How To Stop Dog Digging

No matter how well trained your dog is, they still somehow find ways to infuriate you to the point of making you go unhinged. This is a problem most dog owners have. One of the most irritating dog behavior problems is when your dog keeps digging up your lawn or backyard. Most likely you’ve encountered this problem in the form of huge gaping holes alongside little ugly ones in your yard. You turn to your dog and you know immediately that he was the culprit. Judging from the almost-relaxed smile on his face and the dirt on his paws and whole body, you realize that he truly enjoyed digging up those holes. If you’re frustrated and you want to stop your dog from digging, then reading this article will most certainly help you out.

The Reasons

If you want to stop your dog from digging, then it’s imperative to know what the reasons are first. You can’t solve something like this if you have no idea what the causes are. There happens to be a lot of reasons why your dog would want to dig holes on your lawn. Below are some common causes why your dog keeps doing this annoying behavior.

• Your dog is very bored. Digging is one way for him to alleviate his boredom. It’s actually very fun for your dog to do since it’s like treasure hunting. There are lots of things to find under the ground, such as bugs or some dead animals.

• If the area where your dog sleeps tends to be uncomfortable for him, he’ll dig it up to provide a place where the temperature is suitable. In short, your pet digs holes in his resting area for cooling down or warming up.

• He’s digging up holes because he knows this will really get your attention. This means, you’ve been neglecting him for so long and that he wants you to play with him (or at least have some social interaction with him).

• Sometimes, your dog digs because it’s a form of exercise for him. He instinctively knows that he needs some way to drill his muscles.

• If your dog is fenced in, he’s probably digging to escape. Being fenced in is a frustration that most dogs have and they’ll always try to break free no matter what.

Some Solutions

Here are some solutions you can try in order to stop your dog from creating that horrible mess on your lawn.

• If you catch your dog in the act of digging up your lawn, spray him with water. You could put up sprinklers in that area and just turn it on if your pet starts to dig. If you can afford automatic sprinklers, install them. If not, you could opt to go with water pistols and just spray him with it if you catch him in the act.

• Dogs dig for a way out of the heat. Making a wading pool for your dog eliminates the possibility of him digging up just to cool down.

• Solve your dog’s boredom issues by taking him out for a walk. Walks are their social exploration time out with you. Try to give him walks as often as you can.

• Regularly play with your dog. Playtime with your pet is an assurance that he’ll most likely be too tired to dig afterwards. Try Frisbee or some other catch game so he’ll be able to release all that pent up energy.

• If you don’t have time for regular walks or exercises, fence your dog in an area where he can’t dig out. If it’s possible, make sure that the area is cemented and that he has access to water as well as shelter from the weather. Place some toys in there too so he won’t get too bored.

• As an alternative to fencing him in, fencing him out of areas you don’t want him to dig is probably a better option. This option minimizes his boredom as well as providing him with enough freedom to roam around. Keep him fenced out.

It’s important to know that when you’re trying to discourage your dog from digging, inflicting pain is never a good solution. You’ll only produce more behavior problems in your dog if you do this. You should always try to empathize with your pet and provide a painless solution so that you can truly call him your best friend.

More On Digging:

The #1 Digging Prevention Guide - Click to view our top rated prevention guide to finally get your dog to stop digging up the back yard.

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