Dog keeps scratching door when left alone

This is a tough problem. Your dog scratches at the door, and you want to go to him to tell him to stop. But then he learns that scratching at the door gets him what he wants – your attention. So what should a dog owner do? This post will help you come up with your own ideas on

How to stop your dog from scratching at the door.

1. Prevent the habit in the first place.

If you prevent a problem from starting, the dog will never even think of doing it. My own dog Ace never had the opportunity to scratch at the door because I almost always took him outside on a slip leash. The scratching and barking habit never developed. These days, I can leave him outside alone and it never occurs to him to scratch or bark.

2. Ignore the unwanted behavior.

If your dog does bark or scratch at the door while you’re inside, I recommend you get up and walk out of the room. Get to where your dog can’t see you. Teach him that barking or scratching actually makes you disappear. Once he’s quiet and not scratching, return and let him in.

You can also teach your dog not to scratch by setting up scenarios where he is likely to scratch. For example, put him in a bedroom and shut the door. If he scratches, ignore him until he has stopped scratching for 30 seconds. Then open the door. Repeat this a few times each day at various doors. You are teaching your dog that scratching does not get him what he wants. He gets a reward only if he is quiet and keeps his paws off the door.

3. Create healthy separation more often.

Perhaps your dog doesn’t like to be away from you. Try teaching your dog a solid stay command and then leaving him on his dog bed or in different places throughout the house or yard while you walk away. Your goal should be to reach an advanced level where you can tell your dog to stay while you walk from the yard and into the house. Then, return to your dog and reward him with treats! This type of training will help build your dog’s self-control and lessen his dependence on being near you at all times.

4. Firmly yell “No!”

There is a lot of talk about positive reinforcement, and that’s generally a good thing. With some dogs, though, a firm voice correction can go a long way. While you don’t want to give a dog attention for a behavior you do not like, showing your disapproval will be enough to stop some dogs. It will not work for others. If your dog is scratching or barking at the door, you would want to yell “NO!” right as he does the behavior. Then, wait a few seconds until he is quiet. Reward the dog for a different behavior such as “sit” or “down” and then let the dog inside. You can also use unpleasant sounds as the correction such as shaking a can of coins.

5. Use a heavy-duty dog door.

If you don’t mind allowing your dog the freedom to go in and out as he pleases, chew-proof dog doors are an option. These doors are easy to install and are weatherproof even for the most brutal Midwest winters. If you use a dog door, your dog will have the freedom to go in and out as he pleases, erasing the scratching problem.

How have the rest of you stopped your dog’s from scratching at the door?

There are many possible reasons that your dog could be scratching at your door, but they all stem from the same basic cause: attention. Of course, the moment you give them what they want — your attention — they learn that more of the same behavior is likely to give them more of what they want. Not only is this habit annoying, but it can do a great deal of damage to your doors too, especially with larger dogs.

In this article, we’ll explore six simple steps to stop your dog from scratching doors and the possible reasons behind the behavior. You may need to employ a combination of these techniques to get the result you desire, or your pooch may quickly learn from only one. Here’s how to get your dog to stop scratching doors:

Why Is My Dog Scratching at The Door?

The first step in stopping your pooches from scratching the door is finding out why they are doing it in the first place. Once you know why, you can proceed to how to stop it effectively. Most of the time, the main reason for door scratching is separation anxiety. Your dog sees you leaving and believes that you’ll never return. They may also need to go outside to do their business and are trying to let you know, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but they can easily learn another way to get your attention. Dogs that get overly excited when going out for a play or walk will also often scratch at the door.

The reason for dogs scratching doors basically comes down to one thing: They are trying to get your attention in some way, and you’ll need to redirect this behavior into something healthier.

The 6 Simple Steps to Get Dogs to Stop Scratching Doors:

While this is easier said than done, stopping your dog from developing the bad habit of door scratching in the first place is the first step. Even if your dog is already in the habit, taking them out for frequent toilet breaks, walks, and play sessions will prevent them from wanting to go outside, as you’ll have already given them the opportunity.

