Barbara Nixon
Well-known member
Teddy , more than any others, has always been my knicker, but , especially, sock thief. 'Drop it' just does not work with socks and grabbing could mean a nip (he's my problem dog), so socks have to be exchanged for a treat. So he doesn't take thieving as a rewarding incident, I don't always give a treat, but ask if he wants one and that works. However, the little devil is crafty and sometimes grabs a sock and looks at me with a mischievous gleam in his eye. 'Any treats, going, Mum?' and runs off.
Well yesterday, I did a grand clear out of all the male socks in the house(son's and husband's), throwing out any which are still singletons and pairs showing wear. (So many dark socks look almost but not quite alike enough and even ones bought with a special design, eg coloured heels, still manage to lose a partner in the wash).
As I sorted the rejects, I tossed them onto the floor and a bewildered looking Teddy sat in the middle of them, doing nothing at all. he didn't grab a single sock. I wonder if the 'losing value' theory has worked (I have seen tv programmes where dogs, with ball obsession, have been 'cured' by throwing dozens of balls round them).
This morning, he didn't jump on the chair, in the hope that I'd put my socks there and latter picked up a pair I'd put for my son to collect, brought it to me and dropped it ! That had to be treated.
Is he going to be a good boy? ---I doubt it.
The sock monster
Well yesterday, I did a grand clear out of all the male socks in the house(son's and husband's), throwing out any which are still singletons and pairs showing wear. (So many dark socks look almost but not quite alike enough and even ones bought with a special design, eg coloured heels, still manage to lose a partner in the wash).
As I sorted the rejects, I tossed them onto the floor and a bewildered looking Teddy sat in the middle of them, doing nothing at all. he didn't grab a single sock. I wonder if the 'losing value' theory has worked (I have seen tv programmes where dogs, with ball obsession, have been 'cured' by throwing dozens of balls round them).
This morning, he didn't jump on the chair, in the hope that I'd put my socks there and latter picked up a pair I'd put for my son to collect, brought it to me and dropped it ! That had to be treated.
Is he going to be a good boy? ---I doubt it.
The sock monster