Ensure your dog gets plenty of attention and playtime. Use obedience training to stimulate their minds, and never neglect exercise. If they have lots of established playtime, they’re less likely to try to invent ways to get your attention, such as raiding the laundry. This fascination with things that smell like you is two-fold. One is that it can be a form of resource-guarding. If your dog sees you as a resource they don’t want to share, they may become possessive over the things that smell like you. For many young dogs, it can compel them to destroy things that smell like you. They may chew on things you touch, especially when they are puppies. They do this because anything that smells like you must be important, but they are also going through a phase when they learn about the world by…well…chewing on it. Tamsin de la Harpe has nearly two decades of experience with dogs in rescue, training, and behavior modification with fearful and aggressive dogs. She has worked closely with veterinarians and various kennels, building up extensive medical knowledge and an understanding of canine health and physiology. She also spent two years in the animal sciences as a canine nutrition researcher, focusing on longevity and holistic healthcare for our four-legged companions. In fact, the Jacobson’s organ is one of the reasons that dogs “cob” or nibble on us with their front teeth.