2-year-old Shih Tzu began to scratch the floor
I am writing from Argentina. I have a 2-year-old Shih Tzu named Sandy. A couple of months ago she began to scratch the floor, especially inside the bathroom. I've checked her nails, and they are not as long as they should be.
Sandy's new digging activity sounds like compulsive behavior. Although compulsive behaviors serve no actual purpose or function, they are repeated over and over again. These behaviors often develop in bored dogs or dogs that spend long periods of time alone or confined. Frustrated energy finds an outlet, and the physical act of digging is a common occurrence.
The drive to dig is highly ritualized and easily can develop into a compulsive behavior. Dogs dig for several reasons, including to make an area more comfortable (nesting); to "go to earth" in response to a predatory drive; to express pent-up, frustrated energy; and to escape from confinement. Excessive digging behavior may draw an owner's attention, whether negative or positive, thereby adding an incentive for its repetition. The behavior may not make the hard floor more comfortable or allow the dog any hunting success, but it works to express frustrated, pent-up energy and also might work to draw an owner's focus and attention. These results make the seemingly purposeless behavior meaningful and effective.
Compulsive behavior treatment involves redirection of energy with play, training and environment enrichment. Excessive confinement and boredom can cause frustration and result in negative redirection. Dogs that are kept busy and have plenty of comfortable space and sufficient sources for self-entertainment, such as toys and bones, are less likely to develop compulsive behaviors.
You may try interrupting her floor-digging behaviors by using an impersonal remote correction, such as briefly shaking a plastic bottle containing several pennies and gently stopping her with a pull on a leash at the exact same time. This allows the sound of the penny bottle to become a secondary reinforcer to stop the behavior, and it should work to interrupt her even when the leash is off. But be sure not to give her any attention at all, not even when she stops, or you'll be compelling her with your attention. Attention during digging behavior can be easily misunderstood as reinforcement for the problem behavior, but being too enthusiastic with positive reinforcement when she stops also can contribute to the problem. When an owner gets emotionally involved right at the moment when a dog stops an inappropriate behavior, the dog is being reinforced positively by the owner, but may learn an undesirable sequence-begin to dig, stop digging, receive attention. The situation requires no attention from the owner at either end of the behavioral spectrum-both positive and negative. Lying down and chewing on a bone without any direction from the owner would be a desirable alternative for the dog to redirect itself to.
When my little son interrupts me as I am typing this, I do not address him. He eventually gives up and begins to read one of his picture books. It would be a mistake to now personally reward him-reading offers its own reward, and I do not want to engage his attention right when I'm trying to help him learn a bit of self-entertainment. But before I sat down to work, I fed him lunch and then played with him; I made sure his books and crayons were right next to me at his "desk." I am in a room that is toddler-proofed, and I have a baby gate keeping him in the room with me. The same principle applies to your little dog: Interrupt the undesirable behavior without attention or punishment; have already strategically provided plenty of alternatives; be sure the dog is comfortable; be sure the area is safe if your dog is confined; and make sure you have provided plenty of attention and exercise before allowing your dog access to the areas where she normally demonstrates her undesirable behavior.
If your dog fails to respond to your attempts at treatment, ask your veterinarian to refer you to a qualified veterinary behaviorist for assistance. Dogs with compulsive behavior problems sometimes benefit from behavioral drug therapy as well as behavior modification.
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