Dog scratching doors! Help!

supermaiden

How do you stop a dog from scratching at doors?
He is nearly 9 and this has only just started in recent months. Before this he has been fine and we kept him and our other dog in the house while out. We put their bed in the spare room and they would happily go in and be fine while we were out for short whiles.
He started scratching the door and has made a huge hole in it. My Husband told me to sort something out as an alternative so I bought a kennel for the yard. The dogs have never been "outdoors" dogs and only went out for walks etc. Now he has started scratching the outside door and took the plastic film off the bottom. So we moved the kennel in front of the door when we go out and put the bin in the way of the other end of the door so he cant get to it. He now climbs on the kennel and scratches further up the door and has took the film off above the handle! Husband is furious and says that was the last chance!
I love my dogs and dont want to lose him, I saved him in the first place so I want to keep him but I dont know how to stop this behaviour. He has never been like this before, I dont understand it!
We were out from 4:45 to just after 9. Surely they should be ok in the yard, its not like its small or anything. Lots of other people have their dogs outside and no problems!
Ive tried looking online and all I find is things like put a bell so they can tinkle it to get in.. I dont want him to tinkle a bell if Im not home to let him in!
Please help this is my last resort.

sarabe

If this is a recent new behaviour then there is obviously something upsetting him and he feels anxious when you are not there.

Until he writes his memoirs you can only guess as to why.

Is there any reason why he has to be shut in a room? If all the interior doors were open then he couldn't scratch them. What about just putting a stair gate in the door way so that he doesn't feel shut in.

Have you changed his diet? Is there a family upset that he's picking up on? Anything else changed?

If he continues to be anxious about being left where he has never done it before then a thorough vet check should be your next step.

supermaiden

Hi thanks for replying.

He is not shut in a room anymore. The room thing was because the other dog did his business in the house whenever we went out no matter what we did, walk him for ages etc so we didnt want them having free roam while we were out and I didnt trust the neighbours with my dogs being outside alone. The room thing has worked for years and been fine. We moved to a new house last year and it was fine then too up to about 3 months after moving in. Now he is outside, which is where most people I know put their dogs. He is scratching the outside door now too which is a lot more expensive to replace than an inside door and this is not our house (we are tenants). A stair gate wouldnt work because he is like tigger and can jump over them.
His diet hasnt changed, he has had the same food for a long time, chappie and biscuits.
The only things that have changed is both of us work now, though I am only working part time so 2 days a week and they are only on their own for an hour and a half max before husband is home, I do however have to go out sometimes when husband is at work so they have to go outside. Only other thing I can think of is Im 17 weeks pregnant but not sure if the dog would know that?
I had him to the vets recently for an ear problem which I think has cleared up now, while there they told me he needs some work done to his teeth but that is all as far as Im aware.

Humphrey10

I imagine most dogs would scratch at the back door to be let in if they were left outside all the time, if they had grown up being kept inside. My dog scratches at the back door if I forget to let her in and leave her outside for a while.

We got a high gate made for our dog, because she can jump over stair gates too. Maybe this would work for you, then you could trap them in one room inside with the gate rather than a door.

supermaiden

Humphrey10 wrote: »

I imagine most dogs would scratch at the back door to be let in if they were left outside all the time, if they had grown up being kept inside. My dog scratches at the back door if I forget to let her in and leave her outside for a while.

We got a high gate made for our dog, because she can jump over stair gates too. Maybe this would work for you, then you could trap them in one room inside with the gate rather than a door.

Hi, yes he is wanting to be back in the house so keeps scratching. We have a kennel now so he can go lay down. He knows he can do this and we have put a blanket from his bed into the kennel so its nicer for them.

We think a stair gate type thing would be good too but husband is saying he doesnt want them in the house. I am trying to think of a way to make some sort of gate to put at the back door so they cant reach to scratch but husband says if we do that where does this end? But then is not willing to let them back in the house so I am at a loss as what to do!

sarabe

Poor dogs.

Well there is a lot of stuff going on there.

Being left outside when they are used to being in.

House move.

Being left more often and for longer.

You being pregnant (he'll be aware of something for sure)

Earache and toothache

and someone that doesn't want them in the house and doesn't like them much by the sound of it.

Your other dog has probably always had a bit of a problem with being left if he has always soiled in the house when you go out.

You need to address the problem not the symptom and just shutting them outside will make him worse, especially when baby comes along and you have even less time for them.

dizziblonde

Look at it from his point of view - lots of changes and now you've suddenly turfed him out into the garden! I'd be trying to break the door down to get back in - especially since it's winter! We have enough trouble getting my guy to conceed to leave the warm and go outside for a poo at the moment it's so cold.

Sorry but that's not really fair on any dog - if your husband's decided he doesn't want them around since something newer and shinier is coming along, do the poor guys a favour and get them somewhere they ARE wanted around... it's blooming freezing out there at the moment.

sarah*a

Humphrey10 wrote: »

I imagine most dogs would scratch at the back door to be let in if they were left outside all the time, if they had grown up being kept inside. My dog scratches at the back door if I forget to let her in and leave her outside for a while.

