Why is my 8 year old male boxer scratching in carpeted corners?

[FrazierDog]

My dog is eight years old and has always been kind of quirky or typical boxer behavior. This behavior only resently surfaced. I am now closing doors, and putting obstacle furniture (chairs), to ward off the ruination of my carpeting. I praise him when I come home and tell him not to scratch when he does. He knows NOT to do this, but I can't figure out WHY he is doing this? HELP!

 

[Shanz]

im a little confused. Is he scratching the carpet or scratching himself?

Recently we laid down some new carpet and my German Sheppard started scratching like crazy. never before was she allergic to carpeting, but she is now. We had to pull up all the carpeting and shes still scratching like crazy because we didnt wash the floor after we pulled up the carpeting so theres still i guess remnants of the carpet scent ot w/e was making her itch left on the floor.

So if hes scratching himself maybe hes developed an allergy to the rug, or a rug cleaner youve recently used

 

[bunkermom]

If he is scratching the carpet in the corner of the room then I would say he is bored. Try giving him a stuffed Kong the you have frozen while you are gone or try hiding treats around the area he has access to for him to find while you are gone.

If all else fails and you cant stop the scratching at the carpet then I would simply confine him to a different area or crate him while you are gone.

Autumn

PS explaining to him to not scratch the carpet is not going to work. It would be like someone speaking to you in a foreign language...you would not understand!! dogs dont know what 'carpet' means!!

 

[ladyluck_t]

Have you lifted the carpet in that area? Perhaps there is some mold or termites. this may be causing the sudden carpet problems. if possible, i would have it checked by a home inspector or someone like that,
If that is not the case, i would get your baby a complete health checkup, perhaps something is wrong, or an allergy is beginning.

 

[Vela]

I was also goig to suggest what Ladyluck did. If you have termites, ants or mold under the carpeting it could be causing him to dig the corners. Otherwise I don't really have any advice to offer but you should get that checked out just to be sure. Hope you get it figured out!