To protect window sills from dogs, keep your dog's nails short, cover the sills with a clear plastic sill protector or a tough polyurethane coating, use a bitter deterrent spray if your dog chews, and reduce the reasons your dog jumps up in the first place – for example by blocking the view of passersby. Below are 6 tips in more detail, plus how to restore sills your dog has already scratched.
Why do dogs scratch and chew window sills?
Most dogs that damage sills are reacting to something outside: people, other dogs, squirrels or the mail carrier. They jump up to look, bark and scratch out of excitement or frustration. Others scratch while waiting for you to come home, which can be a sign of separation anxiety, and some chew out of boredom or teething. Tackling the cause – more exercise and enrichment, blocking the view, or working on anxiety with a trainer – protects your sills far better than any cover alone.
One safety note: in older homes, window sills are a common place to find lead paint. If your dog chews painted sills in a house built before 1978 (or of unknown age), stop the chewing right away and talk to your vet if your dog shows vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness or behavior changes.
Tips to protect your window sills from dogs
Here are 6 tips to help protect your window sills from dogs:
1Keep your dogs nails trimmed
As any dog owner knows, keeping your dogs nails trimmed is an important part of their grooming. Not only does it help to keep their nails from getting too long, but it also helps to reduce the amount of damage they can do to your furniture and flooring.
However, you may not realize that trimming your dogs nails can also help to reduce the amount of damage they can do to your window sills. When a dog scratches at a window sill, their nails can cause deep gouges in the wood.
Over time, these gouges can become larger and more difficult to repair. By keeping your dogs nails trimmed, you can help to prevent this type of damage. In addition, you may want to consider using a nail file or nail grinder on a regular basis to help keep your dogs nails nice and smooth.
2Cover your window sills with plastic covers
If you’re really worried about your dogs damaging your window sills, you can purchase plastic covers that fit over them. These covers are easy to find at most home improvement stores and they can provide an extra layer of protection against scratches and gouges.
Although this is an easy solution, it’s important to note that it may not look the best. If you’re concerned about the aesthetics of your window sills, you may want to consider another option.
3Apply a clear protective coating
Another option for protecting your window sills is to apply a clear protective coating. This can be done with a brush-on polyurethane or even a spray-on polyurethane.
This type of coating will create a barrier between your window sill and your dog, helping to prevent scratches and other damage. In addition, it will give your window sills a nice shine and make them easier to clean. Ventilate the room while you apply it and keep your dog away until the coating has fully dried and cured, following the drying times on the can.
4Hang curtains or blinds
One way to protect your window sills is to hang curtains or blinds. If your dog can't see the passersby, squirrels and other dogs that set them off, they have much less reason to jump up and scratch – and you also get some control over how much sunlight comes into the room. Frosted window film on the lower part of the glass works the same way. Choose cordless blinds, as dangling cords are a strangling hazard for pets. If your dog chews the wood, a bitter apple spray for dogs can make it less appealing.
And, if you choose curtains or blinds that complement your decor, they can actually improve the look of your space. So if you’re looking for a way to keep your dogs from damaging your window sills, hanging curtains or blinds is a great option.
Use a pet-safe chewing deterrent spray
If you have a dog that likes to chew on window sills, it’s important to take steps to protect it. One way to do this is to use a pet-safe chewing deterrent spray on your window sills.
This spray contains a bittering agent that will make your window sills unappealing to your pet, helping to discourage them from chewing on them. Chewing deterrent sprays made for pets are designed to be safe around pets and children when used as directed, and they can be a helpful way to protect your home from damage. Test the spray on a hidden spot first to make sure it doesn't mark the finish, and reapply it regularly.
Keep your dogs away from the windows
If nothing seems to work, the best solution may be to simply keep your dogs away from the windows. If you can train your dogs to stay off of the window sills, or at least keep them from scratching at the wood, you’ll be able to avoid a lot of damage.
You can do this by using baby gates or pet barriers to block off access to the windows, or by keeping your dogs in another room when you’re not home.
(Bonus) Scott’s Liquid gold to restore damage
If your dog has already caused damage to your window sill, you may be wondering how to fix it. For light surface scratches on finished wood, a wood cleaner and polish like Scott’s Liquid Gold can work wonders.
This product can be found at most home improvement stores. Simply apply it to the scratched area and it cleans the wood and helps blend fine scratches into the surrounding finish.
Although your window sills won’t look exactly the same as before, light scratches will be much less noticeable. Deeper gouges are a different story: fill them with wood filler, sand the sill smooth and refinish it (or call in a handyman) – then add one of the protective options above so it doesn't happen again.
Conclusion
Dogs can be a great addition to any home, but they can also cause a lot of damage. If you have dogs and you’re concerned about them damaging your window sills, there are a few things you can do to protect them. If your dog likes to watch the outdoors from a porch instead, read how to dog proof a screened porch.
From using plastic covers to applying a clear protective coating, there are several ways to keep your window sills safe from harm. And, if all else fails, you can always try to keep your dogs away from the windows altogether. Baseboards often need the same attention; see how to keep baseboards clean with dogs.
No matter what method you choose, taking steps to protect your window sills is important for preserving the beauty and integrity of your home.
