This is Sam...
This is the hole that Sam built... (one of many)
Hey Everyone!
It was such a beautiful evening last night that I decided to sit on the patio and enjoy the weather. Unfortunately, I was greeted by a line of holes and a dirty-nosed Sam. Now, it wasn't like my backyard was going to win yard of the month any time soon, even before the holes, but it's still a pain to constantly have holes to fill in. Not to mention that the more Sam digs, the less grass there is in my yard and the more dirt there is in my house... So, I thought I'd do a little research into how to keep dogs from digging. And, I figured if I was going to research, I might as well share.
Okay, so I already knew some of this, and I'm guessing you probably do too, but some of it was new and thought provoking.
Comfort - some dogs dig to get cooler in warm weather, to get warmer in cool weather and also to comfort themselves when they are lonely. Dogs that dig for comfort often dig near the walls of your home, because this is going to be either the warmest or coolest spot. It is also where they can hear you, so a dog that is lonely will dig near the walls of your home to be closer to your sounds and smells. This usually occurs when a dog is completely an "outside" dog If a dog is digging for temperature comfort, it may help to provide some type of shelter, such as a dog house or crate. Of course, it is necessary to find a shelter that your dog is comfortable in. We have a dog house that Sam refuses to go in, so it wouldn't prevent him from digging if this were the source of his digging. If a dog is digging out of loneliness, recognizing a dog's need to belong to a pack is key. Spending time with your dog may help prevent the digging.
Boredom/Instinct - some dogs dig simply to entertain themselves, they may like the way the dirt smells or feels on their feet. This also applies to dogs that are genetically predisposed to digging, such as terriers. Digging will not necessarily occur in any specific pattern, it may occur along walls and fences but also in the middle of a yard. Provide your dog with an acceptable place to dig. You can do this by creating a dig pit, with soil that is loose and easier to dig in than the rest of your yard. You'll have to train your dog to dig in this specific space. You can do this by burying treats or favorite toys at progressively deeper depths in the pit. Boredom digging may also be relieved simply by providing your dog with interactive toys while you're away.
Food - some dogs are highly motivated by food, whether they are hungry or not, this motivates them to hunt for small animals This type of digging usually is signified by the "trailing" holes, dogs dig along the underground tunnels of vermin. They may also dig at the bases of trees or shrubbery where small animals would nest. I'm pretty sure that this is what motivates Sam. I know that he's food motivated, it's the only way he ever does anything. Plus he's caught two moles in our yard and he tracks squirrels and birds even when he's inside standing at windows. The best thing to do in this case is to remove the pests, therefore removing the temptation. In some cases, building a dig pit like described above will also work for these dogs, because you can substitute treats for small prey.
Escape - some dogs may dig to get out of the confines of yard Dogs that dig to escape usually dig along fence lines. There are many reasons that dogs try to escape. Among them is to get to a mate on the other side of a fence. Spaying or neutering your dog can help reduce digging for escape.
Attention - it turns out some dogs may dig to get attention This digging usually only occurs in your presence, and can occur anywhere in your yard, including in the middle. Ignore the behavior. Any attention, even negative attention will feed this digging. Once a dog realizes that he's not going to get attention from you when he digs, he'll give up. Also, praise other appropriate behaviors. If he brings you a ball or even just runs around, give him the attention he is craving.
Health - some dogs dig because they are not getting adequate nutrition Dogs will actually eat the dirt they dig up in an attempt to get needed potassium and phosphorus. Consider the food that your dog is eating. All foods should be balanced and contain all the nutrients necessary, but if those nutrients aren't readily available they may not be getting everything they need. You may want to check out a higher quality diet or a supplement.
A few other things to consider - on occasion dogs might dig to shorten their nails. If nothing else seems to help, check to see if your dog needs their nails trimmed back. You can also try placing your dog's poop into the hole and covering it with a layer of dirt. This often deters the dog from digging in that spot again, although it will not keep your dog from digging entirely. You can also try sprinkling cayenne pepper in the holes to discourage your dog from digging, however this will only last until the next rain.
