Why does my dog go into my clothes hamper?

Question
Hello..I have a 2 year male Rat Terrier that is neutered.  He goes into my dirty clothes hamper and takes out my underwear and takes them someone where and sniffs them i guess..he does it often enough and it gets annoying because i never catch him actually doing it..i always find my under wear some where like under my bed or in a place where he will take them.  He usually does this when i away from the house and he is roming freely throughout my home.  Why does he do this and can i stop him from doing this?

Thanks

Answer
Many dogs have an "affection" for underwear and socks because these articles hold the scent of the owner.  Confine your dog to one room when you are not at home (such as the kitchen) with some special toys and treats and keep the hamper in a room behind a closed door.