Digging Up the Carpet?
Anyone know how to stop this behavior? P.S. I am going to go pick up some books this weekend on behavior training for dogs. Obviously Sam has had very little training. Any recommendations on which books to get? |
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| For understanding canine behavior the best book I have every read and recommend to all dog owners is Culture Clash (Paperback), by Jean Donaldson. It also has some training stuff in it.
The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training, by Paul Owens, Norma Eckroate is also suggested here, but I haven't read it. For training itself, you should enroll in an obedience class if at all possible. Just make sure iot is postive based. A couple good dog training books are: The Power of Positive Dog Training (Paperback), by Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson. or How to Teach a New Dog Old Tricks (Paperback), by Ian Dunbar. Oh, and as for the diggin in the carpet...My Bosley does the same thing, and trust me, he has never been tied up anywhere or left outside for extended lengths of time. It is a natural behavior. Toss him a towel he can scrunch up as he pleases. |
| For dog psychology, I like
The Dog Listener: Learn How to Communicate with Your Dog for Willing Cooperation, by Jan Fennell and Cesar's Way : The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems (Hardcover), by Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier. For practical training / behavior advice, I love Good Owners, Great Dogs, by Brian Kilcommons, Sarah Wilson. |
BatonRougeSheepies wrote: Sam has taken to scratching the carpet/rugs like he would be digging dirt prior to laying down. I assume that since he was chained up outside he dug in the dirt for the cooler ground before laying down.
Anyone know how to stop this behavior? P.S. I am going to go pick up some books this weekend on behavior training for dogs. Obviously Sam has had very little training. Any recommendations on which books to get? Not necessarily. All of mine do it. Clyde even "digs" the tile floor in the bathroom. I have no idea why. I don't find it to be a big deal until, every once in awhile, Clyde hops up on the couch and wants to. We'll stop him from doing it and he'll look up like, "Woah, I forget where I was for a second." It's almost like something comes over them and they have to do it! I like Cesar's Way a lot and I'm only part way through it. Watch the tv show if you have it. We've gotten so much out of it. I thought he was kind of a whacko when I first heard of him but, after watching and reading, we're hooked. |
| I've learned on other boards that dogs generally do this as their form of Nesting before they lay down. Building the area up so it's more comfortable. I'll make her blanket all fluffy and comfy... and the dogs will come digging until it's just right. ...which is basically a mess and they end up laying on only the very thin part that has no cushion. They do the same thing to the couch and floor. |
| Walter does it to his bed too...and it's pretty funny that he ends up on the part with the least cushion, or on the bare floor!
I wonder if they ever do that because of some sort of irritation between pads on the feet...as if to file their claws or try to remove some irritant? Any thoughts on that? Another good read is The Other End of the Leash (Paperback), by Patricia McConnell "The Dog Listener" is also very good (even though I'm only halfway through) |
Quote: Another good read is The Other End of the Leash (Paperback), by Patricia McConnell
I LOVE this book. Not so much for training or learning stuff, but a very easy reading book with lots of insight. One of my favs  |
| It is funny this comes up now, as Sky has just started doing this in the last few days.... weird...LOL |
| Stace- is she going to be coming into heat? It might be a behavioral thing linked to an increase in hormones... I remember Eve used to have a lot of nesting behaviors right before she went into heat...
Other then that, no advice guys, but I'm enjoying the stories  |
They seem to have some strange behaviors,  Bear and Dandi not only scratch at our kitchen tile, but are teething, and actually scrape their teeth on the gout inbetween the ceramic tiles, ewwwwwwwwwww
If you find the answer pass it on, hehehehee LOL 
Eve |
| All 3 of mine do it but for different reasons. Toby will only dig to push every piece of fabric in his crate, under the bowls. For some reason he hates to lay on blankets and all the stuffies have to be out of the way.
Norman will dig for attention. He digs, you yell, he looks at you and laughs. Carl digs like he's making for China when we sit at our desk. That plastic thing that you roll the chair around on makes him want to dig like crazy! If it wasn't plastic he'd probably make it through to the foundation of the house. This digging thing is weird. |
My dog was at a Groomers in New Jersey She said she cut his hair and put him in a open cage. She looked over and he was digging steadily into the carpet. She said she then found him dead. Maybe he was in distress, couldn't breathe maybe she should have paid more attention...I interviewed this lady prior to using her services, left a card with all their info including my Cell. She called to tell me "He blew one!" meaning he had died. Be careful when you are just assuming that certain behaviors are amusing. This has broken my heart and left me with terrible guilt. |
| I've heard it is a built in instinct from when they slept outdoors...they scratch to removes bugs and fleas from the area thay want to lay down on.
Max does it all the time....on carpet. |
| Our situation is more serious. I will get the recommended books and read them. Our mini Schnauser ruined a three year old $1,000 couch in one night. Bought a $1,200 leather couch and his scratching is ruining the finiish of that. If I cannot get him to stop he must go. |
| I'd put dog throws on the couch before I'd depart with the dog. Putting material things ahead of a loved companion.
As for the nesting, yes, Glacier does this every night. I have learned where she prefers to sleep and covered the area with inexpensive rugs...over the carpet, yep. She can scratch to her heart's content. However, I do discourage her nesting on the old more expensive Karastan, but it's falling apart anyway so I shouldn't be so......as I said above.....materialistic. It's only a thing. |
barmar610@embarqmail.com wrote: Our situation is more serious. I will get the recommended books and read them. Our mini Schnauser ruined a three year old $1,000 couch in one night. Bought a $1,200 leather couch and his scratching is ruining the finiish of that. If I cannot get him to stop he must go.
The simple solution is deny the dog access the things which you don't want harmed and offer alternatives, such as his own bed with blankets or towels that he can nest in to his heart's content. If he's scratching/destroying when out of your sight, simply make sure he has no access to those areas when he's not with you, until you're able to teach him what is and is not acceptable. Dogs shouldn't be disposable, and training is the way to go. There are lots of resources out there, books, web articles, trainers and even forums like this one who can offer help and direction. Please give this a try. |
barmar610@embarqmail.com wrote: Our situation is more serious. I will get the recommended books and read them. Our mini Schnauser ruined a three year old $1,000 couch in one night. Bought a $1,200 leather couch and his scratching is ruining the finiish of that. If I cannot get him to stop he must go.
I wouldn't let a two year old alone with new furniture - neve mind the dogs :0
Baby gates cost less than $10 at Target. |
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