If you are reading this it, is a pretty good bet that your dog is a digger. You may be also considering methods to help stop your dog from digging. Dogs seem to come in two varieties: those that dig and all the rest.  We are not talking about a dog that clears off a patch of grass down to the dirt, so they can have a cool place to lie down. We are talking about really digging holes, like “honey I can’t find the grill” type holes.

Why Do Dogs Dig Holes? And What You Can Do About it.

Dogs dig holes for a variety of reasons. One common reason seems to be boredom. Dogs really like to be part of a pack. So if you only have one dog, and you are gone during the day, he may dig to have something to do. If this is the case, try taking your dog for a couple of long walks per day, instead of the “come on, lets go get your business done.”  Burn off some of that energy by playing Frisbee or fetch. Spend time with your dog teaching them some new tricks. My Lab is not a digger, but he loves the challenge of learning something new. In truth, he just loves to be with me whatever I am doing. He’s kind of like having a permanent toddler in the house.

Another tip you might try to make your dog’s life more exciting is to give him toys for the yard. Buy a couple of new toys and rotate them around. Don’t leave them all out at once. Dogs are like small children, they can get confused by two many available toys. You will find that they will gravitate to one or two every time. Make sure the toys are the right size for your particular dog. If you got your dog as a puppy, make sure you change out toys as he grows to avoid choking hazards.

Some dogs dig because of their breed. Terriers are notorious for digging, but that is what they were bred to do. If you have moles or other underground critters, your job will be very difficult indeed.  Your dog may be curious about the odor that they can smell from the creature. Your dog may also be able to hear the digging and scurrying that is taking place in their kingdom. This may be an irresistible game to play, until you get the uninvited guests under control.

Some dogs dig to try to get around the fence. We have a Great Pyrenees mix that loved to dig at our old house. Only in one spot, but he was determined. We had a fence with horses on the other side. He really wanted to go round those horses up.  They were our horses, so he did see us on the other side of the fence playing with the ponies. He thought he should be allowed to go over there too. Once we moved, we have never had another hole. You are probably saying to yourself, “I am not interested in moving to stop this problem,” and I agree. I did get him to stop digging before we moved, but I wanted to illustrate how determined a dog can be to get to what they want.

I stopped our dog from digging by taking a book and a lawn chair to the hole he was digging. I filled in the hole and when he would come around the site I would say in my stern voice, “No!” I would then ignore him for a bit. When we were away from the hole, I would pet him, and play with him, and let him be part of the pack again. It was not an overnight cure, but it did work.

This brings up the issue of making sure your dog is spayed or neutered. If your pet can come into heat or respond to others that do, they may seriously try to dig out from under the fence. You may come home to find an unexpected visitor who managed to dig their way into your yard.

If you have a garden, and use natural fertilizer (composted poop), your dog may find that area to be irresistible. The dirt is soft and smelly and the alpha dog  should be allowed to dig holes in there. Are you getting the dog brain concept of the garden?  We have a small raised-bed garden, so fencing was the perfect solution for us. Another deterrent is setting up the sprinkler by the garden. As your dog gets too close, turn on the water and give him a good scare. You will probably need to do that several times. I would also put the dogs in an area where they can’t see you (the leader of the pack) working in the garden.

Teaching a dog not to dig or to dig only in the right spot is challenging. You will have to have patience and consistency to change this behavior.  Their main goal in life is to please you, as the alpha member of the pack. Make consistent   corrections to the bad behavior, and you can win the war of digging holes in your yard.

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