Digging Dogs – How to Get Them To STOP
A dog may get the urge to dig for a number of reasons. There could be something that gets their interest underground, or perhaps they are bored. Some dogs will dig for fun after being in the yard for only a few minutes with you standing right next to them. Digging in the yard is not just for dogs that are left out by themselves though dogs left in the yard all day will sometimes dig in order to find a cooler place to rest. The top layer of dirt is hot but underneath it stays much cooler.
For some dogs, it is in their genes to dig. Some dogs do it as a food supplement not because they are hungry but because there is something missing in their diet and other just do it because they want to dig. Whatever the case is, there are natural ways to prevent the dog from digging further. Take a peek below at some helpful tips and ways to prevent dogs from digging in your yard.
Revoke your dog’s membership to the digging dogs club or at least make it so that they aren’t president of the local chapter.
1. Get lots of exercise.
If a dog is not being active enough, he or she may get the urge to dig. Walk your dog daily, twice if possible to help let off some energy. Play fetch with him, wrestle with him, and provide toys. This will keep the dog active and less inclined to be a member of the digging dogs club.
2. Provide stimulation.
Dogs may dig if they are bored. Try to provide experiences for them such as puppy park visits, toys, music, and plenty of play time. By doing so, you keep the dog active and occupied. Provide things to play with and interact with in the yard. If your dog likes playing with leaves don’t be so quick to rake them up. If your dog is only motivated by food create an outdoor puzzle they are only allowed to use outside. Some with toys have some indoor calm toys and put all the higher energy more interactive ones outside. Now, he will be less inclined to dig just for the heck of it.
3. Examine the space.
If your dog is digging in the same spot day after day, try to figure out why. Is there an animal or insect nest? Is something burrowing there? Has another animal marked the spot? If so, that could be a reason for your digging dogs they smell something and want it. Try to remove or eliminate what the interest is and see if it makes a difference. You might even have to remove your dog from the yard as soon as you seem them digging. If this happens often enough they might get the idea that digging means they go directly inside. Making the dogs go inside was how I finally got Davinia and Indiana to stop digging in this one particular spot. While the digging hasn’t stopped completely grass as grown back in the hole they made last summer and fall.
As much as I want a fish pond the area they were digging just wasn’t the right sport for it and was actually dangerous because of how close it was to the door. If you didn’t know it was there you would fall in.
4. Provide a dig area.
Just like kids get a sandbox to dig in, provide a space for your digging dogs. Have some toys in the area so he knows that he has the invitation to dig and play in the space. I contemplated this last year but I got the digging for fun to stop now they just eat the dirt :/ which I don’t want to encourage so a sandbox does not seem like a great solution. It would be cleaner for them to dig in when they do dig. We don’t really have dirt we have Georgia Clay which means orange everywhere. White sand would certainly be a welcome change and keep Davinia and Indiana cleaner.
Davinia a member of the Digging Dogs Club
When you are in the moment you want to do anything possible to distract your dog from digging. A firm “NO!” or asking them if they want a treat might help in the short term. If you know about a favorite dig location let your dog start digging and say no. If they stop give them a treat. In this video just saying no did not stop Davinia. She stopped for a bout 5 seconds and went back to digging. I said no and asked if she wanted to have a cookie. She stopped with her nose full of dirt and ran over to the door to wait to go inside to get a cookie.
