Does anyone else's pup consistently scratch at the door to go out?

Hays · 01-23-2012, 12:57 PM

I would like to say that Hayley is potty trained! We have had her 6 weeks now and she hasn't gone in the house or crate at for four weeks now. The problem we are having now is that she constantly scratches at the door to go out! It just snowed here (her first snow) and she wants to be out all the time! I know after a half hour she does not have to pee, but still take her out...she just stands there and watches the birds, or hops in the snow! LOL!

My husband is getting very frustrated, and doesn't want to get her in a routine where each time she goes to the door, she has to go out, even though she shouldn't have to potty. Do I still take her out, maybe every 2 hours....ignore her (especially if she was just out), Recommendations? Does anyone else have this problem?

deepnite10 · 01-23-2012, 09:00 PM

with a previous dog that tried to get our attention by scratching at the door..we installed a metal kick panel at the base of the door..

today, we have a doggie door installed to allow the dogs free access to the backyard..

other than that i would try to get your doodle on a schedule when they re allowed to go outside other than having to potty..

**lindamarie** · 01-24-2012, 10:15 AM

As annoying as this must be, it just sounds CUTE!

But, we don't always want CUTE, right?

I see you've had her for 6 weeks.....but I don't recall how old she is. She must be older to be doing this attention seeking trick.

If she has just done her biz, I would call her away from the door and occupy her with something else.
My husband also got ticked at ME for jumping to Bogart's every need and constantly letting him out.
These doods are very smart and will get us every time.

We have to stay ahead of them.

BUT......if she has a loose stool or is peeing more than usual, I would not only have the vet check her out....but I'd let her out when she wants.
If all is normal, then no.......no scratching the door.

Ya know what? I just thought of this. If she's scratching the door, you may want to hang some bells there. She may be bell trained for potty! Of course, as long as she's been trained to not do it all the time, or you will go whacko hearing bells!

Hays · 01-24-2012, 02:10 PM

Hey Lindamarie! Hayley is only 15 weeks old!

She is doing amazingly well! I'm telling you! She is super smart...we would take her out on walks, and in the first week we had her, she was tricking us! She would (fake squat) acting like she was peeing, but not to get a treat! Because she knew each time she squated, she got a treat and "good girl, good girl!!" LOL! I'm telling you, she had us trained! Our trainer at Petsmart tells us we are super lucky to have gotten such a calm, content and smart Labradoodle! She said most are a royal hyper mess the first few months. She has been the opposite! She is still going to the door and scratching, and we do have bells on the door.

I have been trying to distract her with other things..not working so much right now, but we're working on it! Thanks so much!

**lindamarie** · 01-26-2012, 09:48 AM

She's a doodle alright!! Another smart one! You should get her into a job of some sort if you have some extra time to offer. Sounds like she would make an awesome therapy dog!!

Hays · 01-28-2012, 05:51 PM

That's funny! That's exactly what my husband says!

So many people think we are training her for that anyway because of our public consistency with her. Hhahah!!

eloise · 01-29-2012, 01:47 PM

We have a bell for Eloise and she uses it to signal she wants to go out. At first it was frustrating to have to let her out only to have her play or sniff around. Ounce we got her to come on command and had a pretty good idea of her potty needs, we just call her to us and have her sit or do something distracting. If she really has to go out and we ignore the bell she will come and stand on one of our feet with both of hers and stare us in the face until we get the hint.

Hays · 01-29-2012, 09:35 PM

Yes, Hayley has been doing the same thing more recently. She does still go to the door continuously, but not nearly as much as last week! And we usually tell her, "No Hayley, you were just out sweetie, come lye down" and she will!

Until about a half hour in that case, we usually will put her out. I'm guessing it will just get better with time.

01-23-2012, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hays Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 87	Does anyone else's pup consistently scratch at the door to go out? I would like to say that Hayley is potty trained! We have had her 6 weeks now and she hasn't gone in the house or crate at for four weeks now. The problem we are having now is that she constantly scratches at the door to go out! It just snowed here (her first snow) and she wants to be out all the time! I know after a half hour she does not have to pee, but still take her out...she just stands there and watches the birds, or hops in the snow! LOL! My husband is getting very frustrated, and doesn't want to get her in a routine where each time she goes to the door, she has to go out, even though she shouldn't have to potty. Do I still take her out, maybe every 2 hours....ignore her (especially if she was just out), Recommendations? Does anyone else have this problem?

01-24-2012, 10:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,171	As annoying as this must be, it just sounds CUTE! But, we don't always want CUTE, right? I see you've had her for 6 weeks.....but I don't recall how old she is. She must be older to be doing this attention seeking trick. If she has just done her biz, I would call her away from the door and occupy her with something else. My husband also got ticked at ME for jumping to Bogart's every need and constantly letting him out. These doods are very smart and will get us every time. We have to stay ahead of them. BUT......if she has a loose stool or is peeing more than usual, I would not only have the vet check her out....but I'd let her out when she wants. If all is normal, then no.......no scratching the door. Ya know what? I just thought of this. If she's scratching the door, you may want to hang some bells there. She may be bell trained for potty! Of course, as long as she's been trained to not do it all the time, or you will go whacko hearing bells! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

01-26-2012, 09:48 AM	#5 (permalink)
lindamarie Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Birmingham, Michigan Posts: 6,171	She's a doodle alright!! Another smart one! You should get her into a job of some sort if you have some extra time to offer. Sounds like she would make an awesome therapy dog!! __________________ Linda & Bogart Dogs=Unconditional love "We have it all! Just like Bogie & Bacall!"

01-23-2012, 09:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
deepnite10 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 1,358	with a previous dog that tried to get our attention by scratching at the door..we installed a metal kick panel at the base of the door.. today, we have a doggie door installed to allow the dogs free access to the backyard.. other than that i would try to get your doodle on a schedule when they re allowed to go outside other than having to potty..

01-24-2012, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hays Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 87	Hey Lindamarie! Hayley is only 15 weeks old! She is doing amazingly well! I'm telling you! She is super smart...we would take her out on walks, and in the first week we had her, she was tricking us! She would (fake squat) acting like she was peeing, but not to get a treat! Because she knew each time she squated, she got a treat and "good girl, good girl!!" LOL! I'm telling you, she had us trained! Our trainer at Petsmart tells us we are super lucky to have gotten such a calm, content and smart Labradoodle! She said most are a royal hyper mess the first few months. She has been the opposite! She is still going to the door and scratching, and we do have bells on the door. I have been trying to distract her with other things..not working so much right now, but we're working on it! Thanks so much!

01-28-2012, 05:51 PM	#6 (permalink)
Hays Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 87	That's funny! That's exactly what my husband says! So many people think we are training her for that anyway because of our public consistency with her. Hhahah!!

01-29-2012, 01:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
eloise Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 7	We have a bell for Eloise and she uses it to signal she wants to go out. At first it was frustrating to have to let her out only to have her play or sniff around. Ounce we got her to come on command and had a pretty good idea of her potty needs, we just call her to us and have her sit or do something distracting. If she really has to go out and we ignore the bell she will come and stand on one of our feet with both of hers and stare us in the face until we get the hint.

01-29-2012, 09:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hays Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 87	Yes, Hayley has been doing the same thing more recently. She does still go to the door continuously, but not nearly as much as last week! And we usually tell her, "No Hayley, you were just out sweetie, come lye down" and she will! Until about a half hour in that case, we usually will put her out. I'm guessing it will just get better with time.

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