Ok, I guess I missed the thread about Buddy being adopted.

Of course scratching posts are a must. But Taz trained himself to scratch on an area rug. When I first moved in with Bruce I didn't bring it and he was scratching on other things. I brought down the rug as soon as I could and he will run back to the bedroom (we keep it back there because it is a tattered old rug) to sharpen his claws on it.
I am going through the training a cat to scratch phase as we speak. Paizly like to scratch on the carpet, and we have berber carpet. Her nails are not doing too much damage because she's still so small. But I need to redirect her starting NOW.

I'm glad he's not just going out and getting him declawed and that he's willing to work with your suggestions.

Good luck!