Stop Dog Digging

There are a few things you need to consider to stop dog digging. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to digging than others such as terriers, retrievers, staffordshire terriers and collies.

Does your dog get enough exercise?

All dogs need regular daily walks, the amount of exercise they require will depend on the breed, age and temperament of your dog. If your dog is not getting enough exercise it may decide to amuse itself to get rid of excess energy. This could include destructive behaviour including digging up the garden. The solution is of course to exercise your dog more, if its not possible to take your dog on longer walks is there anyway you can wear it out more in the time you are out? This could include taking a ball with you or exercising the dogs mind with training exercises such as tricks.

Is your dog digging because it is bored?

Perhaps your dog is digging because it is bored, try giving your dog toys to play with. Frozen kongs or other treat filled toys that that take your dog time to get out can help keep your dog entertained.

Does your dog know you want it to stop digging?

Have you firmly told your dog no when it STARTS digging and diverted its attention to something else such as a toy. The key to this is to firmly tell you dog “No” while its is digging, if you try to scold your dog after the event it just won’t understand what you mean. If your dog loves being outside you could try bringing it back inside everytime it starts digging and leaving it inside for a few minutes. Each time it digs put it back inside again until it realises if its stops digging it gets to stays outside.

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Stop dog digging for bones its has buried

Is your dog digging for bones or other food it has previously buried. The easiest solution here is to only allow your dog to eat inside or making sure you watch your dog while it is outside to prevent the bone being buried in the first place.

Persistant diggers – How to stop dog digging up your garden

Persistant diggers may need a little more persuasion to stop digging up you favourite flowers in your flower bed. One option is to place chicken wire over areas you want to protect. Your dog won’t like the feel of the chicken wire beneath its paws and it should stop your dog digging in that area. Another alternative is to springle to area your dog likes to dig in with pepper which most dogs don’t like the smell of. You could set aside a small part of your garden that is OK for the dog to dig in. Whenever your dog starts to dig where it shouldn’t usher it over to the place it is allowed to dig. If it starts to dig in the acceptable area praise it and give it a treat. This will need to be repeated until your dog understands that this is where it is allowed to dig.

If you don’t have an area that you can set aside for your dog to dig you could buy a container – something like a childs hard plastic paddling pool/sandbox and fill it with soil. Just as before when your dog starts to dig in your garden guide it to the paddling pool filled with soil and wait for it to dig. If it digs in the mud filled paddling pool praise it and give it a treat.

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