by Jennifer Geitenbeek

Created on: October 23, 2010

When we go outside or out for the day and leave our dog at home, he would much rather be with us, and will do everything in his power to get to us. This usually means scratching the inside of our doors. I have actually known a Basenji to eat through an internal door just so that she could get back to her owners.

Apart from making a rather large mess and causing the owner to have to replace the door, the dog can cause itself injury by scratching. Dogs have been known to wear their nails down to the point of bleeding and even to rip their nails out of the pads. Another problem is splinters. Splinters, although small can cause pain and ultimately infection. The discomfort caused by a splinter can cause your dog to limp and constantly worry the splinter site by licking, which can cause further harm and damage. This is painful and distressing for the dog, and can be very messy. Not only is the dog now anxious that his pack has gone, he is now in great pain from his toenails and pads.

One of the best ways to stop your dog from damaging himself or the door is to fix a piece of Perspex to the door. Perspex is a hard, clear plastic that is (although not immune) strong enough to withstand your dog scratching at it. Because it is clear, it is not unsightly or obvious when put on your door. You must make sure that the Perspex is attached on enough of the door so that your dog can not get his front paws over the top of it. It should also be screwed securely in place. If it isn't attached securely, your dog may be able to pull it off the door, get his paw jammed between the Perspex and door, or chew the edges, which is a potential hazard to both teeth and gums. Not to mention that somewhere in the world a dog will get his bottom jaw caught between the door and the Perspex. Perspex is reasonably cheap when compared to replacing a door or getting veterinary attention for your dog, and very cheap when you think about the pain your dog could end up in should he injure himself on your door. An alternative to using Perspex is to invest in a static mat. This will need to be placed at your door so that your dog can not get to the door. When he stands on the mat, he will feel a pulse under hit feet similar to that of a Tens machine (a small electronic device used to stimulate muscle activity). This does not cause pain, it is just a mild sensation and is similar to aversion therapy.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that dogs are pack animals and unless you find ways to keep your dog entertained and comfortable for the whole time you are gone, chances are he is going to find ways to amuse himself, even if that means destroying his surroundings. If you find that your dog is stressing about you being away, you may need to employ a dog sitter, walker or even take your dog to a doggy day care centre so that he has something else to do for the day rather than sit around worrying and anxiously awaiting your return.

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