Scooting (dragging the rear)

Let's talk about scooting. First, see your vet, because scooting is almost always full or impacted anal glands, and occasionally tapeworms or a perineal issue. You cannot behavior-train an anal gland.

Step one: vet visit, get the glands manually expressed. Step two: if it recurs within a month, add fiber — plain canned pumpkin, or a vet-recommended fiber supplement sprinkled on the food. Step three: rule out food allergies with the vet, because chronic soft stool is the most common cause of recurring gland issues.

Step four: keep the rear area clean and trimmed for hygiene. Step five: train the dog for your family and your neighbors, not just yourself. That means company does not get to watch your dog drag her rear across the living-room rug.

Now, the deeper fix: scooting is not a habit, it is a symptom. Express the glands, fix the fiber, and the scooting stops. Now here's Steve's notes.