Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2011 21:03:22 GMT -5
I figured I should share my success with deterring them from digging up carpet, especially in front of doors 
Back when I first had this problem in several apartments before this one, I tried carpet protectors, blankets, etc to no avail. They would just get underneath and dig anyways Also, even with dig boxes, it doesn't deter digging in front of doors since it's more about seeing what's on the other side of the door than the urge to dig ;D Also, time-outs didn't work nor did I feel good about punishing for a natural behavior 
Well, in our new apartment, I decided to look for a mat or rug to put in front of doors to prevent further damage to the carpet. Bantha has become obsessed with digging in front of the bathroom door and has already pulled up a ton of carpet in one corner, and started on the other corner The others prefer to dig in front of the room door, even when it's open (there's a baby gate there).
I went several times to Walmart and Target to see what I could find, but I wasn't finding exactly what I was looking for (which I didn't really know what that was yet ;D). While at walmart picking up some groceries, I came across an isle towards the front of the store. It's had a bunch of microwaves, but something at the end of the isle caught my attention. 2'x4' plush berber accent rugs for $8 a piece!
PERFECT ;D I bought two of the thickest and heaviest ones I found (there were many different colors and styles).
When I got home, I cut slots on both upper corners to fit around the door entrance, enough to slid under the door and enough for the baby gate at the room door to hold it down. The thickness was perfect, filling the gap under the door. It also left plenty of coverage around the corners of the wall.
WORKED PERFECTLY ;D The first thing they tried to do was get underneath it, but it proved to be too heavy for them to want to keep going, and it was held down so well near the opening that they wouldn't even be able to get that far underneath ;D Then they started digging on it
No problem! Dig to your heart's content! ;D Bantha was confused at first as to why I didn't pick him up and place him elsewhere to distract him from digging there (yes, I tried this too with no success... he would just go right back ). Now they can dig all the want in front of the doors, and I don't have to worry about the carpet! WIN-WIN 
Here are some pictures:
Bedroom door
Behind bedroom door
Other side of bedroom door
Bathroom door (with a cardboard puppy pad holder I made in the corner ;D)
Showing the thickness
Back when I first had this problem in several apartments before this one, I tried carpet protectors, blankets, etc to no avail. They would just get underneath and dig anyways
Also, even with dig boxes, it doesn't deter digging in front of doors since it's more about seeing what's on the other side of the door than the urge to dig ;D Also, time-outs didn't work nor did I feel good about punishing for a natural behavior 
Well, in our new apartment, I decided to look for a mat or rug to put in front of doors to prevent further damage to the carpet. Bantha has become obsessed with digging in front of the bathroom door and has already pulled up a ton of carpet in one corner, and started on the other corner
The others prefer to dig in front of the room door, even when it's open (there's a baby gate there).I went several times to Walmart and Target to see what I could find, but I wasn't finding exactly what I was looking for (which I didn't really know what that was yet ;D). While at walmart picking up some groceries, I came across an isle towards the front of the store. It's had a bunch of microwaves, but something at the end of the isle caught my attention. 2'x4' plush berber accent rugs for $8 a piece!
PERFECT ;D I bought two of the thickest and heaviest ones I found (there were many different colors and styles).When I got home, I cut slots on both upper corners to fit around the door entrance, enough to slid under the door and enough for the baby gate at the room door to hold it down. The thickness was perfect, filling the gap under the door. It also left plenty of coverage around the corners of the wall.
WORKED PERFECTLY ;D The first thing they tried to do was get underneath it, but it proved to be too heavy for them to want to keep going, and it was held down so well near the opening that they wouldn't even be able to get that far underneath ;D Then they started digging on it
No problem! Dig to your heart's content! ;D Bantha was confused at first as to why I didn't pick him up and place him elsewhere to distract him from digging there (yes, I tried this too with no success... he would just go right back ). Now they can dig all the want in front of the doors, and I don't have to worry about the carpet! WIN-WIN Here are some pictures:
Bedroom door
Behind bedroom door
Other side of bedroom door
Bathroom door (with a cardboard puppy pad holder I made in the corner ;D)
Showing the thickness
.
;D