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!!
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" 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.
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