Dogs dig digging. It's a canine craving to carve out cozy spots in lovely lawns, tended garden beds and other prized posts. Blueticks, Bulldogs, Boxers, and dogs of basically every breed love to bury their bones. Retrievers, Rottweilers and Rhodesian Ridgebacks try tunneling and pawing out places to curl up outdoors. What dog doesn't dare to dig?
We love our dogs, but the digging send humans howling.
Why do dogs dig?
Usually, canines may begin pawing the ground outdoors, sending flowers and fur flying, to meet instinctive or immediate needs. A dog may seek attention, a comfortable sleeping spot, entertainment, escape from perceived danger, or even an elusive prey.
How can you stop your dog from destroying your yard by digging?
It's difficult to curtail this canine behavior, but you can diminish your dog's digging by taking a few preventative and proactive measures. Try these 10 tips to keep your Weimaraner, Westie or Wolfhound from wrecking your yard.
1. Prevent boredom.
A restless dog is likely to begin burrowing, but a well-exercised and stimulated pet may not. Play with your dog frequently, and take him for walks at least twice a day, and see if he isn't less likely to tear up your turf.
2. Choose chew toys instead of bones.
Dogs are the ultimate treasure hunters, particularly when they bury their own loot. Give a dog a bone, and he is sure to start excavating outdoors. Offer him a squeaky toy, an old tennis ball or a rawhide chew, and he may not.
3. Offer an alternative dig site.
Here's an easy alternative. Why not provide a dig-friendly spot, such as a sandbox or a plastic kiddy pool? Hide a few tasty meat bones in the fresh soil, while your dog is watching, so he gets the message.
4. Place wire mesh under garden beds.
Dogs are attracted to fresh soil and certain plant fertilizers. Keep your pooch away from your plantings by setting a layer of chicken wire under your beds. Pile on your dirt. Then plant your flowers, herbs, or vegetables. Your dog's own paws will let him know this is a bad spot for digging.
5. Fill the holes your dog has dug.
Existing holes beckon dogs to dig. Load up your pet's favorite pits, adding his own dog dirt to the fill as a digging deterrent. Pet stores also sell products that suit this purpose.
Several pet owners blow up party balloons and bury them in their dogs' favorite digging spots. When their pups pop the balloons, they may decide not to dig anymore.
6. Close gaps under fences.
If your dog digs to escape from your fenced yard, particularly if he is an intact male seeking female company, you will need to fortify your perimeters. Seal up any openings that may tempt him to dig his way out.
7. Eliminate burrowing pests from your yard.
Mice, moles, gophers and voles can send the most docile dogs into digging frenzies. Get rid of the pests, and your pet may stop pawing.
8. Don't leave your dog unsupervised outdoors.
A well-watched dog has no chance to carve up your lot. If you keep him company, your pet will be otherwise occupied.
9. Be consistent with training.
Dog obedience depends on consistency. Every time your dog digs, stop him immediately. Say, "No dig," and remove him from his mining spot. Never let him get away with it - not even once.
Canines are canny creatures. If your dog watches you digging in the dirt, performing gardening and yard chores, he may wonder why his own digging is brings reproach. Put the digging dog inside when you work in your gardens, so he won't be tempted to copycat.
10. Confine your dog to a no-dig zone.
Some dogs simply persist in digging, no matter what you do, but you can remove the temptation by keeping him away from your gardens and compost piles. Set up a fenced dog recess or a cabled canine run that does not allow him access to your plantings.
A happy, healthy, well-trained dog is less likely to destroy your yard by digging. Keep your pet present and occupied, and you may protect your plantings.
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