How to stop dog from scratching door: There are times when your dog scratches at the door and you feel like telling your pet friend to stop. This is a challenge to many pet owners as the dog scratches make the door lose its beauty.
The dog scratching at the door mainly comes as a result of trying to get in and out of the house or to get your attention. As a homeowner, you need to protect the door from dog scratches or stop the dog from scratching the door.
Today we are going to look at ways on how to stop your dog from scratching at the door or how to protect the door from dog scratches.
How to Stop Dog From Scratching Door
Find ideas on how to stop from dog scratching door below.
- Ignore the unwanted behavior
When your dog barks or scratch at the door, ignore. You can simply leave the room to a place where it cannot see you. Come back when it has stopped scratching the door. Repeat the process as often as possible when it scratches the door. It will slowly learn scratching the door is not a good thing, and it will stop the bad behavior.
- Prevent the habit
When you get a new pup, you need to prevent the problem from the word go. If you prevent the dog from scratching the door, it will never think of doing so. If you see that it wants to scratch the door, take it outside. It will get used to and no scratching will ever take place.
- Separate yourself from the dog more often
There are chances that your dog wants to be close to you always. Try to teach him, that you are not always supposed to be together. Leave the dog in different parts of the house as you do your work. Return later and reward your dog. This training will build self-control within your dog. It will reduce the dependence on being near you always.
- Use Heavy Duty Dog Door
Another way to stop the dog from scratching the door is by using a heavy-duty dog door. This is if you don’t mind giving your dog the freedom it needs. It can easily move in and out of the house thereby eliminating the chances of it scratching the door.
The heavy-duty dog doors are chew proof, durable, and weather-tight.
- Shout No!
Sometimes you need to talk to your dog. When you see it scratching the door or barking at the door, you need to give it a firm voice correction. You can shout No, as it does the behavior. It will know what it’s doing is wrong. You can reward for different good behavior.
- Install a door
You can install a pet door that your dog will use to enter and exit the house. When there is a pet door in the house, it will prevent it from scratching the wood door or metal door.
- Doorbells or jingle bells
You can put a doorbell or jingle bells which your pooch can reach. Then motivate your dog to use these sounds when exited or sees you coming. This will reduce the scratching.
- Door Scratch Protector
You can apply the Door Scratch Protector to save your door. The protector allows your dog to scratch without ruining the wood or paint. They are very effective. It will stop scratch marks on
- Train Good Habits
If you notice your dog has bad habits, find ways on how to instill good behavior in your pouch. You can train it on how to use the door.
- Leave in Silence
When you are leaving the house, avoid giving a dramatic farewell. A few minutes before leaving the house avoid paying too much attention to your dog. This will minimize the being followed to the door which leads to scratching as you leave.
It will also stop it from waiting for you at the door. In the long run, it will help stop your dog from scratching doors.
You can also change your routine; you can pick your keys more often trying to say you are leaving but you are not. The dog will become less anxious when you pick your keys and it will not associate it with you leaving the house.
- Calmness
When you get to the house, don’t show over-excitement when you see the dog. The dog is always looking forward to you coming home. Wait until it has calmed down or stopped jumping. When you do this, it will reduce anxiety. If you react immediately you will always be sending wrong signals.
- Soothe dog
There are many ways that you can use to soothe your dog when you are away to stop them from scratching doors or the furniture. You can identify the type of music your dog likes and try to play it. Music is known to keep the dog happy as well as relaxed when it’s alone.
It will not feel bored and start scratching the door or the furniture around it.
- Stop Immediate Walks when you arrive home
When you arrive home, don’t take your dog for a walk immediately. Relax and wait for some time after greeting. This will reduce the anxious behavior and in the long run reduce the scratching of the door.
- Meet the dog’s needs
Sometimes the dog will scratch the door because wants something. Try to identify what makes the dog scratch door. If its access they need to get outside or get something over the other side, try to make their accessible door
Conclusion
The above points will help stop your dog from scratching the door. This will help in maintaining the beauty of the door as well as save you the time from having to repair dog scratches on the door.