Why Does My Dog Eat My Underwear? 5 Surprising Reasons Explained

Key Insights

• Why dogs eat underwear: Teething puppies between 3-6 months chew anything in reach, and without redirection, your Ball Hammock undies become their favorite chew toy.
• Boredom equals destruction: When dogs lack stimulation, they'll happily turn your underwear drawer into their own amusement park, unless you step in with exercise, play, and puzzle toys.
• Why your underwear specifically: Your scent is basically dog catnip, which makes underwear extra tempting - nothing says love like gnawing on your sweaty crotch couture.
• Health risks are real: Ingested underwear can cause dangerous intestinal blockages leading to $3,000+ emergency surgery, cash better spent on fresh pairs of ball-cradling undies.
• How to stop it: Keep laundry in sealed hampers, stockpile chew alternatives, stick to daily exercise, and redirect the behavior every time your pup goes pants-hunting.

It’s happened again. All I did was get undressed to go take a hot shower at the end of a long day. I let the steam open my pores as the water gently soaked my hair and ran down my body. Once I got out, I felt at peace, refreshed, rejuvenated.

But unfortunately, there was a not-so-nice surprise waiting in my room when I returned. Alas, my sweet fur baby, although she has her own bowl of food to munch on, decided to instead make her evening meal out of my underpants.

She left an homage to her meal by simply chewing out the crotch of my panties leaving the rest a soggy, mangled mess. Of course it was just my luck that they were a brand new pair of extremely cute and comfy cheekies that I had only worn a few times. I picked them up and tossed them in the bin (Kobe!) and cursed the heavens asking no one in particular, “WHY DO DOGS CHEW UNDERWEAR?!!”

Here are the main reasons why your dog is making a snack out of your unmentionables:

1. Your dog is teething
2. Your dog needs more attention / physical & mental stimulation
3. Your dog wants to feel close to you
4. Your dog could have pica (but it’s pretty rare, so don’t panic)
5. Your dog is playing with something you left on the ground

Now let’s dive into each of those issues.

Why Puppies Chew Your Underwear: Adorable Face, Destructive Teeth

This wasn’t the first time my sweet fur baby ate my underwear, but I hoped it could be the last. So, naturally, I turned to the internet for the answer to my dog eating underwear problem. Initially, my research gleaned the idea that this problem is most common in puppies because of teething.

Puppies will find whatever they can to chew on to soothe their aching little teeth as they push through their sensitive gums. This makes sense, but does not solve my personal problem. I knew this couldn’t be the whole story because my little Sasha is 8 years old (in human years) and she hasn’t slowed down her underwear eating extravaganzas whatsoever. So, I continued down the rabbit hole.

Is my dog getting enough attention?

The internet tells us that another common reason for dogs nomming on underwear and socks is their need for attention. Dogs crave interaction with their human and begin to act out when they don’t receive it. A point to Sasha: we did not go on our daily walk today, so this made sense.

We know that dogs need physical exercise, but did you know that a lot of dogs also require mental stimulation? If your pup isn’t getting enough physical or mental attention, they can start to act out by damaging items in your home…like your beloved new underwear.

As we all know, dogs love to play games. When your dog has something in its mouth that you don’t want them to have, do you chase your dog to get it out? If so, you may have just turned this “no-no” into a game for them. When your dog wants to play, they just might grab a pair of underwear and bait you into chasing them. Clever, right?

Instead of chasing after your fluff ball, instead work on an assertive cue of, “drop it” or “leave it”. When your dog responds to these cues, make sure to reward them with a treat. That way, your dog will learn to associate the cue with getting a reward. Think about it. Your dog will likely prefer a tasty treat to a stinky sock when given the opportunity to choose.

Why Dogs Eat Underwear: It's Actually a Sign They Love You

Dogs are extremely sensitive to smells. YOU are your dog's entire life. Their source of food, water, love, treats, pets, walks, scratches, snuggles, etc. Their life revolves around you and they spend a lot of time smelling your scent.

