Did you know that dog scratches on doors can be a sign of dominance or stress? Scratching can also be your dog’s way of telling you they don’t like something in their environment. However, ugly and destructive dog scratches on doors are not always the result of stress or dominance. In fact, most dogs will scratch almost anything at first as they explore the world around them. The good news is that there are many ways to protect your door from those pesky dog scratches. The more you understand why your dog is scratching, the easier it will be to stop it from happening again. There are a number of things that you can do to help protect your door from being scratched by your dog.
How To Protect A Door From Dog Scratches
Clean the Door
One of the best ways to stop your dog from scratching your door is to clean it. If your door has been scratched in the past, you should probably know that it will not be easy to get rid of the scents and smells that are on your door. You can use a mild soap and warm water solution to clean the door. After you have cleaned the door, be sure to let it dry completely before you put it back in place.
Keep Your Dog on a Leash When You Are Home
Another good way to protect a door from dog scratches is by keeping your dog on a leash when you are home. This will help keep your dog safe and out of trouble while they explore their environment. If you do not want to keep your dog on a leash, there are still other ways that you can protect yourself from unwanted scratches on doors such as windows or furniture. Just make sure that if they get too close they are able to back off and not scratch anything else!
Use Scratching Posts for Your Dog’s Bedroom or Play Area
If you have furniture or other items in close proximity to your front door, consider putting them behind or near the area where you usually let your dog out so they don’t have access to these things when they come inside at night or during times when guests come over. If this is not possible for whatever reason, consider using scratching posts for them to use while they are inside. Scratching posts are a great way to help reduce the number of dog scratches on doors.
Keep Your Dog’s Bedroom Indoors
If you have a dog that has a tendency to scratch at doors, consider keeping them in their own area when they are inside your home. This will help you keep their behavior under control and protect your door from any unwanted damage that may be caused by them. If you have more than one dog, consider having one room for each of them so you can keep them separated as much as possible so that they learn that scratching is not okay when they come into the house with their family members on the weekends!
Use Treats and Toys to Keep Your Dog Busy
If you do not want to use any of the other methods I have discussed above, then consider using treats and toys to keep your dog busy. This will help them learn that scratching is not okay when they come inside with you at night or during times when guests are over. If you do decide to use treats while they are inside, make sure that they are not toxic or harmful if they chew on them!
Keep the Door Locks Clean and in Good Condition
One of the biggest mistakes that I see people make is failing to take care of their door locks. If your locks are in bad condition, this can cause your dog to try and scratch at them because of how loose or loose-fitting the door may be for them. You should also make sure that the handles on your door are still in good condition as well so that this does not lead to scratches on doors from your dog!
Create A Scraping Area For Your Dog
- Provide your dog with a scratching area. This can be as simple as a cardboard box in the corner of your room or as elaborate as an entire room dedicated to scratching. Make sure that the area is large enough for your dog to play and give them a chance to stretch their legs and explore. You can also use a scratching post, which will allow your pet to scratch without damaging anything else in the home.
- Provide plenty of toys for your dog to play with in their scratching space. There are many different types of toys out there, so you will want to pick one that is durable but not too heavy for your dog to carry around or chew on. You should also make sure that the toy is something that your dog may not be able to destroy, like antlers or rope toys.
- Keep all dangerous objects out of reach of your dog while they are playing in their scratching area. This includes toxic items like plants, cleaners, and chemicals, which could cause severe injury if ingested or if they are ingested by accident during playtime in their scratching space.
- Teach your dog not to scratch furniture when it’s time for bed or when you’re not home so they don’t end up destroying any furniture while you are gone!
- If you have children in the house, make sure that they do not play with pets while they are playing outside because accidents can happen very easily! Keep an eye on them and supervise as needed.
- If there are areas of your house that are not being used by your dog, make sure that they are not accessible to them!
- Use an invisible fence if you have a dog that likes to wander outside and is likely to cause problems when they come back inside. You can purchase one at a pet store or online, but you can also make your own by purchasing a piece of PVC pipe and attaching it to the wall with two-inch screws or nails. This will help keep your dog from wandering too far away from home while still giving them the opportunity to do so when they feel like it.
Brush Your Dogs’ Nails
- Brush your dog’s nails regularly. A dog’s nails are naturally sharp and can easily scratch their way into a door frame. If you don’t want to spend the time brushing your dog’s nails or you don’t have the time, look for a nail clipper that will fit your hand.
- Use baby powder on their paws to keep them from scratching the door. Baby powder is also useful in keeping flies off of a dog or cat during the summer months when they are out in the open air more often.
- Keep soft toys, blankets, and other favorite items in easy reach to help distract your dog from scratching doors and other surfaces around the house.
- If your dog is a frequent door-scratcher, try to keep them away from doors. If you have a door that is in an area that your dog spends a lot of time in, try to find another way to get him out of the room.
- If your dog is scratching doors and other surfaces around the house, it may be time for a training session with your vet or a professional dog trainer.
Conclusion
The frustrating truth is that it’s impossible to completely stop your dog from scratching. Scratching is a natural behavior and it’s important for your dog’s health. Your dog can use scratching to relieve stress, stretch their muscles, and mark their territory. Dogs often scratch because they are bored or stressed out. However, scratching can also be a sign of dominance. If your dog has begun to scratch more often, you should try to identify the reason behind it. Once you understand why your dog is scratching, it will be easier to find a solution.
