Articlr

People think 2 different ways on whether it is okay for a dog to dig. Some feel it is what dogs do and to be true to his nature, he should be allowed to. Others feel like there are boundaries in their yards the dog needs to learn and they must not be crossed.

My opinion is somewhere in the middle; although it’s a natural thing for dogs to want to dig, and it’s healthy to allow them to do this from time to time, there is no reason that flowers and dogs can’t coexist peacefully in a yard. However, it may take a little effort on your part to get this accomplished.

So for now, you are here for a reason – you have a dog that digs and want to know what to do about it. You are probably too far down the dog ownership road to tell you that some dogs are known for digging, like Huskies, Malamutes and Terriers. However, if you are in the research stage, this is good information to put in your file as you continue your search for your one and only dog.

First off, some explanations on why dogs dig.

1. Not enough exercise. Digging gives them a way to burn off all their energy.

2. Bored. Dogs like to have a job to do and if they don’t, digging is one job they will find to do.

3. World travelers. Some dogs want to see what is on the other side of the fence. So there digging is a means of escape. These dogs are much harder to train no matter how much working out and jobs you give them.

So how do you stop this dog digging behavior?

Obviously, you can get busy with dogs, getting them out and about. Or give him something constructive to do if he’s bored, like a toy to play with. Better still combine the two, and play fetch.

Deter them with their own poop. Yep, dogs do not like to dig where they poop. So move their poop to the area where they are prone to dig. Even if they occasionally eat their own poop, they won’t dig there. (For info on Dogs Eating Poop, see the website below).

OK, so what if this doesn’t do the trick? You are going to find a place where he can dig! Then you teach him to dig in that spot only. You can do this, even if your yard is not too big or you just can’t bear to see holes in your precious lawn.