Stop Dog Digging – How To Stop Your Dog Digging Holes Everywhere & Ruining Your Garden

A dog that digs holes brings a barrage of problems. You trip on the way to hang out the washing. Your new flower bed is ruined. Your dog keeps ducking under the fence to terrorize the neighbor’s cat. Worse still, a dog that digs holes poses a risk of escaping and getting lost while you are out of the house.

It’s natural for dogs to dig holes; it’s what they do. In the wild dogs dig holes to sleep in, they keep them warm in winter and cool in summer. They bury their bones to preserve them for times when food is not available. Digging holes has a range of uses for dogs, but sometimes they do it just because they are bored.

You may be tempted to tell your dog off for digging holes. The first problem with this is that if they dug the hole three hours ago they will not connect the punishment with the crime. If you do catch your dog in the act they may be just as likely to start digging holes when you’re not around then stop digging altogether.

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Why Dogs Dig Holes

Digging holes is a behavior that is rewarding to dogs. It has many practical uses for them. For thousands of years dogs have been digging holes and it is difficult to reverse this behavior by simply reprimanding them.

What you can do instead is redirect this behavior. Still allow your dog to dig holes, but discourage them from doing so in places you don’t want, such as;

• Paths,
• Garden Beds
• Under fences.

A great idea is having a sandpit put in your yard. Bury some treats randomly inside, whether it be toys or something to eat. You don’t have to do this every day, the best way to get a dog to seek a reward is to provide it randomly. Not only does this help prevent boredom but it rewards your dog for digging in the sandpit. One thing to be aware of with sand is to keep your dogs anti flea regime up to date. Fleas love sand and use it as a breeding ground.

If your dog is not getting enough attention or exercise digging can be used as an attention seeking device. For some dogs, a bit of negative attention is better than none at all. Make sure you spend time with your dog each day, even if you just watch TV together for a little while in the evening. If you think your dog is digging because they are bored, invest in some of the great toys on the market such as Kongs, which can be filled with food which takes the dog a while to get out.

Your dog may be digging in a particular spot because there is something their attracting them. New garden beds are full of interesting things. There is the smell of manure and of blood and bone to lure your dog. It’s fun to pull young plants out of the ground, some of them even taste good. They may even find something else interesting like a mouse or a worm. Dogs are less likely to dig up more established garden beds, the plants and trees are far less likely to be removed and the soil is less rich and just doesn’t smell as good. Protect your new garden beds with chicken wire to discourage your dog from digging. Although your plants may suffer, avoid using strong fertilizers like manure, this is a big attraction to dogs.

As a last resort, if you dog is continually digging up specific garden areas you can try some aversion techniques to stop this. Put a garden sprinkler near the area you want to stop your dog digging up. Every time the dog starts to dig, turn on the sprinkler so your dog gets a shock. You may also use a water pistol, but make sure the pressure is low so you don’t hurt your dog.

If your dog is digging under fences it is doing so to get at something on the other side, usually something interesting it can smell such as another dog. Dogs that are trained to hunt by scent are notorious for doing this. If there are weak spots on your fences reinforce them with chicken wire. You can even place concrete at the bottom of the fence to reinforce this.

You can try placing your dogs poo along the borders of your property, your dog will only pick up their own smell, not a very nice look for your backyard, but effective. You can also try placing poo in any holes that have dug up. They will never dig in this spot again. This can be a messy and untidy look for your backyard, so you may like to try some alternatives before you use this method.

If you don’t like the idea of a backyard covered with dog poo, you can try an alternative. Mix up one part vinegar to five parts water. Sprinkle this in places where the dog has dug before, as well as the border of your property. This has a similar effect, the dog will not want to dig up these places as they find the small quite offensive. Vinegar is a better idea than poo, it doesn’t have the same offensive smell or untidy look. If you have small children it is also a more hygienic alternative. Vinegar shouldn’t harm your plants, especially when diluted in water, however it’s a good idea not to put it too close the roots of plants if you can avoid it.

The best way to stop your dog from digging is through proper exercise and obedience training. With an hours exercise each day, your dog will have had enough excitement and will be less likely to be looking for something to do in your backyard during the day. A dog who is properly trained is not only better behaved in all aspects of their doggy life, but they are happier.