Every dog is different, though, so only you will know how often this should be. Dogs with high energy should be taken out for exercise and play sessions far more frequently. Good training begins in puppyhood and in the home, and taking them outside is an ideal opportunity to start basic command training. Before you take your dog outside, make them sit first, preferably with a leash on. Only once they are calmly sitting in front of the door should you open it, and even then, they shouldn’t be allowed to simply run off. This may take time to get right but will save you a ton of headaches in the future.

If you have a dog that lives outdoors most of the time, the reverse applies. The more you play with them and exercise them, the less likely they will scratch at the door to get your attention.

While preventing the behavior in the first place is the best point to begin, this habit may already be ingrained in your dog. The next step is the technique often employed in reward-based training, which is to ignore any bad behavior when it occurs and reward only good behavior. Even reprimanding your dog is a form of attention — the exact thing your dog is likely looking for — so ignoring the bad behavior is often, but not always, the best course of action.

It can be difficult, but when your dog is scratching at the door, try and ignore the behavior until they settle down. Only once they stop the scratching and are calm and collected should you go to them. You can then address their needs (usually, they want to go out or come in) and give them praise or a treat for calming down. Of course, there is often a good reason that your pooch needs to go outside, but they shouldn’t scratch the door down to get your attention.

Ignoring the behavior is particularly difficult in large breed dogs, both for you and your door. You may consider purchasing a door scratch shield to protect your door until the habit has stopped.

Managing your dog’s excitement levels when you leave and enter through the door for walks, play sessions, or when you otherwise go out is essential to stop your dog from scratching. It may be challenging, but you should hold off on too much affection during these times and wait with your dog until they are calm and collected before opening the door. Small distractions like chew toys or balls will divert their attention and keep them occupied while you are away.

The same goes for when you come home to your dog or bring them back from a walk. Your dog may be overly excited to see you and jump up and down and bark or whine, but try and maintain a calm energy. This is not to say that you should ignore them, but keeping calm will help your dog disassociate the door with excitement and make them less likely to scratch. A calm petting and softly spoken greeting are perfect, and again, once they have matched your energy and are calm, you can give them a proper greeting.

Some dogs are perfectly fine being alone at home without their owners, but others may find it highly distressing. Even if you have a clingy lapdog, it is important for their mental health (and yours!) to manage being separated at times.

You can begin by making them sit and stay in certain places around your home and then reward them when they obey. This may take patience and dedication but will likely help with separation anxiety because your dog will quickly learn that you always come back. Once you have mastered this practice, you can start leaving them inside and walk through the door. Once they learn that staying will earn them praise and treats, they are likely to obey and hopefully, stop scratching the door.

If reward-based methods and ignoring the behavior is not working, you’ll need to start employing firm correction commands to correct the habit. This does not involve hitting or shouting, but firm, confident commands.

You’ll need to either catch your dog in the act or leave them shut in a room to provoke the scratching. As soon as your dog starts, you need to look directly into their eyes with an air of leadership. Point your finger and firmly but gently say, “No.” Again, the aim is not to scare your dog into submission by shouting, but just to make sure they are well aware of your disapproval. Keep staring at your dog until they stop the scratching and are calm and sitting. Make them sit and stay and reward them with praise or a treat once they do. This may take several repetitions to get right, but you should limit the practice to a maximum of 10 minutes a day.

If you are away from home frequently and you’d like your dog to come and go inside the house as they please, installing a dog door may be a great option. Some of these doors are weather-sealed and lockable, and some can even only be opened with your dog’s unique ID tag to prevent unwanted strays from entering your home. Your dog will then have the freedom to come and go, stopping the problem of scratching altogether.

A final option may be to install a pet gate to stop your dog from even getting to the door. These are easy to set up and move around the house and are a great option while you are still in the process of training your pooch.

Final Thoughts

As with any undesirable behavior that your pooch is exhibiting, the solution almost always lies in patient and dedicated training. Training your dog from an early age will help stop bad habits from beginning in the first place, or it’ll help quickly rectify problems like door scratching when they start. Patiently employing one or more of these techniques should help rectify the habit of door scratching or prevent it from happening in the first place.

Featured Image: A-photographyy, Shutterstock