A: If you have never used a ScratchPad™ type product for your dog, we recommend starting with the medium coarseness. It's a great all-purpose grit and works well to get your dog used to the feel of filing his nails. The coarse grit is great for dogs who are experienced using a scratch board or have very large or hard nails. You can start with the coarse grit, just go slowly to be sure your dog doesn't get overzealous and accidentally quick himself. Because both grits can be used, we do offer combination boards with both medium and coarse grits on them.

A: Absolutely! We have many small dog customers and they love their ScratchPads just as much as their taller friends. If you have a toy breed, we do recommend turning the ScratchPad™ on its side - this gives them more side-to-side working space, and actually prolongs the life of the ScratchPad™.

A: This is a question we get a lot - actually, dogs will instinctively extend their claws out while they're scratching downwards. This means that their pads do not touch the abrasive sanding surface at all. See the picture below as an example; you can see that the pads of the dog's feet don't touch the ScratchPad™ at all.

A: Most dogs learn the basics of scratching the board in under a day, but each dog is different. If you're having trouble getting your dog interested in his ScratchPad™, try changing his reward to something with a higher value to him and make the "game" as fun as you can!

A: Yes, definitely! While it can be a little more tricky to train, you can teach your dog to scratch his hind feet on the ScratchPad™. We have found that the best way to do this is to prop the ScratchPad™ on a few stairs and then let your dog stand next to the board while rewarding him anytime he puts his hind feet on the board.

Here's a training video for hind feet: https://scratchpadfordogs.com/pages/hind-feet-training-video

A: It's rare, but occasionally we do hear of a dog who is having a difficult time acclimating to his new ScratchPad™. First and foremost, find a treat that is super motivating for your dog. Ideally, you want to find something that your dog loves so much that he'd do practically anything just for a small taste. Then, begin by laying the board flat on the floor. Work with getting him to walk across it, rewarding and praising him each time any of his paws touch the ScratchPad™. Once he's used to to the smell and feel of the board, begin to prop it at a shallow incline. Now, every time he starts to put his paw on the board, praise and reward him. Eventually, you want to work towards him actually dragging his paw down the board.

A: You might be surprised, but we actually encourage you to not touch your dog's feet at all when learning to use the ScratchPad™. This way, the entire process relies on their choice to proceed and they are not forced to put their feet on the ScratchPad™ until they are absolutely ready to do so.

A: We recommend using a damp paper towel to wipe the edges and ends of your ScratchPad™ to remove any mud or dirt from your dog's paws. Additionally, we recommend using a plastic bristled brush, similar to one you'd use for cleaning dishes, to remove any buildup in the sandpaper grit. This will help prolong the life of the abrasive surface.

A: We have carefully chosen professional-grade, durable sandpaper in order for your ScratchPad™ to last as long as possible. When maintained and cleaned to prevent dust buildup, the board can be expected to last many months. However, this does depend on how many dogs use it and how often you use your ScratchPad™.

On average, with normal use as directed for one to two dogs, your scratching surface should last 6-9 months. We are confident in the quality of our sandpaper and offer an Abrasive Surface Guarantee (see below). If you find that your sandpaper has worn down in less than 6 months, please contact us for a complimentary refill pack.

A: We will send you one free refill scratching surface for your ScratchPad™ if the sandpaper wears out in under 6 months. In order to qualify for a free refill, the following guidelines must apply:

*The worn sandpaper must be from normal use, as directed on our How-To page, by no more than two dogs in the household.
*Guarantee is valid for 6 months from the date the actual ScratchPad™ is received, per tracking information provided at the time of shipment.
*Customer is responsible for $2.95 shipping fee within the United States.
*Replacement pack will contain enough sandpaper to completely restore the board to like-new condition. For example, if you order a double-sided ScratchPad™, we will send enough sandpaper to replace both sides.

We do not recommend use of ScratchPad™ for cats. Please do check out our friends over at Fundamentally Feline. They offer many options that are much more effective than the cardboard or carpet-covered posts found at your local pet shop. https://www.fundamentallyfeline.com/shop/scratching/

Rarely we hear of a dog who just will not use his ScratchPad™, but dogs do have a mind of their own. We do allow you to return your ScratchPad, if it is still in new condition. Please contact us within 3 days of delivery for a return shipping label. Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer. We do not allow returns without prior authorization. If a return is authorized, the product must be shipped within 7 days. Authorized returns shipped after 7 days may be subject to $10 restocking fee. Please be sure the board is protected for shipment. Damage sustained while the product is being shipped back, and found to have been poorly repackaged, may be subject to a reduction of the amount refunded.

No, we do not offer exchanges at this time.

ScratchPad for Dogs is not responsible for lost or stolen packages confirmed to be delivered to the address entered for an order. Upon inquiry, ScratchPad for Dogs will confirm delivery to the address provided, date of delivery, tracking information, and shipping carrier information for the customer to investigate. We ship all ScratchPads via USPS Priority Mail - many times your local post office can provide GPS coordinates of where the package was marked as delivered, but they are only able to provide that information to the recipient. ScratchPad is unable to contact USPS on your behalf.

Please make sure to enter the correct delivery address, as we can not be responsible for lost packages delivered to an incorrectly entered address.

We manufacture our boards in a way to make replacing the sanding surface as easy and with as little waste as possible. Once it's time to replace the sanding surface, remove the black tape around both ends of the board. Don't throw it away, it can be reused. Peel off the old sandpaper and throw it away. Using the remaining adhesive residue on the board, affix the new sandpaper to the board and replace the black tape.