Stop Dog Digging

In this article we are going to discuss some basics on How To Stop A Dog From Digging, from choosing the right breed, to lack of exercise.

Some of us believe giving our dogs control of the back yard is healthy, while others believe their back yards should not be subjected to constant dog destruction. As we will learn the dog, and backyard can exist, and thrive together.

Lets face it, most dogs enjoy digging. Permitting this behavior occasionally is healthy for your dog. There is a difference though, when you are letting him express his nature, and letting him tear through the yard, and gardens wildly. If you noticed your dog loves to dig, it is going to take a little effort to correct the problem the right way.

If you haven't adopted a dog yet, you should consider staying away from Nordic breeds and terriers. Not to say these breeds won't be obedient, they just enjoy digging more than most dogs. Dogs such as Malamutes, and Huskies for examples of Nordic breeds, and terrier does mean "go to earth".

Lets explore some reasons why dogs dig, and then look at some methods on How To Stop A Dog From Digging.

If your dog is constantly digging, and it is destructive to gardens and yards, you may not be exercising him enough. If your dog is not getting at least 40-45 min. of walking per day, he may be digging to blow off some of that built up energy.

Boredom may also be a contributing factor. If your dog has nothing to do he may feel empty, and digging is a perfect way to give himself a sense of purpose. You can give your dog some chew toys when you are away, and do the best you can at wearing him out before you go anywhere.

Dogs may also be digging due to separation anxiety. This is a common psychological problem in dogs. It's a fairly complex issue so we will just state the fact that it can be a problem. Your dog may be digging just to get your attention.

If you have a dog that just loves to dig you may just need to supervise them while they are in the yard. This is probably the best method on how to stop a dog from digging. They can not dig if they are always stopped when they start. I realize that not everyone is going to supervise their dog constantly while in the yard. If your dog just has to dig, it is not fair to deny him totally, so what you can do is designate a spot or build a sandbox.

If you build a sandbox, fill it with half dirt and half sand. Make it pretty deep to keep your dog busy. Establish this part of yard, or sandbox as the digging spot. Once your dog is interested make the boundaries clear to him. If he digs in the box, enthusiastically praise him - if he digs somewhere other than the box tell him "No!" right away. Help him back to the box then praise him right away.