Hi Bruce,

I'm no expert but I would be worried about staining the carpet with a powder/water mix. If it was me, and I had a few pods, I'd try boiling them in some vinegar/water solution to extract some capsaicin and spray it in the areas needed. No guarantee that it won't stain but it seems like a safer option to me. Just my 2 cents.

Bill

Thanks Bill:
Yes, I was thinking of using a coffee filter to soak it in some hot water (maybe vinegar would be better) like tea. I wasn't simply going to put the powder in the water as it would probably clog a spray bottle.
This is what I will probably try unless someone else has any more advice.
Bruce

If he gets it on his paws and coat it will eventually end up on your hands, in your eyes, etc(as well as his). Try something like Bitter Apple spray, which is made for preventing pets from chewing/destroying bandages and things...tastes awful, but won't hurt. It's been around a long time and can be found where pet/livestock supplies are sold.
Also, if your pup is scratching at the carpet before he lays down, give him an old blanket or throw rug to rough up and teach him that that area is his bed...it's just his nesting instinct kicking in...all dogs do it, indoors or out(ever seen a dog scratch up the dirt before he lays in it?).

noinwi,

Good point regarding the pooch getting it on their paws and coat.

I was thinking just the odor of the capsaicin would cause the dog to avoid the area. It didn't occur to me some dogs may actually scratch/rub the sprayed area.

Our little guy hates the smell and clears the area whenever I cut up / cook with hot peppers. I guess he has more sense than me when it comes to eating some of the killer hots ;-)

Thanks for the tip on Bitter Apple spray.

noinwi:
I will give that Bitter Apple spray stuff a try if I can find it. I have Walmart, Home Depot, Menards and a hardware/farm supply store nearby so hopefully someone will have it.

Good call on the peppers cuz I know how that stuff can spread.

Not to waste the pepper solution I made last night. (I put it in a coffee filter and steeped it in boiling water). One small whiff of the steam had me coughing for 10 minutes.
I am going to get a sprayer for the solution and since birds don't mind the capsicum, I am going to experiment with spraying it on my bird feeder to see if it keeps the squirrels away which spend hours a day sitting on the feeder pigging out.
If that doesn't work, I still have the "fencer" that I bought at an auction last summer.
Bruce

I'd be curious about whether that helps with the squirrel problems... I have three pecan trees that are infested with the things. My pit bull enjoys chasing - and on occassion catches a squirrel or two... however if spraying an area with capsaicin will drive them off, so much the better.

Thanks!

Well, Jschrstrcks, I will let you know but since we havent had a winter up here yet, the squirrels have been almost non-existent. By this time last year, I had already trapped and relocated 5 or 6 squirrels. But this year, I have only seen squirrels on my feeder three times. It looks like a more normal winter weather pattern is moving in now so I will probably get a chance to test the pepper spray in the next couple weeks or so.
Bruce

Here in florida we have scores of them but mostly in summer. My uncle who lives next door found a number of babies last year that had been blown out of the nest. I should say that his wife found them. I think 4 or 5 in total.

Here at least, winter is a slower time for the pests. Particularly interested in protecting my bird feeders. Despite being 8 feet off the ground, with a aluminum pie tin a foot or so above the feeders, those things still manage to chew holes in my feeders.

Ken