How to Stop My Dog from Scratching the Door

Dogs scratch on doors for a wide variety of reasons. When they do, they can be tearing up and scratching the doors. If your dog is scratching on your sliding glass door, they can leave scratch marks in the glass from their nails. Some of the more common reasons your furry family member is scratching on your doors include:

1. They want to be let inside or want to go outside. When your dog wants to come inside or needs to go outside to use the bathroom, they may get overly excited and scratch at the door.
2. They are experiencing separation anxiety. Dogs like having someone to be with, whether it is their pet parents, another dog, or even a cat. Dogs are social animals. When they are left all alone, they can experience separation anxiety, so they scratch at the door to try to find you.
3. They want to know what is behind the door. Dogs are also very curious about their surroundings. When they encounter a closed door, they want to know what is behind that door. So, their focus is to get the door open by scratching on it.
4. They are bored. If your dog is left alone all day while you are at work, boredom can set in if they do not have plenty of toys to keep them occupied. When your dog gets bored, they will find ways to entertain themselves, such as scratching on the door.
5. There is something out there. Your dog may see or sense the presence of a stranger or an animal like a fox, or they may hear other dogs barking in the distance.

Fortunately, there are several effective ways to get your dog to stop scratching at the door.

Train Your Dog

Spend some time to teach your dog that scratching at the door is not acceptable behaviour. You want to nip this bad habit in the bud as soon as possible.

You will want to start working with your puppy when you first bring them home. If you adopt an older dog, you will want to retrain them quickly. You can also hire a professional dog trainer for assistance.

Install a Barrier

You could install a baby gate or dog gate to make access to the door more difficult. Barriers are also a good solution if you want to keep your dog contained in one room and not have them scratch up the door. You can open the door so they can see out, but they cannot leave the room.

Ignore Your Dog

Teaching your dog that you will not react when they start scratching at the door to be let inside can help break this bad habit. If your dog can see you through the door or a window, move to another room of the home where they cannot see you.

Reward Healthy Habits

Another way to train your dog to stop scratching at the door is to reward them for healthy habits. For example, if they are scratching at the back door to come inside, ignore them. Once they stop scratching, wait about 30 seconds. Now open the door and reward them.

Repeat this process each time they go outside and want to come back in by increasing the interval they stop scratching by 30 seconds each time. You are using positive reinforcement to teach them that scratching the door does not get them what they want.

Install a Doggie Door

One of the easiest ways to prevent your dog from developing this bad habit is to install a doggie door for them to use. Dog doors make it easy for your dog to go outside and come back indoors, so they will be less likely to scratch at the door.

You can find dog doors that work with various door styles, including screen doors, glass doors, wooden doors, and more at Australia Pet Doors. We also have dog doors that work with your dog’s microchip and lock and unlock just for your dog. Please feel free to browse our selections online or contact us at 0437-644-330 for further assistance today!