Dog keeps digging at same spot in carpet

Dear Cathy,

For the previous few weeks, my 10-year-old poodle has been pawing the rug in my front room. As a end result, the nape is being pulled up. Please inform me why he’s doing this and the way I will deal with this example rather then correcting him with a no command. — Evelyn, Massapequa, NY

Dear Evelyn,

I’m really not positive why you do not want to right kind the conduct with a “no” command, however your canine is also doing it as a result of he smells one thing in that spot that you’ll’t locate. I’d do 3 issues.

First, glance underneath the carpet and padding to peer if there may be any meals or toy that would possibly have wiggled its manner into the world. Vacuum the padding to make sure.

Next, get an enzymatic cleaner at the puppy retailer to scrub the carpet itself. An enzymatic cleaner will consume up any biologicals (urine or poop) that can be attracting your canine to the world.

Finally, after cleansing the world, exchange your canine’s dependancy. If you’re reluctant to right kind your canine with a verbal “no” command, then shake a can of cash to break the conduct, say “here,” so your canine involves you, after which give him some other command, like “sit,” sooner than redirecting his consideration to a toy or deal with. After a couple of days, he’s going to most probably depart the spot by myself.

Dear Cathy,

Our 13-year-old Havanese has begun barking once we aren’t house. We most effective came upon this after putting in a video digital camera in our house that is going on when there may be noise. He barks each and every 10 to 15 mins once we aren’t at house. Since we are living in a indifferent house, we now have by no means heard from our neighbors that this has at all times befell. He is seldom left by myself, since my spouse and I are each semi-retired, and he used to be necessarily raised when I retired.

I have attempted looking ahead to this conduct to happen by means of staying in our driveway, in order that I will admonish him when he does it, however I feel he both can scent my presence or in any other manner is aware of I am there and does not bark. Any behavioral ideas could be liked. We reside in a semi-quiet house and the digital camera does now not select up sounds that he could be responding to. — Frank, Williston Park, NY

Dear Frank,

Barking within the house is a innocuous conduct until your neighbors can pay attention it and are complaining about it. While there may be in point of fact no approach to catch him in the act (sure, your canine is aware of you’re nonetheless in the driveway), you’ll acquire an ultra-sonic bark keep an eye on tool for within the house that emits a legitimate most effective animals can pay attention and that interrupts the conduct and prevents maximum canines from incessant barking.

However, should you assume it is a new conduct, please get his listening to checked. Some canines “alert” bark extra as they age as a result of they’re shedding their listening to.

Dear Cathy,

I learn your column each and every week and to find the subjects on cats useful as I’m a qualified cat sitter and feature been for 22 years. While your recommendation of hiring a vet tech for puppy sitting is a good suggestion, again and again it is a facet factor for them and they’ve no puppy sitting-specific insurance coverage, bond or license to accomplish this carrier. The same factor with having a neighbor or the KND (child subsequent door) deal with your puppy. If one thing occurs to the puppy, skilled puppy sitters have insurance coverage that may duvet emergency vet expenses, biting of folks or different pets, unintentional get away from the house, and sure, even loss of life. My insurance coverage additionally covers harm to the home executed by means of the puppy. Pet sitting is a industry, now not only a approach to make more cash for some. People can to find skilled puppy sitters by means of visiting petsit.com and petsitters.org. — Nanette, The Cat Lady, Las Vegas, NV

Dear Nanette,

With summer time right here and folks touring, puppy homeowners wish to know they may be able to depend on any person to correctly deal with their puppy. I do not vote for the “KND,” as you are saying — I misplaced a complete tank of fish one holiday since the energy went out, and the KND did not assume to name me and ask the best way to reboot the aquarium filter out. I vowed from that day ahead to at all times use skilled puppy sitters.

Hiring a qualified who is aware of the best way to deal with animals — and is correctly insured — is one of the best ways to ensure your puppy’s care while you’re away.

(Cathy M. Rosenthal is an established animal suggest, creator, columnist and puppy knowledgeable who has greater than 25 years in the animal welfare box. Send your puppy questions, tales and tricks to cathy@petpundit.com. Please come with your title, town, and state. You can apply her @cathymrosenthal.)

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