Golden retrievers are the most likely mutts to chew your socks.
A poll of 2,000 dog owners found that retrievers, first bred in Scotland in the 19th century, were the most likely to craftily grab a sock from the floor or the sock drawer – or even off your feet.
The study by pet insurance firm ManyPets found that always-hungry labradors were in second spot, followed by poodles.
Researchers found that dogs – of which there are around 13m of in the UK – love munching on socks because of the smell of their owner’s ‘scent’.
Retrievers, in particular, were No1 for munching on socks, simply because of their breeding – to retrieve things.
(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The study found that 35% of owners said their pooches were always pinching their socks.
Christopher Dennis, 54, of East Sussex, said his mutt Thrust – a golden retriever – was always eating his socks.
The dad-of-two, who is in-between jobs, said: “Thrust will literally take them off my feet, and when that proves a challenge, he’s figured out he can just go to the washing basket and grab one from there.
“Most of them are covered in holes – it’s quite annoying.”
Dr Kirsten Ronngren, the lead vet at ManyPets, said: “Retrieving breeds are often more prone to carrying around socks in their mouth, because they’ve been bred to carry things.
“Be careful though – these breeds can also be genetically greedy, and socks are a common foreign body vets have to remove from their stomachs.
“It’s best not to let your pet have access to socks if there’s a risk of them chewing and swallowing them.”
She said that pinching and chewing on socks was done to attract their owner’s attention, and because the mutts loved the smell of their owner.
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