Dog owners know that caring for our four-legged companions means more than just regularly filling their dish—it’s also about teaching your pup the social skills it needs to fit in with the pack by training out unwanted behavior. We’ve all seen both small and large dogs that excitedly jump up on grandma, tug relentlessly on the leash during walks, or leave deep dog scratches in the front door when we leave for work.
Ruling out these behaviors is not as simple as scolding your dog when they misbehave; it’s important to redirect their energies and reinforce good behavior habits by providing them with alternative, approved actions. In this article, we will address the easiest way to help kick your dog’s door scratching habit, as well as why positive reinforcement during dog training works!
Best Way to Prevent Dog Scratches
Whether you’re renting your home or paying a mortgage, there can be nothing quite so dismaying as the first time you notice your dog has been digging into the door with its claws. On the simple end, fixing this can look like taking the door off its hinges, sanding it down, repainting or refinishing it, and then re-installing it to the door frame—and on the other end of the spectrum such as with materials less pliable than wood, you’ll simply need to buy a new door altogether.
Not everyone has the budget to buy a new front door every week—so the best way to reduce door scratching behaviors in your dog is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Here are the top seven tips for keeping your dog from scratching your door!
Offer engaging alternatives to destructive behavior:
Dog personalities can range from energetic and wound tight as a drum to floppy, cuddly, and unconcerned. A huge part of our job as pet parents is understanding our dog’s unique needs—whether they are medical, mental, emotional, or hygienic.
If your dog tends toward destructive behavior, take care that you offer them enough mental stimulation in your absence that they do not turn to chewing, scratching, ripping, or digging anywhere they shouldn’t. This can look like providing your dog with tough chew toys, a yard to roam, or even a playmate. Remove any items that might be confusing to your dog, such as holiday decorations that resemble dog toys, and do your best to remove items from your dog’s reach that might be considered “tempting.”
Keep your dog’s nails trimmed:
It might seem obvious, but staying on top of maintaining your dog’s nails can help minimize the impact in the event that they do decide to scratch at your glass door. This not only reduces the likelihood of them damaging your property but, also diminishes the chance of them inadvertently injuring a family member as well.
Find ways to soothe separation anxiety:
Some dogs—especially those bred and born to run, herd, or work—have a hard time being still, and an even harder time relaxing unless they have constant stimulation from their owner. These dogs are best served by providing them with a task in the event you leave the house, such as a toy stuffed with peanut butter, a licking mat (which releases endorphins), a snuffle mat, or even calming CBD treats or prescription medicine. Another idea to soothe separation anxiety is to work towards crate training your dog, so they have a safe space to be while you’re away.
Manage their energy levels:
Another important factor in preventing unwanted behavior in dogs is to ensure they are getting enough exercise. This can look like getting up 30 minutes earlier in the morning to take them for a walk or a jog, throwing a ball for them a few times over the course of the day, taking them swimming, or even enrolling them in an agility course.
Use a baby gate:
If training endeavors aren’t quite enough to completely prevent your dog from scratching altogether, a baby gate can be a great solution! By limiting your dog’s free space to roam within the house, you are better able to control what they have access to, and what they don’t.
Reinforce with a door protector:
If the baby gate approach isn’t your style, you can always use a door protector over the most commonly targeted areas on your front door to prevent lasting damage from your dog. In their most subtle form, these door protectors are transparent, simple to install, and easy to maintain, and often only cost between $30-$50—much cheaper than the price of a new door or a rental deposit! Home Depot and Lowe’s will have the best options and an easy quick fix. Hopefully this will keep the front of the door, door frame and door jambs clear of scratch marks.
Install a doggy door:
While this solution may not be applicable for those who rent their homes, for those who have the freedom to install a pet door, this can be a fantastic way to keep both pup and pup parent happy! Sometimes dog scratching at the door is not anxiety at all, but a natural response to wild animals outside, such as squirrels or deer. When you give your dog access to its backyard, there will be no reason for it to try to force its way outside to investigate! Doggy door installation can cost anywhere between $100 and $2000.
What Is Positive Reinforcement, and How Does It Work?
When it comes to training your dog, many owners find that the path to genuinely lasting and impactful results happens when you set your dog up for success during training. But what does that mean exactly? And what does it have to do with positive reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement is the type of training in which a dog owner rewards their pooch for executing wanted behaviors with praise, treats, or both. This reward-based training process relies on owners setting clear, achievable boundaries and rules for their dog, providing them with ample opportunities to choose to behave the “right” way. This means consistently praising “good” behavior and consistently redirecting bad behavior—and it also means paying attention to when you reward your dog with what it wants.
For example, if your dog is clawing at the door to go outside, don’t give in and open the door for them! This essentially rewards (or positively reinforces) door scratching behavior in your pooch, as it got what it wanted (to go outside) after performing an undesirable behavior.
Monitor Your Dog’s Behavior and Set Clear Boundaries
Dogs are smarter than we think and pick up on subtle cues from their owners—from linguistic commands to body language and tone of voice. Much like people, dogs with high levels of drive, energy, or intelligence often need more mental stimulation to prevent destructive behaviors. One common manifestation of this is through repetitive door scratching and, while this is decidedly an unwanted behavior with potentially expensive consequences, it is also a sign that an owner might need to get a little more creative about ensuring their dog’s holistic needs are met.
Whether this is through calming medication, nail trimming, constant positive reinforcement and redirecting, or physically protecting the door with a cover or baby gate, the best solution for preventing your dog from scratching up your door lies in prevention, which begins with taking an honest look at your dog’s unique needs. If all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with consulting a dog trainer.
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