Everyone knows that the most important difference between rats and humans is that eventually rats will stop going down the same tunnel looking for the cheese. Apparently man’s best friend is also only as bright at humans. With enough scratching (and I would imagine quite a bunch of barking as well) Cujo may have gotten all the way through this wall and into the house----bypassing the door all together. The appearance of all of this damage to the garage wall is quite dramatic. One can see where the dog has clawed its way through the drywall and exposed the studs in the wall next to the door trim-----a little bit further to the left and he would have been into the open cavity and headed for the drywall on the other side. But the picture begs a few questions. How many times did Cujo turn the lights on and off? Did he do better work in the dark or with the light on? How many times did he actually un-latch the door without ever knowing that all he had to do was pull it towards him? Lastly----a proper cover plate on the switches is recommended for dog-safety. Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector
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Dogs can be determined!
Dogs are blindly loyal, which in a way explains the wall.
Man's best friend. Sure. They just want to be near you.
Where do you buy that color of wall board, I see it in so many older homes?
Rhonda, yes they can----oblivious to the damage they are doing----kind of like humans :)
Jim, compulsively loyal :)
Glenn----now THAT is interesting :) Poor judgement as well as loyal?
Paul, I have been asked that before----all drywall left exposed turns that nice yellow color :)
I guess if you are a god, and have nothing to do, scratching is cool! What a way to pass the time!
Charles - Dogs can be trained by their owners; it appears Cujo was self-taught.
I'm so glad that is not my house. That dog would have been headed to a new home.
Michael, boredom is a terrible thing :)
John---very good point
Lizette----same here
Didn't the owners notice what their dog was up to .....?
Stewart, people and there dogs are like people with unruly kids-----they think they don't have a choice.
Cujo? Too funny! Oh, and thank you for clearing up the difference between humans and rats!
Craig, somebody had to do it.
Our little dog, a Jack, was unawares to us trapped in the basement one day. She nearly chewed through the door framing to get out!
I think ALL dog codes require cover plates. I am shocked, shocked I tell you, that there is not one there!
Jay, do you think the dog "removed" it?
Hi Charles, your inquisitive mind and the questions are amazing.
Looks like that dog had some kind of personality disorder. I can't remember what it's called, but there's definitely a name for it. My mother in law once had a dog that completely destroyed her wall, windows, patio door, and carpet because he was so afraid of being left home alone.
Dale, I thought the questions were the best part :)
Michael, I wish I knew
Reuben, most animals can get "stuck" just like humans. I remember a dog once that used to hang out on the college campus. Everyone used to throw sticks for the dog to the point that it had no canines left----looked like a humans mouth when he opened it.
I can remember growing up,having two different dogs chew/claw through two different fiberglass garage doors after being locked inside.
Charles, our LOVELY family pets... LOL ...
With Texas heat 105 - or + per day with no rain, makes school miserable for the kids to return. I hope you have a great week.
Wyatt, they do love to chew
Lynn, we have been in the 90's and that is hot for us :)
Hey nice post and it is really helpful to me, to get my house inspected by one who is now best in his work.
Charlie,
You are one of the few people who would know what I mean when I say I have seen a ton of houses like that.
Torrance, not sure I understand what you have said :)
Steve, we do see them all the time I am afraid
So am I the only one wondering why the dog was so desperate to get out or in? Fresh water? Potty break? Sometimes the dumb animal is not the dog, but the owner!
Pat, I am afraid it takes two to tango :)
Poor puppy. It imazes me that people get a pet so they can lock it away. Unfortunately the dog had no choice....the humans...maybe they should have gold fish.
Diane, and then it would be poor goldfish :)
Mr Charles,
While Nutsy is in Alaska, if you require advice, I am as close as my Email address.
Wheatloaf, cousin to Nutsy