Thick-coated Northern breeds like the Alaskan Malamute or Siberian Husky may be especially prone to this. Pregnant females may also be inclined to dig as part of their denning instinct. And just as dogs dig to look for food, they will dig to bury things too. This caching behavior is a throwback to that wolf heritage. Of course, locating it again is another story! Dogs also will dig to get under barriers. They might be trying to escape the yard to find more exciting locations or even search for a mate.
But keep in mind, not all escape artists are looking for fun. Some dogs will try to escape because they are anxious in the yard or scared to be alone. It can also be used as anxiety relief because the dog is keeping busy.
First, think about why your dog is digging. An anxious dog needs confidence-building, and a bored dog needs more stimulation. By identifying the cause, you will be more effective at curtailing the behavior.
Ensure your dog is getting enough mental stimulation and physical exercise every day. This will help with boredom and anxiety, and provide more appropriate types of fun. You can also make the backyard more entertaining by providing puzzle toys for your dog to play with outside. Training sessions in the backyard are another way to occupy and exercise your dog. Any time you catch your dog digging, redirect your dog to another activity like doing a trick or fetching a ball.
Reward that new behavior heavily with praise, pets, and treats so your dog comes to see that new action as more rewarding than digging. Finally, even with toys and games, the yard is not a place for solitary confinement. Despite all your best efforts to redirect your dog, that digging instinct can still kick in. So why not embrace it? Teach your dog basic commands such as "Stop," "Sit," "Heel," etc. Practice these tricks once a day for 10 minutes. Ignore failures and immediately reward success.
When you see your dog in the act of digging a hole, utilize negative reinforcement. Without being seen, create a loud noise for instance, with a soda can with several coins inside that will distract the dog. This unpleasant noise will become associated with digging. Part 2. Construct a doggy-digging "sandbox.
Encourage your dog to play in this area instead of the restricted area. Bury treats and smelly things in the sandbox to encourage your dog's use and attention. If you catch your dog digging in an non-designated area, firmly say "No digging!
Immediately reward digging within the sandbox. Create a shaded area for your dog outside. If you don't have an outside shelter to keep your dog cool in hot weather, he might be digging to find a respite from the heat.
This is especially likely if the digging is near the foundations of buildings, trees, or water sources. Don't let your dog outside without adequate protection in cases of extreme heat or cold. Keep your dog inside more often if necessary. Make sure your dog has a filled water bowl that can't be tipped over, leaving your dog without water the entire day. Eliminate any prey that your dog may be chasing. Some dogs are natural hunters and love the thrill of the chase.
If the dog digs at the roots of trees or plants, or there's a raised path leading to the digging site, it's possible that your pet has spotted a rodent or other type of animal to hunt. Call an expert if you're unsure of what animal you may be dealing with. Do not use any poison to exterminate the prey animal from your yard. Any poison that could harm a rodent could potentially harm your dog, too. Keep your dog from escaping. Your dog may be trying to escape the premises to get to something, to get somewhere, or to simply to get away.
This is the case especially if the digging happens near fencing. If you think this may be the case, try to figure out what your dog is running to or from, and provide incentives to stay put in the yard. Make sure any sharp areas are pointed up and in, or at least away from your dog so she doesn't injure herself. Line the fence with partially-buried rocks that block progress. Bury the fence even deeper into the ground. Fences that are buried 1 to 2 feet 0.
If your dog is trying to escape to another yard with another dog, for instance , you may want to consider putting up new fencing that blocks the line of sight to that apparent doggy oasis. Remove temptations. The more temptations the dog has, the harder it is to resist digging. If you create a yard that is less tempting to dig holes in, the behavior will be much easier to keep under relative control.
If you are working in your garden, remove fresh dirt from your dog's reach with a fence or covering. Go out and dig up any bones or other things your dog has buried. Do not let the dog see you do this, or it may be seen as part of a fun, back-and-forth game. Fill the hole back in, and add discouragements see above as needed. If you do gardening, do not let your dog see you till or dig in the earth, as this would simply be positive reinforcement.
Basically, "If you can do it, why can't I? Remove attractive smells. As noted above, deal with any rodent or other small mammal problem. Beverly Ulbrich. Try placing a big, fluffy blanket on top of the couch so he can burrow in that instead. Not Helpful 7 Helpful 0. I suggest you give them a place where it's okay to dig so they can get their energy out without destroying your garden. For example, you might get a small sandbox and bury some bones or toys in the sand so they know it's okay to dig there.
Not Helpful 3 Helpful 0. The idea behind cayenne pepper is that the smell is repellent or else it makes the dog sneeze when he sniffs around prior to digging.
However, it's debatable whether this works or not. There's little to lose by giving it a go, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't work. Not Helpful 14 Helpful It's best to withhold food for 24 hours, but make sure the dog is still drinking water.
After that time, re-introduce bland food such as white meat chicken, turkey and boiled white rice. Consider mixing a dog probiotic with the food, as this helps repopulate the gut with bugs that aid digestion.
Not Helpful 9 Helpful Try to figure out why the dog is digging. For many, this is boredom due to lack of exercise, so correcting the problems means increasing mental and physical exercise for the dog.
Alternatively, for a hardened digger, provide the dog with a well-demarcated area where he is allowed to dig and train him to use this.
Not Helpful 10 Helpful Yes, they do; however, if you give a Lab plenty of exercise and mental stimulation, it helps prevent excessive digging born out of boredom. I don't recommend onions as a method of repelling them. Some dogs may attempt to eat it, and onions are poisonous to dogs when ingested. Onions contain an ingredient called thiosulphate which is toxic to cats and dogs.
The ingestion of onions causes a condition called hemolytic anemia, which is characterized by damage to the red blood cells. Onion toxicity can cause the red blood cells circulating through your pet's body to burst. If you don't want to spend money for a commercial spray, try the homemade sprays first to see if you get the desired results. There are many things you can spray to stop your dog from digging, you just need to find what works best for your pup!
Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet. Learn more. Get Started. Why Dogs Dig The reasons dogs dig are as varied as the methods to try and stop it.
If your dog is digging, he may be trying to: Escape the Yard: If digging is along the fence, it's pretty obvious what your dog is trying to do. This is one of the most troublesome types of digging because it puts your dog in danger.
If your dog is digging to escape, block the area around the fence with chicken wire or rocks to prevent him from getting out of the yard while you work on stopping the digging. Cool Off: Digging holes and then resting inside them means your dog is digging to cool off. Aside from not leaving your pet outside on hot days, you can also be sure to provide adequate shade and plenty of water. Hunt Prey: If you see signs of burrowing pests near the spots where your dog digs, he is likely hunting.
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