The socks have been on for barely two minutes and your dog is already tugging at them. The sock usually gets the blame, while the behaviour almost always comes from somewhere else. There are three causes behind this. Each asks for a different fix, so it pays to work out which one you are dealing with.

Cause 1: the size is off

This is by far the most common. A sock that sits too loose turns with every step. Your dog feels something moving loosely around the paw. That is exactly the kind of stimulus dogs respond to by biting.

A sock that sits too tight gives the same result by the other route. It pinches, so your dog pulls at it to get rid of it.

How to tell them apart: look at where the sock sits after your dog has walked a lap. Twisted or half slid down means the size is too big. A mark or red spot on the paw means it is too small. Measure again with the size calculator. If you land on the boundary between two sizes, read what to do when your dog is between two sizes.

Cause 2: it went too fast

Socks feel strange. Dogs read the floor through their pads and that information suddenly changes. Some dogs do not care at all. Others need a week.

If you started with all four socks at once for a whole afternoon, pulling is a normal reaction. Build it up again:

• Day 1 to 2: one sock, two minutes, reward straight away and take it off again.
• Day 3 to 4: two socks, five to ten minutes, with a game or a short walk through the house.
• From day 5: all four. Extend the time as long as your dog stays relaxed.

The key is the timing of the reward. Give the treat while the sock stays on, not after you have taken it off. In that second case you teach your dog exactly the wrong thing.

Cause 3: something underneath hurts

This one gets overlooked most often. If the size is right and the build-up went calmly, but your dog keeps pulling at the same paw, it is not about the sock.

Check that paw for:

• Nails that are too long and get pressed against the floor inside the sock.
• A crack or split in the pad.
• Red, warm or damp spots between the toes.
• A nail growing crooked or coming loose.

If your dog also pulls at their paws without socks, the product is certainly not the cause. The sock is then only the trigger that let you notice the problem. In why a dog constantly licks their paws you will find the eight most common causes.

How to find out which of the three it is

Do it in this order. Measure the paw again and compare with the size you have. If that checks out, go back to one sock for two minutes and see whether things stay calm. If your dog still pulls at the same paw every time, look at that paw closely and see your vet if you are unsure.

In most cases you never get past the first step. A sock that fits well is something a dog forgets within a few minutes.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take a dog to get used to socks?

Most dogs need three to seven days with a calm build-up. Some walk off with them straight away. If a dog is still pulling after two weeks, there is usually something other than habituation underneath.

My dog walks oddly with socks on, is that a problem?

Lifting the paws high or walking stiffly for the first few minutes is normal, that is your dog reassessing their grip. If it lasts longer than fifteen minutes or comes with whining, take the socks off and check the size.

Does tightening the strap help?

Only if the sock really is too loose and turns. Tightening to compensate for the wrong size backfires: it pinches and your dog pulls harder. Go one size down in that case.