We got a high gate made for our dog, because she can jump over stair gates too. Maybe this would work for you, then you could trap them in one room inside with the gate rather than a door.

Ours would go frantic if we left them outside when we went out - they've always been indoor dogs and would not be happy to change. If we have to close the back door and shut them outside for a few seconds they sit by the door and whine/bark until we let them in. They are happy to spend hours out there when the door is open but as soon as it's shut - nope! they want in

We had cause to keep ours seperate for a while and found that if they were enclosed in a room by a closed door they would want out but if they could see out they were happy to settle. We used a high baby gate - one with bars rather than a panel.

dizziblonde wrote: »

Look at it from his point of view - lots of changes and now you've suddenly turfed him out into the garden! I'd be trying to break the door down to get back in - especially since it's winter! We have enough trouble getting my guy to conceed to leave the warm and go outside for a poo at the moment it's so cold.

Sorry but that's not really fair on any dog - if your husband's decided he doesn't want them around since something newer and shinier is coming along, do the poor guys a favour and get them somewhere they ARE wanted around... it's blooming freezing out there at the moment.

It is cold out there - especially if they are not used to it. My mum's dogs are hardened outside dogs but even they are retreating to their indoor beds at the moment. My two are in and out quick as possible in the evenings at the moment.

You said you 'think' his ear infection has cleared up? Have you had it checked? He might be in pain and on top of that you are taking away his warm home that he's been used to for 9 years.

My initial thought was that (as he's 9) he might need to 'go' more often which was why he was scratching when inside - but it's been overlooked by moving him outside where he can 'go' whenever he wants - and now he's scratching 'cos he wants to get back to where he's used to being/is warmer.

I also think you need to sit down with your husband and really discuss his problem with the dog. IMO if he can't cope with a dog how is he going to cope with a child? You can't stick kids in a kennel in the garden when you go out because they make a mess

I don't mean to sound harsh - you do come across as wanting to do your best for them but are being ruled by hubby who doesn't sound like such a fan

supermaiden

I was having a bad night last night so feel I may have been a little unfair to husband on here. He does like the dogs, when they are good lol and not wrecking the house. He plays with them, walks them. He is the one that does the dogs ear drops as he knows just what the dog likes and will sit and let him do it but wont for me the little tinker lol. I do think the ear has cleared up, we still have some drops though so keep on using them until they are gone to make sure.

To be fair though we havent just thrown them outside in the cold. I bought them a kennel which is out there now and Ive read kennels need to be kept right for the size of the dog so it can keep warm in it and I feel we have done that while keeping it a size for 2 dogs so they can both go in and lay down. I always put food and water outside for them aswell. Theres blankets in the kennel too.

I do very much care for my dogs, they are my babies no matter what and I will always have time for them. Im just trying to work out a solution that is fair to all of us and that doesnt mean giving them up. Ive had the older dog for 7-8 years and the younger dog for 6 so its not like they have just come to us.
I understand it can be difficult for them with a lot of changes all at once but I am trying to make it easier for them in whatever way I can. I dont know what else I can do?

When they were in the house I would always either let them in the yard for a while or we would walk them before we went out anywhere. It didnt matter how long I was out for, I would come back to the door having been scratched and chunks/bits all over the floor. Less than an hour and it was scratched so I cant see that he had to "go" when he had already been out and done his business outside before I left.

JG82

I can completely sympathise with you here supermaiden (and dog too ofcourse). Not really much advice but really do know what you're going through and how heart wrenching and upsetting it is for you and the dog.
One of my collie's (have 2) is 2years old now and suffers from seperation anxiety. He has a good routine; tried the DAP collar and bach rescue remedy etc but nothing working so far. His anxiety actually drove our other collie (1) to distraction which made him become destructive. The one with the anxiety tore our blinds looking for us; constantly watched the windows for us coming home, wouldn't eat or drink whilst we were out. We have since redecorated and replaced everything which was wrecked and decided to have them in our open plan kitchen dining where they are quite comfortable anyway but more so as supposedly dogs with this prefer more confined spaces. He hates having the door closed (any door, even toilet door when you're in) so we bought doors with glass panes for him to see through (still didn't work). Now using safety gate so technically not shutting door however he claws the carpet underneath. His door scratching has actually got to the point before of making his paws bleed . Only other thing vet advised us was to put on mittens to prevent him scratching (awaiting being delivered). GL.

Perr

It does affect them if you move,I now have a utility room attached to my main kitchen and since I have moved keep dog food and water dish in there, and they will NEVER have a drink of water if I am not in there with them even though the door is always open. The other change is when I go to bed and close my bedroom door my youngest dog 7 yrs will leave the living room and lay outside my bedroom door this Never happened before and I have been here 2 yrs now. Maybe your poor dog cannot understand and is looking to go back to his old house.