How To Stop A Dog From Digging
Digging dogs can drive their owners crazy. Read on to find out how to stop a dog from digging. Your dog can cause a lot of damage to your gardens and landscaping and may even dig himself out of the yard if you don’t curb him of this habit.
The first thing you need to do is understand that digging for a dog is quite natural, and there are several reasons why a dog may want to dig. Second, as in all dog training, you must be consistent and patient in teaching your dog to stop digging.
There are several reasons why your dog may dig. Finding the underlying cause will help you figure out the most effective training methods to stop a dog from digging.
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A dog may dig as a means of entertainment. This can occur if he is left alone outside for long time periods without any interaction with people or other dogs. He may also start to dig if he has no toys or other stimulating things to do in his environment. Puppies and certain types of breeds are also more prone to digging than other dogs. Herding and sporting dogs may see it as part of their job.
If your dog is digging primarily for entertainment, the most effective methods to stop a dog from digging involve expanding your dog’s range of activities and interactions. Take your dog on long walks once or twice a day, play fetch with a frisbee or ball, or other play activities.
Mental stimulation is also important. Teach your dog new tricks or commands and practice them for a few minutes each day. If you leave your dog out in the yard while you are gone, leave toys out for him to play with. You may also want to consider having a designated digging area for your dog. If he tries to dig outside the designated area, bring him back to the area and reward him when he digs in the correct place.
Dogs may also dig to chase after insects and burrowing animals in the yard. If the digging is within specific areas, near the roots of shrubs and trees or the digging is in the layout of a path, it could be signs that your dog is pursuing prey. If this is the case, the best solution is to find ways to get rid of the pests.
Another reason why your dog may dig is for comfort or protection. Dogs like to dig holes and lie in them because the dirt is cool or provides shelter. You should make sure your dog has plenty of water and has shade and is sheltered from wind, cold and the sun.
Your dog may also dig to gain attention, even if it is negative attention in the form of punishment. If your dog digs primarily when you are around or has limited interaction with you, it could be a sign that your dog is digging for attention. To stop your dog from digging in this situation, you need to ignore the behavior, not acknowledge it. In addition, make sure you spend plenty of time interacting with your dog so that he doesn’t need to misbehave to get your attention.
One other reason why a dog may dig is to escape or to get to the other side of a fence if there is another dog or something interesting on the other side. If your dog digs under a fence or near the fence line, this could be a sign that your dog is digging to escape. To stop dog from digging in this situation, you can bury chicken wire or place some large rocks near the edge of the fence line.
The key to stop a dog from digging is to uncover the probable causes of the digging so that you can use an appropriate response to modify the behavior. Punishing your dog after the fact will not stop the digging, and will only serve to confuse your dog. During your dog training, you can confine your dog to a crate or kennel run when you are away to prevent him from digging.
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