It was such a beautiful evening last night that I decided to sit on the patio and enjoy the weather. Unfortunately, I was greeted by a line of holes and a dirty-nosed Sam. Now, it wasn't like my backyard was going to win yard of the month any time soon, even before the holes, but it's still a pain to constantly have holes to fill in. Not to mention that the more Sam digs, the less grass there is in my yard and the more dirt there is in my house... So, I thought I'd do a little research into how to keep dogs from digging. And, I figured if I was going to research, I might as well share.
Okay, so I already knew some of this, and I'm guessing you probably do too, but some of it was new and thought provoking.
Comfort - some dogs dig to get cooler in warm weather, to get warmer in cool weather and also to comfort themselves when they are lonely. Dogs that dig for comfort often dig near the walls of your home, because this is going to be either the warmest or coolest spot. It is also where they can hear you, so a dog that is lonely will dig near the walls of your home to be closer to your sounds and smells. This usually occurs when a dog is completely an "outside" dog If a dog is digging for temperature comfort, it may help to provide some type of shelter, such as a dog house or crate. Of course, it is necessary to find a shelter that your dog is comfortable in. We have a dog house that Sam refuses to go in, so it wouldn't prevent him from digging if this were the source of his digging. If a dog is digging out of loneliness, recognizing a dog's need to belong to a pack is key. Spending time with your dog may help prevent the digging.
Boredom/Instinct - some dogs dig simply to entertain themselves, they may like the way the dirt smells or feels on their feet. This also applies to dogs that are genetically predisposed to digging, such as terriers. Digging will not necessarily occur in any specific pattern, it may occur along walls and fences but also in the middle of a yard. Provide your dog with an acceptable place to dig. You can do this by creating a dig pit, with soil that is loose and easier to dig in than the rest of your yard. You'll have to train your dog to dig in this specific space. You can do this by burying treats or favorite toys at progressively deeper depths in the pit. Boredom digging may also be relieved simply by providing your dog with interactive toys while you're away.
Food - some dogs are highly motivated by food, whether they are hungry or not, this motivates them to hunt for small animals This type of digging usually is signified by the "trailing" holes, dogs dig along the underground tunnels of vermin. They may also dig at the bases of trees or shrubbery where small animals would nest. I'm pretty sure that this is what motivates Sam. I know that he's food motivated, it's the only way he ever does anything. Plus he's caught two moles in our yard and he tracks squirrels and birds even when he's inside standing at windows. The best thing to do in this case is to remove the pests, therefore removing the temptation. In some cases, building a dig pit like described above will also work for these dogs, because you can substitute treats for small prey.
Escape - some dogs may dig to get out of the confines of yard Dogs that dig to escape usually dig along fence lines. There are many reasons that dogs try to escape. Among them is to get to a mate on the other side of a fence. Spaying or neutering your dog can help reduce digging for escape.
Attention - it turns out some dogs may dig to get attention This digging usually only occurs in your presence, and can occur anywhere in your yard, including in the middle. Ignore the behavior. Any attention, even negative attention will feed this digging. Once a dog realizes that he's not going to get attention from you when he digs, he'll give up. Also, praise other appropriate behaviors. If he brings you a ball or even just runs around, give him the attention he is craving.
Health - some dogs dig because they are not getting adequate nutrition Dogs will actually eat the dirt they dig up in an attempt to get needed potassium and phosphorus. Consider the food that your dog is eating. All foods should be balanced and contain all the nutrients necessary, but if those nutrients aren't readily available they may not be getting everything they need. You may want to check out a higher quality diet or a supplement.
A few other things to consider - on occasion dogs might dig to shorten their nails. If nothing else seems to help, check to see if your dog needs their nails trimmed back. You can also try placing your dog's poop into the hole and covering it with a layer of dirt. This often deters the dog from digging in that spot again, although it will not keep your dog from digging entirely. You can also try sprinkling cayenne pepper in the holes to discourage your dog from digging, however this will only last until the next rain.
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