Socks and stuff

[Carol Horner]

I can't decide which group this discussion should be classified in.  We adopted Elmo Joe in April of 2011 from the DRC.  His estimated birth date is 1/05/07.  We are an empty-nest couple who have a clean organized house and Elmo Joe fits in well on our farm along with a Sheltie and a Golden (both of whom are rescue dogs). He seem to have no behavioral problems except this one.....  he loves to eat fabric.  When little people visit us and they tire of playing with Elmo Joe he takes them by the shirt and doesn't want to let them go until we tell him to" leave it".  He is presently recovering from his second surgery for ingesting foreign objects like socks.  That's two thousand dollars in vet care and of course, much discomfort on Elmo Joe's part.  We are scratching our heads to determine where he found that sock the vet saw in the X-ray pictures.  He has been to obedience classes and was just hours away from passing his therapy pet evaluation for Love on a Leash.  I would welcome any suggestions concerning this issue.

• is it his personal obsession 
• is he deficient in some nutrient
• is it a behavioral problem
• does he need more exercise
• could this have been why his original family surrendered him

It has been only 6 months between his two surgeries and that can't be good for any dog.  We also can't spend that kind of money more times.  As you all know grooming is expensive along with obedience classes, and good non-grain food.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, Elmo, why are you causing your adoptive family so much grief?

Carol, I'm sorry to hear you are having this trouble with him. I can't answer most of your questions, but I can say without doubt that it has nothing to do with a nutritional deficiency.

You never really know about the reasons the original owners give them up. I still can't figure out why JD's owners gave him up. "Not enough time" was what the shelter had on the paperwork; right.

Have you talked to the trainer about it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It seems to me that I am remembering  Ann saying that Elmo chewed a hole in a sofa cover or some other fabric item when she fostered him, but he never actually ate anything. It was when he got excited and overly wound-up playing that he would start grabbing the sofa cover or whatever the fabric was. That's in keeping with his grabbing the little ones shirts when they get tired of playing with him, too. I think maybe he needs to be stopped or distracted before he gets to that level of excitement, or maybe a bit more exercise would help, although I imagine that he gets a lot of opportunity to run on the farm with the other dogs.

[Carol Horner]

I feel you are correct that excitement may be a clue to addressing the problem.  The two times he ingested objects that have resulted in surgery have happened when neither of us were aware. There is no evidence of him "passing" small objects in his poop. It was only when symptoms of leaning on me, then circling, then vomiting, and distended abdomen were the behaviors that sent us to our vet.  I am an avid fan of Caesar Milan and have his books, etc.  I know Caesar would not approve of how excited Elmo Joe gets when someone visits.  He even barks every morning and evening at the school bus going by on our road.  When we can recover from the expense of the surgeries, then a trainer here in our home would be the next step.  We do not have clothing laying on the floor, he doesn't play with stuffed animals, in fact he doesn't chew anything.  He has never bothered the furniture or bedding even after the grand kids have had a sleep over. Being a retired teacher, I understand helping children internalize concepts, but I don't understand the cognitive abilities of dogs such that they would not ingest socks when no one was around.  I have learned his body language such that I know when he is telling me he wants to eat, potty, play, go for a walk, wants to play with the other dogs, alerts me if cats are near, etc.  Thanks for your advice.  We love Elmo and I want him to be a therapy pet in the R.E.A.D. program at school where I volunteer with our Sheltie.  He would be so effective for kids who need someone to listen to them read.

[BG and Gavin]

Elmo Joe is adorable and what a great name :)  This is a very serious (potentially life threatening) issue.  I would consult a trainer as you may have to do some type of aversion therapy to save Elmo Joe from himself.  More exercise and obedience could help as well and as Karen says put him in a time out when he starts getting too wound up as a preventative.  Good luck.  Thank you for saving this sweet boy.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley loves socks and will seek them out but has never swallowed one.  He knows drop it and if I see him (he usually comes to show me he has one) he drops it immediately.  He loves wash cloths too.  Of course this is a more serious problem but I would say two things. Obviously keep all of thing out of reach as I am sure you try to do and secondly hire a trainer.  I think if you had used distractions and some good and reliable down stay work you could avoid another major problem.  I would have someone come to the house to deal with this and with good solid work you should be able to 'manage' this love of socks and cloth.

In answer to some of your questions.  He is not deficient in some nutrient.  It is a 'retriever' thing that needs management.  I would not describe it as a behavioral problem though it is a behavior that leads to serious problems for him.  More exercise is always helpful though not the full answer.  Who know why he was surrendered, people give up dogs for all sorts of reasons.  The house is too big...we have a new baby and don't have the time...etc etc etc

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I love his hair cut in the picture :)    Both my doodles are not fabric obsessed.  Not that they won't turn down a pair of socks or underware.  When getting changed etc. I immediately put everything in the hamper and leave no clothes laying around.  If there are clothes on the bed I just shut my bedroom door.  I know when there are kids around it is difficult.  When my niece was a baby/toddler the second she came into the house she would take off her socks and shoes !!.  I think it may be easier to train the adults :)   Good luck with Elmo Joe

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Elmo Joe is beautiful.....and thank you so much for adopting him!  I definitely think it's a behavioral problem which may also be an "obsession".  My advice is going to be controversial, but if it means that you can save his life or enable you to keep him with no more surgeries then I think it's worth it.  I would get an e-collar (a good one with a tone and vibration button).  I would set up situations where he is tempted (e.g. leave a sock on the floor) and then if he goes to take it I would correct with a mild stimulation or vibration...you'd have to figure out what works for him).  I would "stage" these situations with different types of fabric for a few weeks, or until you see him actually chose to ignore the "tempting fabric within his reach".  He will likely never even know that you're the one correcting him.....he will just know that grabbing a sock results in something he doesn't like rather than something that is satisfying to him.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This sounds brilliant to me! I would also have a trainer work with me on this to be sure I was using the e-collar properly.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree with this.  E-collars are good solutions for some breeds.  Peri responds immediately to hers (for our fence) - she actually caught on Day 1 of us training and has still NEVER crossed that line, regardless of the distraction.  I would follow Jane's advice on this.  And do work with a trainer because the training is key and you want to set him up to succeed, not for failure.  Training correctly is essential and will take some time.

[Jill, Woody & Maxi]

I agree with the e-collar..we had to do the same thing with our boy..the only thing i would also do is tie something to the end of the object (sock, etc) so that you can pull it out if he does get a hold of it, until he learns..Also, as you hit the button, use one consistent word (NO), so that way, eventually, all you will have to say is no.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I agree with the e-collar and trainer.  Just another thought is to set a mouse trap inside a sock or under an item of tempting clothing and when Elmo goes for it and it snaps shut, it might just be aversive enough to do the trick.

[Carol Horner]

This idea would be simple until I can get an e-collar.  Of course, I have to wait until he has his post-op appt to do teaching.  He is on pain med and is to have limited activity.