My Welsh springer keeps scratching doors whilst I am out. Any suggestions of how to stop her distress?

This is separation anxiety. Your dog sees itself as being the pack leader and when you go out it's like losing one of the pack out to the big wide world. Try and get a copy of Jan Fennel's book "The Dog Listener" (my new dog bible). If explains it all in there and how to solve it. This topic has recently been covered on the Behaviour section under Chewing doors I think.

Good luck

:D

Jill