Guide to Stopping Dog Digging

While digging can be destructive and costly, there are health implications as well. Freshly applied chemicals, a fertilizer or a dead animal carcass can make your puppy sick and in extreme cases, even kill him.

Can anything be done to discourage this behavior?

Before we figure out how to deal with puppy digging, we must figure out…

Why Dogs Love to Dig

What's behind dog digging and why do so many dogs enjoy this activity?

The reasons vary. Your puppy could be digging for entertainment, burying or searching for his "treasure", or making a cool resting spot on a hot summer day. He could also be trying to escape.

Some breeds, because of their heritage, are natural born diggers. For example, Dachshund were bred to pursue small animals down narrow tunnels. Terriers were bred to hunt rats. For these breeds, dog digging is in their genes! Visit dog breed info to learn more about the behavior of your pet.

Here are some additional reasons why dogs enjoy digging…

• Digging releases a lot of different and interesting (for your dog!) smells
• It's fun and gives a bored dog something to do
• It's an excellent form of exercise for a dog with a lot of energy

Here is a short video that provides additional reasons why dogs enjoy digging...

How to Discourage Dog Digging

Instead of trying to completely stop dog digging, it's better to redirect it to an accepted area.

Fill in all the holes your dog had already dug and find a spot that is not in the way. Start a new hole, bury some treats or toys and encourage him to find them. First couple of times, take him to his new hole and help him find his "treasure".

I used to place my dogs in a dog pen in the designated digging area. They had nowhere to go, so if they wanted to dig, they had to do it right there.

If you catch your dog digging in the "off limits" area, stop him immediately (an electronic dog training collar is a perfect tool for stopping unwanted behaviors in dogs).

After he stopped, don't punish him. Just take him to the approved area and praise him for digging there.

But the best way to prevent dog digging is to constantly keep your pet busy.

Here is another video you may find helpful. It offers additional tips to put an end to dog digging...

Provide your dog with plenty of exercise, consider dog agility training or anything that will keep him interested and drain his energy.

Digging to Escape

To discourage your dog from escaping, try to understand the reasons behind his attempts…

The most common are boredom and a desire to mate. 

To reduce boredom, provide your dog with plenty of exercise and toys. If you can do that, you will greatly reduce the incentive for dog digging and trying to escape.

The only foolproof methods that will diminish your dog's desire to mate are neutering and spaying. Visit dog neutering and dog spaying or consult your veterinarian for more information about these procedures. 

Does your dog try to escape by digging under the fence?

You can fill the hole with rocks or cement and extend the fence further down.

Or consider an "electronic dog fence", also known as an "invisible fence".

Innotek® UltraSmart(TM) In-Ground Fencing is designed to stop your dog from approaching the boundaries of your property.

Filling a hole with rocks and cement is not complicated and doesn't take a lot of time. But as soon as you do that, your dog will start a new hole.

Extending a fence further down will prevent your dog from escaping, but it requires a lot of time and work. And it will not be cheap, even if you do the work yourself.

An electronic fence, such as Innotek® UltraSmart(TM) In-Ground Fencing, is a lot cheaper and easier to install than to extend an existing fence. And it offers a lot more flexibility.

Yard Tips

No, I am not a gardener, but I have couple of tips you can use to protect your yard and keeping your dog safe!

• If you use fertilizers and chemicals on your lawn, keep your dog away for a day or two until you thoroughly water the lawn.
• Always surround newly planted trees and shrubs with protective wire enclosures to keep them safe from dog digging.
• While it's a good idea to surround newly planted trees with a protective wire, don't use a thin wire that your dog can't see and can run into. You need to protect your dog too!
• Don't be too harsh on your dog. Discipline him only if you catch him in the act and remember… with some breeds, dog digging is an innate behavior.

Remember I mentioned an electronic dog training collar earlier?

I had used a PetSafe Deluxe Big Dog Remote Trainer to discourage Bo, my German shepherd, from chasing rabbits.

The results exceeded my expectations!

The above remote trainer is for dogs that weight over 40 lbs. For smaller breeds, PetSafe makes a PetSafe Deluxe Little Dog Remote Trainer.

You can use the above remote trainers not only to stop such unwanted behaviors as…

• Dog digging
• Dog barking
• Dog eating feces

but also when training a dog that gets easily distracted. Visit electronic dog training collar to learn more.

While it's not easy to completely stop dog digging, it's possible to diminish the frequency and lessen the damage.

Designate an area where your dog is allowed to dig and reward him for digging there. Recognize why your dog likes to dig and try to substitute this behavior with something less destructive. Plenty of exercise will also greatly reduce dog digging.