Scratching at the carpet

[HAH]

I wondered if anyone else had come across this behaviour, or had ideas for dealing with it?

For some months now, Kipper has intermittently scratched at the carpet. It's in several (carpeted) rooms, never on other flooring. His paws look and feel fine, and he doesn't chew at them or give the impression they're irritating him so I don't think it's (primarily) for itchiness - I think the act of scratching the carpet is in some way rewarding. His claws are recently trimmed; I don't think it's related to that, as he's done it with them at various lengths.

It tends to be worse late at night when he's overtired, he gets quite persistent and can be distracted by something if it's interesting enough, but then often goes back to the scratching. He'll scrabble with his front paws, and it becomes quite rhythmic as if he's getting into 'the zone'. In some rooms, he's raised the carpet at the edges and started unravelling it which is clearly rather fun. Here we've gaffer taped it down and put a stool in the way. In other places, he scrabbles away from the edges and where (at the moment) the carpet is still intact. The carpets have underlay, probably not great condition - but I don't think there's anything under the carpets that would be enticing him apart from damp (which could be attractive in some way?).

We need to re-carpet at some point, and I'll be even keener to curb this behaviour as then I'll care if they start unravelling
Any ideas for managing this? I'd hoped that he'd grow out of it/grow bored if we kept removing the really rewarding bit (i.e. the frayed edges) but it doesn't seem to be dying out...

 

[Oberon]

My only tip would be to get cut pile carpet, not looped carpet. Cut pile won’t unravel. Sorry, that is no immediate help!

Maybe it just feels nice? Does he look like he is digging? Can you get a vid?

 

[M.F.]

Snowie does the same. You can set your watch: every night at midnight he wakes up and digs in his bed. Very annoying as he’s destroyed a bed this way, and the new one has a little hole. Also it wakes us up. I quickly get out of bed and go put my hand on his neck or back and just hold it there, seems to distract him, and gently push him down to lie down. It all happens fairly quickly. I don’t say anything, too tired to wake up properly! Anyway, he doesn’t respond to voice in these moments, it’s as if he’s in a trance.

He also digs in other spots. I put down a blanket so that he can dig it into a ball. At these times I put his blanket in his favourite sleep corner and tell him to go sleepy. Which he does. But the wooden floor has scrapes from his nails.

I’m guessing it’s self-pacifying behavior. Or done to find a cool spot. I’ll be noting this thread for any advice because I really like his new bed and don’t want it ruined. And I hate being woken up every night at midnight!

 

[JES72]

Is there anything that could be making him anxious?

Scratching at the carpets is what Homer does when he's in a panic after hearing a noise he doesn't like such as the bin men, skip lorries, thunder and fireworks, even rain can set him off. He goes into the corners of the rooms upstairs and scratches frantically. It isn't one particular spot, he'll go to different corners around the house. Homer's scratching goes along with very heavy panting to the point of rasping breath and salivation. His scratching becomes rhythmical and obsessive and once in that state there is little I can do to sooth him.

Homer has managed to completely rip up the upstairs hall carpet and shed all the underlay. He'll move and push furniture out of the way to get to various corners.

Because of our experience with Homer I'd suggest you speak to your vet and a behaviourist.

 

[HAH]

Is there anything that could be making him anxious?

Hm, it's an interesting question and I'll keep an eye with this in mind, thank you; but it's normally when everything's very boring, and he appears to be looking for activity. He's easily put off if furniture's in the way, and he doesn't pant or seem strongly aroused in that sense. Homer's sounds like it must be distressing, I really feel for you. This could be an earlier manifestation of that type of behaviour, but I'm not seeing an obvious trigger or indication of discomfort as such.
Good tip on cut pile rather than loop pile, @Oberon - thank you (and now I have the right words to describe what I mean to a carpetmonger!)
He did it earlier, shortly after he'd finished his first ever pizzle stick - I videoed it so will upload.

 

[HAH]

here we go; volume is loud I’m afraid, and the clicks at the end are me, not a clicker Kipper scratching carpet

 

[Jennifer]

@HAH Scout scratches the carpet I would say with even more gusto than Kipper. Always the same spot and roughly the same time most nights after our evening walk. He gets excited about seeing OH again, because it's been all of half an hour, and scratches just before he settles down for a sleep. Scott occasionally does it. They both scratch their beds and make a nest out of their blankets. Whether Scout is doing it because of excitement or making an invisible nest I don't know but I would say he definitely isn't anxious. Unforunately apart from distraction I have no solution to offer. I don't think Kipper looks anxious or worried about anything in the video. He looks like he might be looking for something, he gives the carpet a sniff. Is that an area where he might have a chew or a biscuit ?

 

[HAH]

Thanks @Jennifer - that's reassuring in that Scott and Scout both do it and it sounds like Scout's behaviours are more familiar to me in terms of the lack of anxiety. It may well be exacerbated because of interesting smells in the carpet (it's an old carpet; the house owners before us had dogs, and there are definitely a few spots that are more interesting to Kipper than others ). There's also the outside possibility he's sensing woodlice; they do seem to pop up once in a while and I can only think it's from under the floor (which varies, but is flags over earth in lots of places). Replacing the carpet will hopefully solve a lot of these issues!

