How to Make a Dog Stop Digging: Effective Training Tips
Introduction
Digging is one of the natural behaviors dogs have, but when your yard turns into a mess of holes, it can be frustrating for a pet owner. If you are thinking about how to make a dog stop digging, you are not alone. Dogs dig due to many reasons, which include boredom, hunting instincts, and seeking comfort.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the tried-and-true methods to curb excessive digging and keep your yard looking nice.
Why Do Dogs Dig? Understanding the Root Causes
Before you can help your dog quit digging, understand why they start in the very first place. Digging, after all, is a naturally canine thing, and while extremely frustrating for their owners, some causes are valid. Here is a list of common reasons that dogs dig, and what your dog may accomplish by doing this:
1. Boredom or Excess Energy
Underexercised dogs, either mentally or physically, will often dig to amuse themselves. Both the Border Collie and Labrador Retriever are high-energy dogs that require a great deal of activity to keep them occupied. Without ample amounts of play, training, and enrichment, the dog may begin digging to entertain themselves. Oftentimes, giving the dog more interactive toys, puzzle feeders, or an organized play session will lessen such behavior.
2. Hunting Instincts
Breeds, such as terriers and hounds, tend to have a high prey drive and could dig to chase underground animals. Some breeds of dogs are genetically inclined to burrow into tunnels due to breeding for hunting and hence may exhibit deep-seated digging instincts. Your dog might stare at a spot in the yard because he’s following the movements of a rodent or insect. To redirect this instinct, consider putting them through a scented game or a regulated digging exercise on a designated place.
3. Comfort-Seeking/Shelter
Your dog may find it an ultimate way to manage their body temperature or a pleasant place to sleep. During summer, dogs usually dig to sleep on the cooling soil beneath. On the other hand, if it is cold or windy, they might dig a hole to provide shelter. If your dog digs for comfort, then providing shade, cooling mats during summer, or insulated bedding during winter can minimize this behavior.
4. Attention Seeking Behavior
Some dogs dig because they have learned that it gets a reaction from their owners. Even negative attention, like scolding, can actually reinforce the behavior if the dog considers it to be interaction. Generally, this occurs in dogs that are seeking companionship or that feel they are being ignored. If you think that your dog digs so that he may get your attention, then you may want to try rewarding him for desired behaviors. Often, increasing playtime, training time, or good quality time with dogs will work as a decent alternative.
5. Buried Treasure Syndrome
“Dogs bury food, toys, or bones because it’s instinctive in them as one way of hoarding food for later on. This natural predatory behavior among their wild ancestors needed them to secure food from scavengers. Some dogs love putting their valuable items aside for a rainy day only to be dug out later.”.
This can be avoided by providing a digging box, either filled with sand or dirt, where they can dig without causing an eyesore to your yard.
How to Manage and Control Digging
Once you understand why your dog is digging, you are able to move onto getting control of the behavior. Once the motivation is determined, steps can be taken to put their energy elsewhere:
- Increase Physical and Mental Stimulation: Ensure your dog gets plenty of exercise, playtime, and training to keep them engaged.
- Provide Enrichment Activities: Offer puzzle toys, treat-dispensing balls, and sniffing games to fulfill their natural instincts.
- Designate a Digging Zone: If your dog loves to dig, consider setting up a designated area where they are allowed to dig freely.
- Environmental Modification: Providing shade, cooling mats, or even insulated dog houses may reduce digging for comfort.
- Positive Reinforcement: Reward good behavior and discourage undesirable digging for engaging activities.
How to Stop Your Dog from Digging
They might dig due to a number of natural instincts. When certain tendencies are not curbed, they can be quite a nuisance. After finding out the reason behind your dog’s digging, you’ll be able to apply specific solutions that will not only put an end to the undesired behavior but also enrich his life. The following are some effective ways:
1. Increase Exercise and Mental Stimulation
A tired dog is a good dog. Dogs like to dig when they are under-exercised or bored, and an effective approach toward preventing this involves ensuring that your pet engages in adequate amounts of physical and mental stimulation.
- Take your dog on daily walks or runs: This will not only engage the required physical exercise but also enable the dogs to sniff different scents and see new things for mental stimulation.
- Give interactive toys and puzzle feeders: Toys that challenge your dog, such as treat-dispensing puzzles, will keep their brains active and diminish the desire to dig out of boredom.
- Play with him, play catch, and play tug-of-war: Such activities will help not only burn all the excessive energy but will bring you closer to your canine companion. You’ll want to mix in the added benefit of mental stimulation via the added movement-focused games as well.
2. Give It an Area Where He Can Dig
If your dog likes to dig, then giving that energy an appropriate place can be quite useful.
- Choose a corner of your yard and fill it with soft soil or sand: A designated digging zone gives your dog a safe space to express their natural digging instincts without causing damage to your garden or yard. Try adding sand, dirt, or even a child’s sandbox to make it more inviting.
- Hide toys or treats in that area, actually, to encourage use: If your dog associates the area with positive things, such as digging up hidden toys or treats, they are much more likely to dig there than anywhere else in the yard.
- Reward and praise your dog for digging in the allowed area: When your dog is seen digging in the area, praise him and give treats. Treats do reinforce the action that you would want to have.
3. Reward Training
Training of dogs on where to dig and where not to is necessary to assist in preventing unwanted digging.
- Say “No” clearly the very instance they start digging in a wrong place: Whenever your dog starts digging at a place where you don’t want them to dig, just calmly and firmly say “No” to stop the action. Don’t yell or speak in a harsh tone; this will confuse or anxious your pet.