They love you so dearly that they want as much of you as they can get which is another reason why your dog likes your underwear. My doggy was just trying to be as close to me as possible. pause for collective “awwwww” It would feel slightly more wholesome if it wasn’t also kinda gross.

Training Methods for Different Age Groups

Sweet as it is, that underwear obsession can’t just be brushed off — and the way you handle it depends a lot on your pup’s age. Don't worry – you're not alone in this underwear-destroying nightmare. But just like humans evolve from diaper-wearing poop machines to hopefully functional adults, your dog's training needs change with age too. Let's dive into how to keep your unmentionables out of your dog's mouth, based on what stage of life they're currently destroying your stuff in.

Puppy Panty Plunderers

Puppies are basically tiny chaos demons with teeth designed specifically to shred your favorite underwear. They're in the oral fixation stage of life, where everything – and we mean EVERYTHING – must go in their mouth.

According to the American Kennel Club, ""puppies explore their world primarily through their mouths,"" which is a fancy way of saying they'll chomp anything from your crotch fabric to your TV remote with equal enthusiasm.

For these little underwear terrorists:

• Provide a metric shit-ton of appropriate chew toys (the more variety, the better)
• Implement the ""trade up"" method – swap your crotch couture for a high-value treat
• Make sure your hamper has a secure lid or is behind a closed door (seriously, stop making it so easy)
• Use bitter apple spray on decoy underwear to teach them your butt dumplings aren't delicious

Adult Dog Drawers Destruction

Your fully grown dog is still making an underpants graveyard in the backyard? That's next-level dedication to the craft of fabric decimation.

Professional dog trainers at the Association of Professional Dog Trainers recommend ""consistent redirection and positive reinforcement techniques"" to address persistent underwear theft in adult dogs. Translation: your furry friend needs a behavioral overhaul:

• Start a consistent ""leave it"" command (and actually practice it, lazy ass)
• Create a designated treasure box of appropriate items they CAN destroy
• Consider separation anxiety as a possible cause (maybe they just miss your scent when you're gone and your underwear is the next best thing – weird but oddly sweet)
• Increase exercise and mental stimulation (a tired dog is less likely to plan a panty heist)

Senior Skivvies Snatchers

Even your gray-faced goodest boy can develop a late-life underwear obsession. Veterinary behaviorists point out that ""senior dogs may develop new behaviors due to cognitive changes or physical discomfort,"" which might explain why your 12-year-old Lab suddenly discovered your underwear drawer.

For your senior underwear connoisseur:

• Rule out medical issues first (sometimes weird behaviors have physical causes)
• Use gentler correction methods – they're old and set in their ways
• Consider comfort items with your scent that ARE appropriate to chew
• Be extra vigilant about keeping your amazing underwear out of reach

No matter your dog's age, protecting your underwear collection is a matter of national security. Our underwear is too damn comfortable and looks too good to end up as dog toys.

Remember, consistency is key – unlike your dog's preference for which pair of your underwear to destroy next. That seems to be a daily surprise party we could all live without.

Alternative Chew Toy Recommendations

Training is half the battle—gear is the other. If you don’t arm your pup with the right chew toys, they’ll keep auditioning your cheekies](https://www.shinesty.com/collections/cheeky-underwear) for snack duty. Let’s swap out your skivvies for something actually designed to take a beating.

For the Puppy Perverts (Under 1 Year)

Puppies are basically furry toddlers with sharper teeth and fewer moral boundaries. According to the American Kennel Club, puppies explore their world mouth-first because they're teething little monsters with itchy gums and zero respect for your personal boundaries.

For these underwear apprentices, try:

• Freezable teething toys - Like those blue rings you might've given your human baby, except these won't end up in your dog's butt dumplings later
• Rubber puppy Kongs - Stuff these bad boys with peanut butter, freeze them, and watch your underpants thief forget all about your skivvies
• Soft plush toys with ""heartbeats"" - Because your puppy misses its mom, not because it's trying to be a little perv with your intimates

Avoid anything too hard that could crack those baby teeth. You want them saving their dental strength for destroying your shoes next year.