 

[Aitch]

Over the years some of my dogs have done this. I was told it was them trying to keep their nails short. Looking back that seems ridiculous now. I think it may be a way of using up that last little bit of energy before they settle down at night. Amber and Alex try to do it on the sofas at night. I have several dogs do it in the past and it does always seem to be in the evening.

 

[HAH]

Thanks @Jennifer - that's reassuring in that Scott and Scout both do it and it sounds like Scout's behaviours are more familiar to me in terms of the lack of anxiety. It may well be exacerbated because of interesting smells in the carpet (it's an old carpet; the house owners before us had dogs, and there are definitely a few spots that are more interesting to Kipper than others ). There's also the outside possibility he's sensing woodlice; they do seem to pop up once in a while and I can only think it's from under the floor (which varies, but is flags over earth in lots of places). Replacing the carpet will hopefully solve a lot of these issues!

 

[HAH]

I think it may be a way of using up that last little bit of energy before they settle down at night

I really like this idea, it makes it feel a lot more sensible (I wonder if other animals do this sort of thing?) Your experience makes sense to me @Aitch, as it's most common last thing in the evening just before Kipper flops for the night and generally he's already starting to look tired when he starts scratching. Thank you

 

[JES72]

Homer also scratches at his bed, or any bed, to make himself a nest. this is a different kind of scratching though.

Good to know that scratching isn't always anxiety as it is for Homer, just stimulation or self soothing for other dogs. I was worried when I first read your post before others replied.

Or maybe somethings buried under the flagstones...

 

[HAH]

Or maybe somethings buried under the flagstones.

 

[Jennifer]

@Aitch 's description sounds just like Scout. Both S&S scratch the couch too. In fact there is now a massive rip in the cushion cover on Scout's end of the couch. It's an old couch but don't think I dare change it. Whatever the under cover of the cushion is made from, I guess the fire retardant stuff, they should make dog beds from it it's most definitely dog proof.

 

[M.F.]

Just to add: if you’re considering what type of carpet as the replacement, I can say that our Persian carpet has been dug up a million times and still looks brand new. I think two things: it’s loose (a rug), so it sometimes buckles up if Snowie can get a grip on it. And the pile is unbelievably amazing—no idea how to describe it, but he’s never caught a stitch and ripped it (touch wood!!). It was expensive, but clearly has been worth it!

 

[HAH]

Ooh, Persian carpet - hadn't even thought of that! In an ideal world we'd restore the flags and have carpets on top, but just not practical at the moment. I'll definitely explore the Persian rug option though, thanks @M.F.

 

[Beanwood]

Hmmmm.....even if it isn't anxiety related, and I tend to put self-soothing behaviours in the same bucket so to speak, I would still work hard on distraction, or providing a different outlet for this type of behaviour. The caveat here is I am no behaviourist btw....I just feel once a habit has developed they are a bugger to sort out. Cost us a new sofa in the end...

 

[HAH]

Thanks @Beanwood - that seems sensible too, in that anything repetitive is bound to stick and become a reward in itself.
Distractions are manageable, but I'm struggling a little to see what a different outlet might be for the scratching (maybe there isn't one?). Maybe just up the distractions and reward for different behaviours, to try and break the habit and reduce the need for self-soothing in this way?

 

[Beanwood]

How about something like a large snuffle mat... then move onto to something like a kong wobbler?

 

[HAH]

I like your thinking...never actually tried a snuffle mat although always liked the look of them. We've just got a Nina Ottosson Dog Pyramid job which I think is similar to the wobbler, and this is very popular although he gets quite excited by it so I'd been keeping it back from later in the evening to try and keep things low energy. I'll definitely look at snuffle mats, thank you

 

[Oberon]

My view of mild self soothing behaviours is to let them happen, if they’re otherwise harmless. They’re a coping strategy, so they serve a purpose (ie. anxiety reduction). As long as they’re not escalating, not physically damaging or risky to the dog, and not physically damaging to property (or carpet!!!) then I’d consider turning a blind eye. Trying to redirect or prevent mild versions of these behaviours may just deny the dog an effective way of managing low level anxiety.

Really obsessive, high anxiety or damaging stuff I’d put an end to (frantic behaviour, chewing self, chewing the house, crazy fly, light or shadow chasing) but I don’t mean that stuff.

Obi has two of these behaviours - sucking on his teddy’s face and also humping cushions. They’re both at a stable level (not escalating) and are a harmless outlet for him when he’s a bit over tired (cushion humping) or in need of some calming repetition (sucking teddy). We don’t try to stop them. We do note them as barometers of how he’s feeling and we adjust as needed eg by upping his entertainment/walks/training/attention.

Research in horses has found that suppressing mild stereotypic (repetitive, self soothing) behaviours like windsucking or cribbing increases stress and that it’s better to let the horse do them (while at the same time redoubling efforts to make sure the horse’s needs for forage, space/movement and friends are met). Might be the same in dogs...?

Anyway, just a thought!

 

[Selina27]

We do note them as barometers of how he’s feeling and we adjust as needed eg by upping his entertainment/walks/training/attention.