Some good advice on stopping your dog from scratching at the door

First, let me say that dogs don't need or want to be outside alone a great deal. There's a lot of mythology about dogs loving the "freedom" of being outdoors, and it gets a lot of dog owners in trouble. Normally, dogs simply sniff around the yard and relieve themselves--they don't "exercise" unless you go out to play ball or run with them. I have a very high-energy young Sheltie who will run three miles non-stop chasing seagulls if I take her to the beach. Left alone in the yard, she usually goes to sleep on the porch. Dogs very quickly become bored and lonely--dogs are pack animals and prefer to be with people--my dogs spend all day with me in my study while I am working at the computer, even though they have a big house, a basket of toys, a feisty cat, and each other to play with. more...