How to Keep a Dog From Clawing a Door

When you get a dog, you must train it to not only use the bathroom outside but to also not destroy your house. If you do not let your dog know that scratching and clawing at the doors and windows is not acceptable, your dog will continue to do it. Instead of letting your dog ruin your house and run your life, take control and teach your dog that clawing is inappropriate and will not be tolerated.

Things You'll Need

  • Tin cans
  • String
  • Coat hanger
  • Squirt gun
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Pretend that the dog is not scratching at the door. When you act as though the dog is not doing anything, the dog will eventually learn that it does not get a reaction out of you. Once it realizes that you will not give it attention when it scratches at the door, your dog will stop doing it.

    • 2

      Hang tin cans on the doorknob to create an unpleasant noise whenever your dog claws at the door. Punch a hole in several tin cans. String the cans onto a coat hanger. Hang the cans low enough so when the dog reaches its paw through the cans to scratch the door, the cans clang together and make a loud noise.

    • 3

      Squirt the dog with water anytime you see it clawing at the door. Fill a squirt gun with regular tap water and squirt the dog a few times while saying ̶0;no̶1; loudly. This type of reinforcement shows the dog that every time it scratches the door, something unpleasant will happen.

    • 4

      Install a bell or buzzer on the door. Train your dog to hit the bell or buzzer with its nose any time it needs to go outside and use the bathroom.

    • 5

      Install a pet door. If you have a fenced-in backyard, a pet door on the back door lets the dog go in and out as it pleases.