Footfalls and doors

     I said earlier that events most often take place in this house between election day and new years. But this year the house has been noiser than usual even into January. Footsteps have been heard on several occasions. Not in the upstairs hall and front staircase as is usual but coming out of the kitchen and into the dining room. In the past I have heard them coming from this direction and leading on into the library. But this year, I am in the library so the steps seem to end in the dining room.The downstairs back door on the western side of the house will not stay tightly closed even when locked. As the temperatures are hovering around 5 degrees here now at night, I don't need the backdoor to be ajar. The lock is turned and the door tested, it is tightly closed. Later entrance into the kitchen often finds the door ajar letting in considerable cold air. I may need to place a slidebolt on it; but that didn't cure the problem with the upstairs door to the porch. If this be spooks, I wish they would learn to close the door after themselves. My dog had a hackles up, snarling fit last night. I was in the library using the computer. My wife was not home from work as yet. The pup had lain about for some time in the vicinity of the radiator. He roused, looked intently toward the dining room and let out a couple low growls. I asked him what his problem was. He continued to snarl not taking his eyes off the darkened diningroom. His hackles went up and the snarls became almost frantic. I wasn't sure what had gotten him going but it unnerved me as well. I got up and preceeded to the dining room; turning on the lights. His reaction became less intent, but he was looking in the general direction of the diningroom table. Slowly, carefully, he made his way to the table, looked and sniffed about. Finally settled down. I have no idea what he saw or thought he saw.