How do you repair a dog scratched door?

It’s no secret that dogs can occasionally cause damage to doors and other household objects. Scratches on doors from excited pups or older dogs can quickly add up. While prevention is ideal, knowing how to repair these scratches is useful when they inevitably occur. Thankfully, there are several methods to repair scratches on doors depending on the severity of damage.

What Causes Dogs to Scratch Doors?

There are a few common reasons dogs end up scratching at doors:

• Separation anxiety – Dogs with separation anxiety may claw and scratch doors when left alone as they try to reunite with their owners.
• Boredom – Lack of exercise and mental stimulation may lead dogs to act out by scratching doors.
• Needing to go outside – Dogs that need to go potty may paw at doors to let you know.
• Chasing creatures – Some dogs may try to chase birds, squirrels, cats, etc. on the other side of a door.
• Excitement – Jumping and scratching doors when excited to greet people is common in some dogs.

Knowing the root cause can help you take steps to correct unwanted scratching behavior through training, exercise, anxiety treatment, or access to the outdoors. But in the meantime, repairs are likely needed on scratched up doors.

Assess Scratch Damage on Door

Before you can repair a scratched door, assess the type and extent of damage:

• Surface level scratches – Light surface scratches that don’t penetrate the door’s finish or bare wood.
• Scratches exposing bare wood – Deeper scratches that go through paint or clear coat and expose bare wood.
• Gouges in the wood – Deep cuts and grooves dug into the woodgrain.
• Missing chunks of wood – Sections of wood completely scratched or clawed off.

The depth of the scratches and how much of the door they cover will determine what repairs are needed. Use a flashlight to inspect all angles and take note of problem areas.

Remove Door from Frame

For anything beyond very minor surface scratches, you’ll get the best results if you fully remove the door from its frame and perform repairs with the door laying flat. This allows for easier access to all sides of the door.

Follow these steps:

1. Unscrew door hinges from jamb.
2. Lift door off from top hinge and remove.
3. Lay door on flat, stable work surface.
4. Reattach hardware if removed so it doesn’t get misplaced.

With the door removed, you can now clean it thoroughly and sand away any splinters or rough edges caused by scratches.

Clean and Sand Damaged Area

Before applying any new finish or paint, proper prep is vital for results that blend into the existing finish.

1. Wipe away all dirt, debris, and excess oils from scratched areas using a grease-cutting cleaner and lint-free cloths.
2. Lightly sand scratches and surrounding finish with 180 grit or 220 grit sandpaper to feather and smooth edges.
3. Vacuum sanded dust using hose attachment.
4. Wipe again with a tack cloth.

Proper sanding is key – you want a smooth transition between original finish and repairs. Take your time and blend edges so repairs are less noticeable.

Apply Wood Filler for Gouges

For deeper gouges and chunks of missing wood, filling is necessary prior to recoating for a smooth surface:

1. Pick a filler suited for the door’s wood type – wood, oak, pine, etc.
2. Press filler into gouges and gaps using a putty knife so it overflows slightly.
3. Once dry, sand excess filler flush and smooth with door’s surface.
4. Vacuum dust and wipe clean.

Follow filler product instructions as dry times vary. Good quality fillers allow you to drill and nail just like real wood once fully cured.

Refinish Light Scratches

For surface level scratches that don’t expose bare wood, refinishing with a matching wood stain marker followed by a fresh coat of polyurethane or varnish may be enough to obscure minor damage.

1. Select a stain pen that matches your door’s wood color and grain.
2. Carefully apply to scratches following pen directions for drying time.
3. Use 180 grit sandpaper to blend touchup stain into existing finish.
4. Apply 1-3 thin, even coats of clear topcoat over entire door and allow to fully cure.

The fresh topcoat helps blend repairs and renew protection on your door.

Repaint Exposed Wood

For scratches that remove paint or stain down to bare wood, the easiest repair solution is repainting:

1. Sand exposed wood and surrounding paint to feather edges – 150 to 220 grit.
2. Vacuum sanding dust and wipe surface clean.
3. If necessary, fill any remaining gouges with wood filler tinted to match paint color.
4. Once filler is dry, sand smooth.
5. Apply 1-2 coats of primer to scratched areas and let dry.
6. Paint door using a small foam roller and angled trim brush.
7. Allow paint to fully cure for 7 days before reinstalling door.

Be sure to use a high quality primer meant for wood doors and paint that matches your existing color.

Replace Severely Damaged Wood

In cases of extensive, deep scratches that remove large chunks of wood or split panels, replacement may be necessary. Some options include:

• Cut out damaged wood section and glue in new wood piece – sand and refinish.
• Replace individual door panel by removing and installing new pre-made panel.
• Replace entire door.

If the structural integrity or security of your door is compromised, replacement may be the best choice over attempted repairs.

Prevent Future Scratch Damage

While perfectly normal, door scratching is best avoided through positive and preventative training:

• Crate train – Dogs see crates as safe dens and are less distressed.
• Provide toys – Giving appropriate chew toys alleviates boredom.
• Get exercise – A tired dog is less destructive.
• Train boundaries – Use baby gates and close doors to restrict access.
• Watch behavior – If scratching, distract and redirect to toy.
• Monitor outside – Some dogs try to get to critters.
• Ask vet – Medication can help some cases of extreme anxiety.

Stopping the behavior before it starts prevents damage down the road. But when scratches happen despite your best efforts, use the repair methods in this guide to save your doors.

Conclusion

Repairing a door scratched by an exuberant or anxious dog is very feasible using the techniques outlined. Assess the damage first before proceeding. Refinishing, painting, wood filler, or replacements can fix most scratched doors. Combine repairs with training to keep your home looking beautiful and your dog happy and healthy. With some preparation and diligence, you can undo or obscure unwanted scratches on your doors from dogs.