commands: Come! Heel! Sit! Down! and Stay! After your dog masters those, you can hone in and teach specific tricks and commands. Training, and only training, is how good behavior is instilled.
An untrained dog, Great Dane or any other breed, will exhibit bad behavior (like eating socks). Train your dog to know that there are things just for him (or her) to chew on. We’ll cover a few of them in just a moment. If you catch your Great Dane with a sock (or anything not meant for chewing) simply take it away as you issue an authoritative “NO!” Then, redirect him (or her) to the thing that can be chewed on!
3 Great Things for Your Great Dane to Chew On (That Aren’t Socks)
Dogs have an inherent need to chew, and your Great Dane isn’t exempt! Chewing is part of their puppy play, and chewing helps in the process of losing baby teeth and growing adult teeth. Chewing can also alleviate boredom because it’s both distracting and fun for your fur baby.
I do not personally recommend rawhide bones for large dogs with great bite forces, because rawhide can splinter off into sharp pieces. These pieces can cause injury to your Great Dane’s mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, or anus. Others do recommend rawhide, though, so please do the research and make your decision an informed one. If you’d like to feed your dog a bone, feed him a RAW bone, never a cooked one! To learn more about big dogs and bones, you can refer to this complete article, right here in the Big Dog Den.
3 Great Things for Your Great Dane to Chew On:
- Dental Chews: Any dual-purpose product is a good thing! Help your dog satisfy his (or her) need to chew AND fight dental diseases. I do not advocate one brand over another, and you may have to experiment to discover which dental chews are best for your dog. I’m attaching a link to one option from Amazon at the bottom of this section.
- Kong brand Chew Toys: These toys are specifically designed for aggressive chewers. They are hearty toys and most varieties can hold peanut butter or dog treats inside them, exercising your Great Dane’s brain, as well as his (or her) need to chew! You’ll find the link to one example from Amazon at the bottom of this section.
- Arm & Hammer Super Treadz Gorilla OR Gator Chew: Another dual-purpose product, this chew toy also helps prevent dental diseases! You can select from an Aligator or a Gorilla, too!
I hope you found this article useful and informative, and I sincerely hope your Great Dane will find better things to chew on than socks! The library of knowledge is always expanding here in the Big Dog Den, so stop in again soon!