The Digging Dog

Frustrated with your digging dog? Well you're not alone, it's a natural tendency for the dog to dig; especially this time of year, when it's so hot outside. The dog will dig to find a cool spot during the summer, in the winter to find a warm spot, or anytime to bury a bone or just simply out of boredom. It can be very difficult to stop the digging once your dog begins to exhibit this behavior. But if you understand the reasoning behind it, you may be able to stop or redirect the behavior to avoid total destruction to your yard.

Obviously, during the summer heat, you may be able to stop digging behavior by providing a cooler environment for the dog. Check out our talk on heat exhaustion for a few tips on summer heat. During the winter, sometimes, dogs will also dig to find warmth and avoid the wind chill. So, likewise, providing a warmer environment for him/her will help deter all those potholes.

What about the dog who just digs, no matter the weather? Try designating a digging area in your yard, maybe even a sandbox or doggy digging bed. You can introduce it to him/her by allowing your dog to watch as you bury a favorite chew toy or chew bone; then just keep his/her focus on that area by continuing to encourage digging in that area. This often works well for many dogs that are very prone to digging.

Some dogs dig just for exercise or out of boredom; guess how to cure that, give 'em what they want. Some types of dogs require more exercise, so find a game they enjoy that requires some exerciese. Playing fetch, or just going for a walk will cure these dogs.

Then, there are those dogs that dig to hunt for critters like moles and voles. This digger is a tough one, there may be no cure for this one, but keeping those pesky varmits out of your yard so there is no critters to dig for may be your best bet.

If none of these suggestions solve your digging dog's obsession, then you may need to talk to your veterinarian or a reputable dog trainer to attempt to redirect that behavior. Sometimes a little extra training may be all he/she needs to deter the digging behavior.