Digging

Does your dog dig holes in your yard or garden? Does he dig holes under the fence? If you ask your dog why he digs and he would say, “Because I can!”

There are several reasons that dogs dig. It is important to determine why he digs so you can make some changes to stop this behavior.

Why dogs dig

* He’s left alone in the yard too long without opportunities to interact with you or your family.
* His environment is barren, no playmates or toys.
* He may be young and has no other outlet for his energy
* Digging is in his nature, such as terriers.
* He is a particularly active dog and needs to be busy to be happy, such as herding dogs.
* He has seen you playing in the dirt (gardening).

Here are some recommendations to stop the digging behavior.

* Walk your dog twice a day to give him more exercise.
* Play with your dog more often, teach him to fetch or play Frisbee.
* Teach your dog tricks and train with him everyday for five to ten minutes.
* Keep interesting toys in the yard which will allow him to play when you are not there. Kong type toys work well.
* If your dog insists that he has to dig, give him an area where it is acceptable to dig without getting in trouble.

If your dog digs in front of you, he might be seeking attention. In this case, it is recommended that you do nothing. If he is looking for attention, even punishment is attention and he will continue to dig as long as he is getting your attention.