Tips to Keep Dogs from Digging

Most dogs love to dig. It is in their nature and a healthy way of expressing their inner puppy. Digging only becomes a problem when a dog is left to run wild in the yard. Dogs and gardens are not mutually exclusive and it's not difficult to curb your dogs inner puppy so that a garden and a dog are able to coexist.
Some breeds of dog are more prone to digging than others. For example terriers and Nordic breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes are going to take a lot more convincing when it comes to when and where to dig. If your goal is to keep your dog from all digging then this is probably unrealistic as digging is an instinct dogs need to express. A far more rewarding and realistic approach is to direct the digging so that it doesn't become nuisance digging. As with all other aspects of dog training you will need to be consistent and clear with your instructions.

Why do dogs dig?

Lack of exercise: Are you taking your dog to the park, or for a walk often enough? We recommend one to one and a half hours per day, depending on the size and breed. Digging is a good way for cooped up, energised dog to burn off energy.

Boredom: Does your dog have enough toys to play with while you are out? Is your dogs day full of activities or just empty sitting around the yard? Are you spending enough time with your dog when you are home? Bored dogs want something to do to help pass the time. Digging is often the perfect solution and provides a sense of purpose.
The need to see what else is out there: Some dogs just love to escape, despite the amount of exercise they are getting. The reward of discovering the unknown is what drives them on.

Separation anxiety: If you have a dog who pines for you when you are out, digging represents the most direct route to you.

Here are a few tips to keep your dog from digging:

Keep your dog out of the yard while you aren't home: If your dog doesn't have access to the yard while you aren't there to supervise, it will never learn to dig incessantly. Of course, by leaving your dog inside when you're not there could be creating different, unwanted problems.

Dog sitting or swapping: If you have a lonely dog and are away from home most days you could arrange with another dog owner to have your dogs play together. If your dog is occupied in this way you can be sure that it will not be lonely or bored!

Use dog poo as a deterrant: Dogs are naturally clean and if there is dog poo in the area that they your dog wants to dig, your dog will not go anywhere near it.

To keep your dog from digging in specific areas of your garden: Lay down some chicken wire a few inches below the surface of the lawn or soil. Your dog will be surprised to find this challenge awaiting it! Once your dog realises the chicken wire is a waste of time it's unlikely that it will return to that spot, to dig. If this approach isn't really practicle perhaps you have an area of your yard where you can allow your dog to dig as much as it likes? By dedicating an area of your yard like this you will be able to reinforce that there is no digging allowed anywhere else in the yard. This will put your mind at ease knowing that your dog is satisfying it's need to dig and your yard is safe from total destruction!

If you aren't willing to forego any of your lawn or garden, then perhaps you could make or buy a sand box for your dog to dig in. It can be filled with sand, soil and leaves and he deeper you make it, the better. By placing a few treats in the sand box your dog will soon get the hang of it. To begin with you will need to encourage your dog to dig here and make sure you give it plenty of praise when it does the right thing. If your dog digs elsewhere, say 'no' with a displeased voice and redirect your dog to the sandbox, enthusiastically. You will probably need to spend a bit of time with your dog reminding it about the correct place to dig and reinforcing this with lots of praise and some doggy treats.

For more information on recognizing and dealing with problematic behaviors like digging, chewing, barking, and aggression we recommend Dove Cresswell's great video lessons.