Sock Hound

My four-footed nephew Bailey is a sock hound. Given the run of my house his main aim in life is to get into my bedroom and root around until he finds a sock. He then nonchalantly trots back with the sock in his mouth like butter wouldn't melt.

If you try to get the sock from him he bounds off, sock still in mouth, delighted that the trick has worked and you are chasing him. The only way to retrieve the sock is to wait until he drops it, usually a bit grubbier but not damaged.

The thing that amazes me, given the usual state of my bedroom and the many more noxious things he could pick up - why socks?