How to Stop Your Dog From Digging: Everything You Need to Know!

Dogs are the most admirable living beings we consistently want around us. Being a pet parent, you can’t stop your curiosity about what your babies are doing. Sometimes, you witness weird dog behaviour like digging that compels you to think about why this behavior and how to stop your dog from digging. So, in this blog, you will gain valuable insights into dog digging behavior and learn effective methods to address and prevent it. Let’s get started! 

Dogs sometimes indicate digging as a behavior issue, and many dog owners eventually have to deal with the consequences. It might be difficult to stop your dog from digging under the fence and exiting the yard, also, it could be dangerous in many ways. 

Reasons Behind Dog Digging Behavior

First thing first, 

Effectively addressing dogs’ digging behaviour requires you to understand the reasons driving it. By identifying the unique motivations behind the digging, we can tailor a solution that best suits your dog’s needs

Predatory Instincts:

Dogs have a natural urge to explore and hunt, just like how we get excited about new things. So, when they feel like something is there inside, like a mouse, they just want to catch them. 

Storage of their Favourite stuff

Do you ever feel like you want to keep your favourite things safe from others? Dogs feel the same way! They like to hide their bones or toys so no one can take them away. It’s just their way of making sure their stuff stays protected.

Temperature Regulation:

When it gets too hot outside, dogs need to cool down, just like us. Dogs with thick fur, like Huskies, may dig to find a cooler spot. Imagine your furry friend happily digging a shallow hole to lie in, enjoying a break from the heat.

Stress and Anxiety 

Just like humans, dogs can feel anxious or stressed at times. When they’re overwhelmed, they might start digging as a way to cope with their emotions. Imagine your dog, scared during a thunderstorm, digging furiously to let out their tension and find a sense of safety.

How to Stop a Dog from Digging: Effective Strategies and Solutions

Now comes the part ‘How to stop your dog from digging,’ for which you are reading this piece of write-up. 

Pet parents love every behaviour of their lovely pet until it creates a real mess, and most of the time our concerns remains that what if they dig holes into the yard and escape? This definitely will make you search for – how to stop a dog from digging holes in the yard. 

We are with the solutions for “How to stop your dog from digging“- 

Keep Them Busy:

Make sure your pup gets enough playtime and exercise every day. A tired dog is a happy dog, and they’ll be less likely to dig up your garden out of boredom. Take them for a walk, play fetch, or even try interesting games to tire them out.

Make the Yard Fun:

Add some cool toys or puzzles in your yard to keep your dog entertained. They’ll be too busy having fun to even think about digging. Seeing them happy would make you feel satisfied and would be a solution to your question ‘How to stop a dog from digging holes in the yard.’ 

Training Time:

Teach your dog that the backyard is for playing and hanging out with you, not for digging up flower beds. Spend some quality time training them in the yard to redirect their focus.

You can use treats and lots of praise to reward good behaviour, like sitting or staying until the training session is over. 

Keep an Eye Out:

This is something we all do as a pet parent, we always keep an eye on what our baby is doing. If you see them starting to dig, distract them with a toy or bring them back inside for a break.

Call their name, which is definitely your favourite thing, and toss a ball for them to chase instead of letting them dig up your favourite plants.

Designate a Digging Zone:

Set up a special spot in the yard where digging is allowed, like a sandbox or a corner of the garden. Just like how our mom used to tell us about the play area and eating zone. Encourage your dog to dig there by burying toys or treats for them to find. 

Get Some Professional Help:

If your dog’s digging habit just won’t quit, don’t hesitate to reach out to a pro for some expert advice. A dog trainer or behaviourist can give you personalized tips and tricks to help curb your dog’s digging for good.

Wrapping Up 

We, as a pet parent, love everything that we do. But digging? —it’s just a natural behaviour that you might need a little help with. This blog was all about practical and proven solutions for your answer to how to get dogs to stop digging. You can connect with experts to understand it better in case you are not able to resolve it on your own. Good luck with your journey as a pet parent!! 

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About the Author

Sakshi Singh is a technical content writer by profession and a poet by heart. She has been very interested in penning down things as interesting stories since childhood. She is very compassionate about animals ( doesn’t mean only dogs), so she talks about them and their problems in her write-ups. 

In her content writing career, she never compromises the value of the content; her crafted content is continuously well-researched, error-free, engaging, and exciting. She always believes in focusing on things going around and stepping forward at every moment.