- Immediately divert to a more appropriate activity: If your dog is digging where they should not, take them to the proper site of digging or distract them for play or any training exercise.
- Reward them with treats or praise for obeying: The moment your dog stops digging or goes to the dig zone, immediately reward them with treats, affection, or praise. This will associate good behavior with positive results for your dog.
4. Change the Environment Around Your Yard
Sometimes, changes in your dog’s environment can help deter digging and make your yard less desirable for the activity.
Use deterrents to dissuade your dog by sprinkling a substance around troubled areas, whether cayenne pepper, citrus peels, or commercial non-toxic repelling products specially designed for animals. Dogs would rather avoid digging if the environment contains strong and unappealing smells.
- Cover problem spots: If your dog has been persistently digging in certain areas, cover those spots with rocks, chicken wire, or garden fencing. These barriers can make it physically difficult or uncomfortable for your dog to dig in those places.
- Shaded areas: During summer, dogs may dig in the yard to create a cooler place. Make sure that your dog does have shade either from a doghouse, large umbrella, or trees and bushes planted to provide comfort against hot weather.
5. Prevent Small Animal Intrusions
Other dogs dig because they have the instinct to hunt or dig up burrowing animals like rodents or rabbits. If your dog is engaging in digging due to prey drive, here are a few steps to reduce this behavior:
- Discourage rodents with humane pest control methods: If you think that your dog is attracted by rodents or small animals, try humane traps or other natural pest control options like peppermint oil, which repels mice.
- Install underground barriers to prevent critters from burrowing: Many dogs dig due to animals burrowing underneath the ground. Placing buried chicken wire or mesh around the perimeter of your yard can keep the animals out and may lead your dog to cease digging in search of them.
6. Avoid Punishment-Based Training
The temptation may be there, but punishing your dog for digging in the wrong places too frequently leads to anxious or fearful dogs and actually may make the digging behavior worse.
- Punishing your dog for digging can create anxiety and fear-based behaviors: Yelling or using physical punishment can create a fearful environment, which may cause your dog to engage in digging or other unwanted behaviors as a way to cope with stress. Instead of punishing, focus on redirecting the behavior and offering positive reinforcement.
- Redirect and praise: Whenever your dog digs in an area where they shouldn’t, he should be calmly redirected to do something else that is more acceptable. Reward good behaviors: give in with praise, treats, or extra playtime when your dog chooses to follow your guidance.
Additional Tips to Stop Digging
If you are dealing with persistent digging, here are some additional measures you can take to control this behavior and keep your dog safe, happy, and occupied:
1. Keep Your Dog Indoors in Extreme Weather Conditions
Other times, dogs might dig for shelter from extreme weather conditions such as very hot, rainy, or cold weather. If your dog is outside and digging because of discomfort, then keeping them indoors during these times is an easy solution.
- Shelter from the elements: A doghouse or even just a place in your yard that is quite well shaded may offer your pet some protection during periods of extremely hot and extremely cold weather. Of course, this is only an option with some breeds and does not suit dogs that have a problem staying outdoors for periods. If weather is extreme, it is recommended that you take your dog inside for safety and comfort.
- Schedule indoor activities during inclement weather: If it’s too hot, rainy, or cold to spend time with your dog outside, plan some indoor activities to keep him busy and active, such as interactive toys, training sessions, or indoor fetch games.
2. Rotate Toys to Keep Your Dog Engaged
The major reasons for digging include boredom. Keeping your dog mentally stimulated goes a long way toward reducing the behavior. A good way to keep your dog engaged is through the rotation of their toys; this way, they will never get disinterested.
- Rotate new toys in regularly: A dog that has been playing with the same toys for too long may start digging due to a lack of things to do. Rotating your dog’s toys regularly can make playtime a fun time for them and limit boredom-related digging.
- Introduce problem toys or dispensers: Food puzzle toys, such as puzzle feeders or treat-dispensing balls, will mentally engage your dog. These problem toys prompt your dog to solve problems, which keeps them so busy and also diverts their attention from digging.
- Utilize scent games: Hide treats or toys in different parts of your yard or house and ask your dog to find them by smelling. This works on the instinct of hunting, which will be a more satisfying activity than digging.
3. Supervise Outdoor Time to Intervene When Digging Begins
The best way to stop digging is to catch it early, which brings in supervision. You supervise your dog when they are outside and intervene immediately at the very start of the behavior, and your dog learns that digging in some areas is not acceptable.
- Stay with your dog during playtime: When spending time in the yard, always keep a close watch on your dog, more so if you know they dig. The moment you notice them digging, stop them immediately and give them an alternative thing to do or take them to their digging site.
- Keep them outdoors only for short sessions of training: In place of simply letting your dog stay in the yard, outdoor time needs to be filled with scheduled events, such as fetch or agility training, to keep their mind active and disciplined.
- Be consistent with your commands and redirection: Whenever you catch your dog in the act of digging, use a firm “No” and guide them toward the behavior you want to encourage, such as playing with a toy or resting in a shaded area. Consistency will help your dog understand what’s expected of them.
Conclusion
Patience, continuity, and ability to understand your dog’s needs are necessary for a dog to stop digging. Proper exercise, mental stimulation, and a digging area will aid in curbing unwanted digging. If the digging problem persists, seek professional advice from a dog trainer or veterinarian for a personalized solution.
For more dog training tips, check out our other articles or share your experiences in the comments below!
