Digging
can be a hard problem to fix. Dogs dig for many reasons, including
boredom, a desire to cool down and a desire to bury a treasure. It’s a
natural instinct and is often done when no one is looking. Because of
this, the most effective approaches rely on managing the environment.
Here are some suggestions.
1. Eliminate Unsupervised Time Outside
The quickest way to end the problem is to stop giving him unsupervised access to the yard. Keep an eye on him when he’s outside and correct him any time he starts digging.
2. Bury Chicken Wire
If your dog has a favorite spot, you can try burying chicken wire under the surface. This will frustrate his digging efforts and may convince him to stop.
3. Provide Interactive Toys
Give him toys to play with when he goes outside. An item such as a Kong toy stuffed with treats will keep his attention focused on it instead of on digging.
4. Provide More Exercise
Take him for more frequent and longer walks so that he won’t have as much stored up energy.
5. Prevent Access
Prevent him from getting to his favorite areas to dig. If he enjoys destroying the garden, block off the garden. Lawn furniture usually does the trick.
6. Keep Him Inside on Hot Days
When the weather gets warm dogs will dig to get to the colder dirt underneath. Keep him inside when it’s uncomfortable outside (this is something you should do regardless of whether he digs).
7. Provide Mild Corrections
If you catch him in the act you can startle him with a noise or spray him with a water bottle. For some dogs this will solve the problem, though others will either fail to generalize and simply dig elsewhere, or keep better track on whether you’re home.
8. Set Up a Safe Zone
If you can spare some territory that he can dig in, guide him over there and reward him for digging in an appropriate spot. Just as with potty training, teaching a dog what to do is much easier than correcting all his different errors.
To solve digging problems you have to manage the environment and increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. Prevent access to areas where he digs, walk him more often and provide him with interactive toys
1. Eliminate Unsupervised Time Outside
The quickest way to end the problem is to stop giving him unsupervised access to the yard. Keep an eye on him when he’s outside and correct him any time he starts digging.
2. Bury Chicken Wire
If your dog has a favorite spot, you can try burying chicken wire under the surface. This will frustrate his digging efforts and may convince him to stop.
3. Provide Interactive Toys
Give him toys to play with when he goes outside. An item such as a Kong toy stuffed with treats will keep his attention focused on it instead of on digging.
4. Provide More Exercise
Take him for more frequent and longer walks so that he won’t have as much stored up energy.
5. Prevent Access
Prevent him from getting to his favorite areas to dig. If he enjoys destroying the garden, block off the garden. Lawn furniture usually does the trick.
6. Keep Him Inside on Hot Days
When the weather gets warm dogs will dig to get to the colder dirt underneath. Keep him inside when it’s uncomfortable outside (this is something you should do regardless of whether he digs).
7. Provide Mild Corrections
If you catch him in the act you can startle him with a noise or spray him with a water bottle. For some dogs this will solve the problem, though others will either fail to generalize and simply dig elsewhere, or keep better track on whether you’re home.
8. Set Up a Safe Zone
If you can spare some territory that he can dig in, guide him over there and reward him for digging in an appropriate spot. Just as with potty training, teaching a dog what to do is much easier than correcting all his different errors.
To solve digging problems you have to manage the environment and increase the amount of exercise your dog gets. Prevent access to areas where he digs, walk him more often and provide him with interactive toys
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