Tips
and Tricks to Stop Your Dog From Digging in Your
Yard?
It’s
downright infuriating to look out the window and
see Buddy digging another hole in the yard. You
yell out the window; he may or may not even acknowledge
he’s heard anything; then back to the digging.
This dog behavior has got to stop.
WHY
DOGS DIG…..
Did you ever stop
to think WHY Buddy digs? (except to make you mad!).
This is the real trick – to figure out why
he’s digging in the first place, the motivation
behind the dog behavior. Then you can take dog
training steps to discourage it, redirect that
energy and possibly stop it completely.
1.
I’M BORED!
Location: Digging
along the fence lines and at the gate.
Why? He is bored
and wants to get out for some action.
Solution: Provide
more exercise for your dog, both physical and
mental. The more exercise the better, according
to your dog. A tired, happy dog will rest nicely
between great outings.
2.
I’M HOT!!
Location: Digging
along the edge of the house or shallow “pits,”
especially in the heat of the summer.
Why? Your dog is
most likely creating a cool spot in the cool under-earth.
If under the porch, he’s creating a den.
Solution: Check to
make sure you are providing fresh cool water throughout
the day and night.
Is there adequate
shade to protect your dog from the hot sun? Is
good air circulation available or possibly a nice
breeze? Or is the space filled with stagnant air?
Provide plant life
(trees, bushes) for shelter from the hot sun.
Cool grass keeps the ground heat down.
3.
IT’S JUST MY NATURE!
Sometimes it’s
the breed of dog, not so much the environment.
Some breeds tend to be burrowers — hounds,
huskies, malamutes are a few examples.
Solution: If this
is the case, work with your dog to agree on a
place he can do his thing and camouflage it with
something like plants or fencing.
4.
I LIKE IT!!
Some dogs just like
to dig, and dig they will, no matter how much
you yell and scream.
Solution: Create
and help them with the ideal digging place —
a sandy blend with hidden treasures that reward
digging at that spot. Having a prepared area encourages
the digger to focus the digging to the area you
set up in an out-of-the-way place. Remember to
keep the area stocked with assorted treats and
toys.
TO
FILL OR NOT TO FILL ….. EXISTING HOLES
The second part of
the story is…..
What to do with the
holes that keep reappearing, no matter what you
do? Have you back-filled holes dug by your dog
only to find them dug again, over and over?
When this happens,
the next stage of hole-filling is called for.
You might think this
next step it involves yelling at your dog, or
rapping on the window. Nope. Are you really going
to stand and stare out the window hoping to correct
the situation while it’s happening (which
would be the only way to really correct it using
this method)?
TECHNIQUES
FOR “FILLING” HOLES
There are two better
techniques to encourage your dog to rethink digging
that hole.
The easier of the
two is to fill the hole until almost full. Mix
the last portion of dirt with dog poo, pinecones,
moth balls, or other repelling non-harmful substance.
The next time your dog arrives for the big dig,
he quickly finds the game has changed. Most dogs
quickly change their behavior.
The second method
is more time consuming but effective. Cut a section
of chicken wire or similar to cover the hole plus
8 inches or more. Dig a hole a few inches deep
that surrounds the hole and will fit the wire
shape.
Fill the hole and
then press wire in place and cover with dirt.
Pack the area well, particularly around the wire
edges. When your dog returns, the wire will stop
his digging progress.
If along a fence
line, secure the wire to the fence along the inside
of the fence, just a short distance from the ground.
When the wire gets to the ground, keep going vertically
a short distance underground. Then bend the wire
so the bottom is perpendicular to the top (forms
an L). Bury the horizontal part underground inside
the fence, pointing away from the fence. When
your dog digs he is stopped by the wire and his
weight on the earth helps keep the wire in place.
The result is the dog gives up on that area.
Pretty cool, huh?!
CONCLUSION
We humans see digging
as bad dog behavior. Dogs don’t, and they
dig for different reasons. If you can figure out
why they’re digging, you can put dog training
steps in place to stop it. Some dogs dig, that’s
what they do. Set them up a space to dig and you
both win!
Try these dog training
techniques to change unwanted dog behavior. They
seriously work.
