subject: Dog Digging Problems - How to Train Your Dog to Stop Digging [print this page] Dog Digging Problems - How to Train Your Dog to Stop Digging
Your dog is a digger. She's put holes in your garden, she's put holes in your yard, she's put holes in the neighbor's yard and you just can't seem to figure out why. Dogs and all canines are diggers by nature, it's a behavior that can be traced back to their oldest ancestors, but that doesn't mean a little training can't solve the problem.There are a number of reasons as to why a dog will dig. Digging behaviors can be traced back to the dog's ancestry - wolves who use the skill for survival purposes.CachingMost canines like to cache things. In the wild this is typically food, and if a wolf or other canine has too much food on hand, it often gets buried in a special spot that he will remember. This is useful during period where food is more difficult to find. Having extra food stored for raining days is a good habit for them.
Your dog may decide to bury food in a cache, but it could just as easily be anything at all that your dog has decided to treasure: a favorite toy, an old bone, even a stolen shoe. In fact, some dogs may decide to hide things that they might have stolen simply as a game.Hot and Cold IssuesDogs, certain breeds in particular, can be very sensitive to temperature. A long haired snow dog might get over warm in the summer heat and so dig a hole in the shade to cool off in. The earth a few inches down is often much cooler than the surface which is heated by the sun.Short haired dogs may feel the cold much more than others and so might dig down a bit into the ground. This gives them a slightly more insulated place to lie down and shields them from the wind.Separation AnxietyDogs with separation problems may try feverishly to dig out of any enclosure to get back to their owner. The frenzied nature which often accompanies this type of digging can make this a dangerous task for your dog.HuntingCertain breeds of dogs have been bred to pursue small mammals. Terrier dogs are breed to hunt and may enjoy digging into animal holes to get their prey.FunMost dogs just enjoy digging out of fun, tearing up your entire yard and leaving many little holes behind. This kind of digging is often accompanied by lots of galloping around and general canine merriment.Before you even try to stop your dog digging behavior, you might want to think and figure out why he dig in the first place. Most of these types of digging come with fairly obvious indicators, so it shouldn't take much time before you have your answer.For a dog that caches treats and treasures, the simplest way is to not give out these treats and treasures unless your dog will finish them or else is indoors. Failing this, it's possible to designate a special place in the yard just for digging. You can bury some of his favorite treats in this special spot and encourage him to dig and retrieve them. You may need to work with the dog for a bit before he'll understand that the digging pit is the only spot for digging, and this is best done by simply distracting your dog from digging elsewhere and redirecting him to the digging area.A dog that is trying to keep himself comfortable due to the climate should always be given in to. Provide a hot dog with shade and a nice cool surface. Dogs like to lay spread out on hard surfaces that stay cool in the shade such as concrete or metal. Provide plenty of water, and perhaps even a kiddy pool for the dog to cool off in.Dogs that love to dig for fun can be trained to dig on allocated digging area. You may also choose to fence off areas you would not like to be dug in. Some dog trainers suggest leaving your dog's feces in the holes, though unless your dog is digging repeatedly in a single spot, this is not much of a deterrent. Distracting your dog and rewarding him when he stops digging may be your best option.
