Dogs Who Dig, And What To Do About It

Here's another doggie behavior that can drive you mad - digging.  It can be enough to make you rethink your decision to have a dog.  Someone once told me, "You can have a dog, or you can have a yard."  Is this a problem for you?  Perhaps he likes to dig under the fence and escape, or maybe he's dug holes all over your once beautiful lawn. 

There are a number of reasons why dogs dig; some instinctual and some due to the dog's current circumstances.

Dogs may dig to bury a bone so they can retrieve it later.  This instinct served dogs well ages ago when they needed to hide food for a later time.  If you observe your pooch closely when he's outside with a fresh bone, you can catch him in the act and correct the behavior.  Sometimes simple distraction works well. Otherwise, consider giving him the bone inside or in the garage where he will just go through the act of burying it, that is, drag his nose across the ground several times in a burying motion.

When dogs are hot they will dig down below the warm surface to the cooler ground underneath.  They like to lie in these pits in the summer as it helps cool them off.  Provide shade for your pup or keep him inside during the heat of the day.

Dogs who are not neutered may try to dig out for a fling with a neighbor dog who is breeding.  Keep your dog confined indoors, if possible, until this time has passed or consider having him fixed.

Dogs without jobs become bored.  Give your dog a special toy with a treat hidden inside and let him work at getting it out, or give him a safe chew toy. If he's busy, he's less likely to dig.

If your dog has been all alone outside for too long a time, he may try to dig his way out to find some company.  Dogs need companionship and are happiest with some attention.  If your dog is an escape artist, try giving him more attention and don't leave him alone for too long.  If you work long hours, consider hiring a pet sitter or responsible teenager to come over once during the day to play with the dog.

Some dogs dig because they have excess energy.  Exercise your dog daily and wear him out before leaving him outside for a period of time.  Get into the habit of routinely exercising him; it's a good thing for both of you.

Here are some more ideas for your 4 footed digger:

* If he just has to dig, designate a special digging area.  Maybe you have an area in your yard, like the side of the house, where it can be okay to dig.  Another idea is to put a bottomless sandbox filled with dirt in a corner of your yard and make that the digging spot.  You will have to train your dog to only dig in that area.  Hide a few treats in the sandbox and start digging to show him what to do.   Praise him when he digs in the right spot and correct him when he digs outside the designated area.  Be there and watch closely and  it shouldn't take him long to figure it out.

* If there is a particular area that your dog likes to dig, you can shovel some of his poop on the area.  This will definitely curb his desire to dig in that spot!

* If your dog likes your flower garden, change the type of flowers you plant.  A prickly rose garden will keep him out and still give you a nice bouquet. 

* Change your dog's outside boundaries.  If your dog is allowed to freely roam the entire backyard all day, you're just asking for some casual digging to happen.  Think about restricting him with a gated area or shortening his time outside. 

Dogs will dig for a variety of reasons; overheated, boredom, lack of exercise, need for companionship, and trying to bury a bone, among other things.  Finding out why your dog digs helps you come up with solutions.