Every Missing Sock in the House Has Been Found. They're All in One Place.
Every missing sock in the house has been found, and they are all in one place: the mouth of a yellow Labrador Retriever. He sits in the living room holding a whole bundle of grey and navy striped socks, so many that they drape down both sides of his chin. His brown eyes gaze upward with the hopeful, slightly guilty look of a dog who is not sure whether he is about to be praised or scolded. Behind him, a wicker basket overflows with more laundry, a blanket hangs over the couch, and a big leafy plant fills the corner.
Labrador Retrievers were bred to fetch and carry, especially game birds for hunters, and that instinct is still going strong in most Labs today. Many love to greet their people with something in their mouths, whether it is a toy, a shoe, or a pile of socks. Rather than fighting the urge, owners can work with it. Keep a basket of approved toys by the door so your Lab has something to grab when excited, play regular games of fetch, and teach a reliable drop it with a reward. Socks are a well-known swallowing hazard for dogs, so keeping hampers closed and floors clear is a good habit for any sock-loving retriever.
In his own mind, this Lab is probably just being helpful. After all, he did collect the laundry. Nobody said anything about putting it in the washing machine.
