Dog Scratching Carpet

Kevie192

Hi all,

After a bit of behavioural help with our 2 year old crossbreed, Duke.

A couple of weeks ago, we went out and managed to leave the window open in the bedroom. This makes the door rattle and when we came home we saw that the dog had been scratching at the carpet and damaged it fairly badly.

Now, everytime we go out and come back, he repeats this act; chewing or scratching the carpet. We've tried obstructing him with his cage but he pulls it out and gets to the carpet. Tried obstructing with a bit of wood today and he pulled that out too.

It can't be a boredom thing because he does it even if we go out for a short period of time and the damage doesn't seem to be worse if we leave him for longer. He knows it's bad because you can tell instantly if he's been doing it when you come in as his head will be down and he'll be acting like he knows he's done wrong.

We live in a rented house and I'm scared he might start to do the same at other doorways and we cannot afford to replace the whole carpet!

Any ideas on how we can get him to stop?? I've tried carpet tape to keep it down but he just rips it up.

Thanks,

Kevin

HappyMJ

Toys...lots of them...that's the cost of having pets...you should be able to find some cheap carpet of the same or simlar quality to the one you have. Keep an eye out for offcuts that are the exact dimensions of your room at the local carpet shop. Replace it at the end of the tenancy.

Kevie192

He has a full kong, 2 nylabones, 2 ropes and a massive rope ball left with him already when we go out. Is that not enough?

We thought about 'simulating' us going out but really one of us would stay in the bedroom waiting for him to start scratching and then give him a firm 'NO' if he does. Not sure if that would work?

The carpet will be cheap enough to replace but we are talking about the hallway here. It's the top landing he's damaged now but if he chews the bottom that's quite a lot of carpet and a very awkward shape so we'd need to get a fitter. Not cheap!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Could you have rodents under the floorboards?

Kevie192

I don't think so... The floor in question is above the lounge. Surely we'd hear them running around wouldn't we?

HappyMJ

Kevie192 wrote: »

I don't think so... The floor in question is above the lounge. Surely we'd hear them running around wouldn't we?

Do you have bigger ears than the dog? My dog hears people walking up the drive...I can't hear them.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Kevie192 wrote: »

I don't think so... The floor in question is above the lounge. Surely we'd hear them running around wouldn't we?

Mice are very quiet. To us.

But dogs and cats can hear them squeaking.

Kevie192

Hmmm... How would we tell? Or should we get some kind of ultrasonic scarer ?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Check for chewed packaging in the cupboards.

Rodent poo.

A dog going mental trying to get under the carpet.

Chewed spare bedlinen.

Cats spending time around a particular corner, making lots of noise at night.

mountainofdebt

I don't know if its the same thing but our mutt scratches at our carpet when he's settling down. Strangely enough he only started doing after he went missing over night

He tends to do it in the same spot as well

zaksmum

One of my dogs scratches the carpet when she wants something...to go out, or to play, or a toy that she wants and can't reach.