For the Seasoned Underwear Assassins (Adult Dogs)

Your fully-grown panty bandit needs tougher stuff. The Humane World for Animals recommends choosing toys based on your dog's chew style—are they an inhaler (swallows things whole), a destroyer (shreds everything), or a nibbler (savors the taste of your underwear like a fine wine)?

For these professional undie hunters, consider:

• Heavy-duty rubber toys - Look for the ones that say ""for aggressive chewers"" because your dog has clearly shown they're aggressive about getting into your laundry
• Nylon bones - Almost indestructible, like how you wished your lucky date-night underwear had been
• Rope toys - Great for tug-of-war and teeth cleaning, just like your boxer briefs but designed for the job

The durability sweet spot is tough enough to last but not so hard it'll crack teeth. You want something that gives a little resistance—kind of like how your underwear gave its life fighting back against those canine canines.

Safety First (Because We Care About Your Dog, Even If They're Jerks)

VCA Animal Hospitals warns against letting your dog chew anything that could be swallowed or break into sharp pieces. This includes:

• Avoid toys with small parts that could become choking hazards
• Skip anything with squeakers if your dog is determined to perform squeaker extraction surgery
• Stay away from rawhide, which can cause blockages faster than you can say ""emergency vet bill""

And for the love of all things holy, keep your hamper closed with a lid that would challenge a canine criminal mastermind. Our amazing underwear might be comfortable enough to eat, but that doesn't mean your dog should.

Remember: the goal isn't just saving your underwear from a slobbery death—it's keeping your furry pants predator safe while they satisfy their weird oral fixation with something that isn't marinating in your personal scent. Your dog and your underwear drawer will thank you.

Health Risks When Your Dog Eats Underwear: From Drawers to Danger

Although it’s fairly rare, there is a compulsive disorder in dogs called pica. This disease involves the compulsive consumption of non-food items. This disease is primarily triggered by anxiety and stress in dogs. If you think your dog may be a compulsive non-food eater, contact your vet for back up. Now, if it is clear that your dog has ingested a sock, a pair of underwear, or any of your clothing, it’s a good idea to reach out to your vet ASAP.

Sometimes, if the piece of clothing is small enough and your dog is large enough, they may pass the item in their poop fairly easily. Unfortunately, it’s not always that easy. The ingestion of fabric can cause internal blockages in your pup. The vet may be able to induce vomiting to get rid of the object. Otherwise, they may need to perform an ultrasound or radiograph in order to locate the missing item. This could result in the need for surgery to help your pet.

How to get your dog to STOP chewing your underwear

The answer is simple: Prevention is the name of the game. The easiest way to keep your dirty underwear out of your dog's mouth is to keep them out of reach. Get a hamper with a lid, put your dirty laundry in a closed closet, do whatever you need to do to keep them off the ground.

When your furry friend still gets a hold of your undies, make sure to work on your commands. Do not chase them, do not yell at them or scold them, simply tell them to DROP IT and reward the act with a tasty treat.

Time to Restock Your Underwear Arsenal

Let's be real—dogs have questionable taste in chew toys, and your undies are just casualties in their ongoing quest for entertainment. Keep those drawers out of reach, provide proper toys, and give your pup enough exercise to tire those mischievous instincts. And for those of you already mourning your mangled boxer briefs or decimated thongs, shop chew-proof underwear replacements here at Shinesty. We can't guarantee they're actually chew-proof, but we can promise they're worth protecting from Fido's fashion critique.

Stay Weird & Give your dog a treat right now…or else

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How long does the underwear-chewing phase last in puppies?

Answer: Puppy teething typically occurs between 3-6 months of age. The chewing behavior often decreases after adult teeth emerge at 6-7 months, provided proper training and alternative chewing options are offered.

Question: What should I do if my dog swallows underwear?

Answer: Contact your veterinarian immediately. Monitor for signs of distress including vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, or straining. Do not induce vomiting without veterinary guidance.

Question: Can anxiety cause dogs to chew underwear?

Answer: Yes, anxiety can trigger destructive chewing behaviors. Common causes include separation anxiety, changes in routine, or environmental stressors. Consider consulting a behavioral specialist if anxiety appears to be the root cause.