We love our pet pooches, but sometimes they drive us crazy. Like every time you look out over your once beautiful backyard, which is now pockmarked with holes. You have pretty much given up on the lawn and the garden-what’s the point when you can’t seem to stop your dog from digging it up? Is there any way to get dogs to stop digging? Luckily for you (and your landscaping,) the answer is YES!
The get to the root of the problem, it is helpful to first understand why your dog loves to dig. Remember that our faithful friends are descendants of wild animals. In the wild, dogs were hunters, and they frequently buried their leftovers for later consumption. Another reason dogs dig is to make a cool place to curl up in the summer, or a warm spot in the winter. Digging in the dirt is an effective way to make a comfortable space in which to lie. They also might like to curl up in a spot like this because it feels secure. These are all instinctual reasons your dog may love to dig, and there’s only so much you can do to get dogs to stop digging when their reasons are based on this natural instinct. There are other reasons your dog digs too, though, related to boredom and a simple excess store of energy.
Regardless of the motivation behind your dog’s undesirable behavior, there are some simple ways to get dogs to stop digging. Here are 3 methods you might try:
1) An effective way to get dogs to stop digging is simply to be sure they are getting enough exercise. Even if your dog has a great big yard to play in all day, he would still benefit greatly from being taken for a walk or a visit to the dog park. These activities are beneficial to your best friend in more ways than one, by providing:
-Exercise
-Social interaction (with other people and other dogs)
-Mental Stimulation (relieving boredom)
-Quality time with you (which can help to relieve anxiety)
2) Another way to get dogs to stop digging is by providing plenty of alternate entertainment for them. Boredom was mentioned in method 1; this is another very common reason dogs sometimes dig. Think about it: your dog is in the backyard all day long with no one to play with, so he has to entertain himself, and digging happens to be a favorite activity. Reduce his temptation to dig by leaving plenty of bones to chew on and favorite toys to play with, and you will keep him distracted and entertained enough to forget about digging holes-at least for part of the day.
3) To get dogs to stop digging that are doing it for more shelter-related reasons–making a cool/warm place for themselves or creating a sense of security in the sheltered space of a freshly dug hole-simply providing a space, just for him, that provides these shelter needs can solve the problem. Simply put; get him a dog house.
These are just a few methods to get dogs to stop digging, and in some cases will merely ease the problem. But combining one of these simple ways to get dogs to stop digging with some advanced training methods ought to cure your dog of his digging habits for good…leaving you with a well behaved dog and a beautiful yard!
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