A sock loving Cavapoo

[Summerwood1]

Who is a delight until he gets hold of a smelly sock. If I try to take it off him he growls and I'm not sure if he would go for me. He's such a friendly dog until he gets a sock in his mouth. Just wondered if any one has got any advice on what I should do!

[clam]

Not sure this is any help, but I have a cockapoo who is similar in that he just has to have something in his mouth when he's excited/pleased to see you. Could be a sock, a shoe, a teddy, a dog toy, an old tissue, whatever. He won't say hello until he's found something, and certainly won't give it up. He doesn't growl about it though, so I can't help on that one.

We've decided to find it cute! He doesn't chew them, or even spoil them much, but we've just had to make sure that we stop leaving precious things where he can get them.

[clam]

How old is he, by the way? When ours was a puppy (he's 4 now), I read somewhere to meddle with his food and be the boss about it so he didn't get territorial. And he's fine - I can remove anything from his bowl even mid-meal and he lets me. Never snapped.

[KatharineClifton]

As growling is a warning it's pretty much a cert that he would 'go for' you.

[Floralnomad]

When he has the sock swap with him for something else ball / toy / food and add in a leave or drop command that way eventually you should be able to get him to drop / leave without the swap being necessary .

[Summerwood1]

He's 16 months. The smellier the sock the better! FLORA thanks I could try him with a food treat and see if that works.

[LeChien]

My spaniel does this.
He does resource guard in his bed, but we've worked hard to get him to swap things and drop.
Chopped up hotdogs worked wonders for getting socks and pants off him, we can then distract him with toy.
It's worked so well that he will now rummage around finding smelly socks and drop them on my knee waiting for a treat!

[Summerwood1]

Great advice,I will try tomorrow with the treats and the leave/drop command!

[SweetLathyrus]

Lechien my spaniel does that too (he has me well trained), but I keep the sock treats in the cupboard above the washing machine, so that when he drops them, they go straight in the wash!

Summer, exchange will work best, if he starts to 'resource guard' walk away, don't chase, and don't try to take the sock, call him and offer the exchange. If you clicker train, click as he drops the sock and give him the command you have chosen - 'drop', 'leave it' etc.

[Pixa]

Another Cavapoo owner here.

I really recommend the Zak George and Victoria Stilwell videos for 'drop'.

She loves a good tug toy and socks are up there too. She does get vocal in a game of tug but our vet and trainer had no concerns because of her body language.