Sock an okay toy for a puppy?

[Mutatis_Mutandis]

We just got a new puppy, and we got her four toys to play with. She likes all of them, but what she just LOVES to play with and chew is a sock with a knot in it. We had one laying around because our dachshund loves to play tug-of-war, and the puppy also likes to play that, but she also loves to just chew and role around with it - it is about as cute as can be.

So, I was just wondering, is there any reason a sock isn't a good toy? I think I am being paranoid, but I thought I would throw the question out there.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

What is the pup and how big will the pup get? I've heard of dogs swallowing socks... so I think it's very much depends on the individual dog.

 

[milos_mommy]

If she's not swallowing them and it has a knot it in, that should be fine. It might make her think it's okay to chew socks but she will probably (when she's a bit older) be able to tell the difference between knotted and not knotted ones.

 

[bcmoffatt]

In addition to the risk of swallowing it, your dog will not be able to discrimintae between 'her' sock and all your other socks. And as she gets older, she'll be able to do more damage. Do you really want her chewing an all your socks for the rest of her life?

 

[Mach1girl]

Is a sock an ok toy for a puppy??
HE77 NO! Ilaugh only because I myself have pulled many a sock from Catos butt! It is nasty, and a blockage, then infection, then death can occur,

My dogs are constantly running around with socks. I have invested enough money in socks to start my own dang mill, they steal and ruin every sock then can find, and even jump on the dryer and dressers for socks.

BAD habit. Stop it now before it gets out of hand like at my house.

Oh, and pulling never ending string from their teeth is just as fun

 

[lizzybeth727]

Well, I really don't think there's a big enough difference to a dog in a sock and most other soft, plush toys. She's much more likely to learn that anything on the floor's a toy. Whether she plays with the sock or not, you'll definately have to keep all chewables off the floor for at least several months until she gets out of the teething/chewing phase.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Well, I wouldn't go that far (the pulling the sock out the butt stuff). We've tied socks so that there is a knot in the middle and the dogs have looked at us like we're crazy and then they go pick out a dog toy.

If the opportunity isn't there to grab something they aren't allowed to have and run, then they don't learn that socks are their favorite toys.

And when they are young.. you want them to know what is okay to chew.. and then not have to correct them later when they grab a sock and run for the hills.

 

[lizzybeth727]

The puppy's an 8-week old beagle.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

I would maybe wait? Or buy tug toys that are actually tug toys? I wouldn't want to start my 8 week pup out playing with socks. But thats just my personal choice. How valuable are your socks?

 

[borzoimom]

I use knoted socks all the time with puppies. Its soft, the threads act like dental floss to aid in the cutting of teeth, and if you dip it in water and freeze it, it really helps to aid in cooling teething gums. However- I never leave it with a puppy if I am not watching so they can not " eat" the sock. This could cause intestinal blockage.

 

[Durbkat]

In addition to the risk of swallowing it, your dog will not be able to discrimintae between 'her' sock and all your other socks. And as she gets older, she'll be able to do more damage. Do you really want her chewing an all your socks for the rest of her life?

Thats not true, Snoopy has a sock of his own to play with and he does not bother any other socks laying around. He can tell that his smells different than ours.

 

[CharlieDog]

Yeah, I was just going to chime in and say that Oz has a couple knotted socks of his own, and we've never had him chew any socks but his. So either they can tell it's theirs from smell, or they visually see, "Hey! That's got a knot in it! It's definitely mine."

Oz WILL steal socks, but he never chews those. I usually find him with his nose buried in them snuffling them. And they are always Stevens stinky ones.

 

[Angela's mom]

Molly loves socks! Also, paper towel rolls, yarn balls, any loose paper, her own leash while it is attached to her collar, my fingers, ice cubes, the broom!, shoe laces, just to name a few. However it is very important to SUPERVISE the puppy. Molly is only 4 months old and things can easily slip into the great abyss.

Word to the wise, keep coins out of puppy's reach. My brother-in-law had a puppy who swallowed a penny. It got lodged in the intestine. . . poor puppy didn't make it.

Her current fixation is the stitches in her paw. She was spayed on Tuesday and while she was under the vet removed a dewclaw from the left front leg. It had not been removed properly by the breeder. I'm just happy the vet was able to fix it.

 

[Mutatis_Mutandis]

Thanks for the advice. Seeing as how it is just a Beagle pup, I'm not to worried about her swallowing it whole.

I'm sorry to hear about the death of your brother's puppy. There is nothing sadder. . .

 

[Mach1girl]

Well, I wouldn't go that far (the pulling the sock out the butt stuff). We've tied socks so that there is a knot in the middle and the dogs have looked at us like we're crazy and then they go pick out a dog toy.

If the opportunity isn't there to grab something they aren't allowed to have and run, then they don't learn that socks are their favorite toys.

And when they are young.. you want them to know what is okay to chew.. and then not have to correct them later when they grab a sock and run for the hills.

The sock is long, and when it has been in the stomache for a few days, it is wet and gets stretched due to the intestines trying to push it thru. When the dog tries to poo, the end just may come out. Cato has done this numerouse times. And if not careful pulling, you can literally pull the intestines out along with it.

That is if you are lucky to have it pass, without causing a blockage.

Trust me, it can happen and does.

 

[Mach1girl]

Thats not true, Snoopy has a sock of his own to play with and he does not bother any other socks laying around. He can tell that his smells different than ours.

But, if their sock get swalloed or lost, guess where hes gonna find another one??With out asking

 

[Buddy'sParents]

The sock is long, and when it has been in the stomache for a few days, it is wet and gets stretched due to the intestines trying to push it thru. When the dog tries to poo, the end just may come out. Cato has done this numerouse times. And if not careful pulling, you can literally pull the intestines out along with it.

That is if you are lucky to have it pass, without causing a blockage.

Trust me, it can happen and does.

For an older dog, yes, but this is an 8 week old pup.

I am just thankful that my dogs look at socks and go, "meh" and find a dog TOY.

 

[lizzybeth727]

The sock is long, and when it has been in the stomache for a few days, it is wet and gets stretched due to the intestines trying to push it thru. When the dog tries to poo, the end just may come out. Cato has done this numerouse times. And if not careful pulling, you can literally pull the intestines out along with it.

That is if you are lucky to have it pass, without causing a blockage.

Trust me, it can happen and does.

The same thing can happen with just about all dog toys on the market. Plastic/rubber pieces and squeakers can be swallowed and cause a blockage, ropes and plush toys can cause severe intestinal blockage. I don't think there's any toy at all that's 100% safe for 100% of all dogs. So should we just not give them toys at all? Or is it more reasonable to simply supervise your puppy (which you SHOULD BE DOING with an 8-week-old anyway) and make sure that he's playing safely?

 

[Mutatis_Mutandis]

Well, like I said, she is a beagle pup, so I think swallowing a sock whole is a physical impossibilty to her. And she is never unsupervised when out of her cage.

 

[Mach1girl]

Well, like I said, she is a beagle pup, so I think swallowing a sock whole is a physical impossibilty to her. And she is never unsupervised when out of her cage.

Alright then.
But you askedif it was alright to let your puppy play with a sock.
Just some thoughts on what could happen.
Hope all goes well. Id tie big knots if I were you.