Stop your dog from digging up a storm

Digging is a natural canine behaviour, with some breeds more likely to dig than others. But why do they dig?

• It’s instinctive — our dogs’ ancestors dug dens to rear their puppies, to hunt and seek out food, and to later bury food they could not immediately eat. Dogs are also instinctively motivated to dig to make a safe and comfortable spot for themselves.
• They’re inquisitive — they think there is something interesting in the ground and dig to explore it further. Or they are keen to escape to explore what lies beyond your backyard.
• They’re just bored — some dogs dig simply to get your attention.

All the same, all that digging can be enough to drive you crazy. So how do you regain control over your garden?

What to look out for:

• If your dog is digging because they are bored or looking for an escape route, liven up the yard with some of their favourite toys, spend more time with them and make sure they are getting regular exercise. The more energy they use up exercising, the less energy they have to get up to mischief!
• If you notice your dog is digging only in a particular spot or creating a distinct digging pattern, it is likely that they are hunting for a burying insect or animal that is living in your yard. Find out exactly what they are after and remove it from your garden.
• If your dog is digging near the house, under trees or near water, they are likely to be digging to find a comfortable, safe place. On hot summer days, they may just be digging to find a cool, shady space out of the heat. Make sure they have plenty of water and think about investing in an insulated kennel for them to meet their comfort and safety needs.
• If your dog is digging to get your attention, scolding it will not work as for dogs even negative attention is some form of attention. Try to spend more time with them in general to deter their attention digging behaviour.

Other tips

• When your dog starts digging divert their attention with a game of fetch.
• Bury chicken wire in the ground so your dog encounters a barrier when they start digging.
• If they are digging under a fence, use the chicken wire along the bottom of the fence, bending it towards you by about a metre.
• Allocate an area of your yard where it is OK for your dogs to dig. Make the area attractive by burying treats and keep your dog interested in the area by distibuting his favourite toys around it.
• Sprinkle white pepper or use a citrus spray in the area they are digging to deter them (although this will only work for some dogs).

Sources and further reading:
http://www.drkatrina.com/yourpet/DogBehaviourandtraining/Digging.aspx
http://www.petrescue.com.au/article/280
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/petshow/txt/s1760065.htm
http://petsfact.com/DogTraining/DogDigging/