You come home to scratches around the doorframe. Your dog didn't leave a note explaining whether they panicked, heard someone in the hall, or tried to reach you. The damage matters because teeth and paws can be hurt at exit points, and the reason determines what to do next.
Check your dog for injuries and make the door area safe. If the scratching is intense or they have broken nails, chewed through materials, or tried to escape, contact your veterinarian promptly and avoid leaving them alone in the same setup while you arrange help. Crating a dog who panics when confined can create another risk, don't use it as a quick fix without assessing the dog.
Learn what happens, not just what remains
A brief, safely placed camera recording can show when the scratching begins and what else your dog does: pacing, panting, vocalizing, refusing food, or settling after a minute. If it starts as soon as you leave and continues with other distress signs, separation-related anxiety is possible. If the dog rests until a delivery arrives, the hallway noise may be the immediate trigger. A veterinarian or qualified behavior professional can help interpret the pattern.
For now, arrange company or shorter absences when possible if your dog is distressed. Don't punish damage you find on return. Gradual alone-time work needs to stay within a duration your dog can handle, which may be just moments at first, and severe cases merit individual support. A stuffed food toy may help a relaxed dog, but a panicked dog may not be able to eat it.
The goal is not to protect the door while the dog still suffers. It is to make departures feel safe enough that the door no longer becomes an escape project. If the recording points to distress during absence, see the home-alone distress guide for a fuller plan alongside individualized suppor
Sources: ASPCA: Separation Anxiety. Dogs Trust: Separation anxiety in dogs: signs and how to help.