Dog Digging Problems – What to Do If Your Dog is a Constant Digger
You may be the proud owner of a beautiful dog, but there is just one problem you still don’t know how to handle. Your dog is a digger and he has been out of control and wreaking havoc on your beautiful lawn. You may have tried everything to handle your dog digging problems but if your dog’s digging continues to give you sleepless nights, you need to find the right technique to handle his behavior.
Why Do Dogs Dig
Most dogs dig because they are either lonely or bored. If this is the case, you need to address your dog’s issues and find ways to lessen his loneliness or boredom. You can take him for long walks and meet other dogs. You can keep him busy by giving him chewing toys to give him something to do whenever you’re away. You can also play with him more often and give him the attention he needs.
It’s also possible that your dog has so much pent-up energy that he takes to digging to release some of it. Give him more exercise by engaging him in more high intensity games such as Frisbee catching. He would be so tired after the exercises that he won’t have enough energy left to do any digging.
Never punish your dog for his dog digging problems by hurting him. Instead, teach him to obey simple commands such as sit/stay which you can use whenever he’s about to start digging. Reward him with food treats every time he obeys.
How to Stop Your Dog From Digging
1. Some dog owners have tried burying dog poop in the area where their dog would usually dig. Most dogs would not come back to that area once they smell the poop so this may discourage them from digging.
2. Most dogs also do not like mud, so one way to discourage them from digging is to pour water on the place where they would usually dig.
3. Some had tried putting cayenne pepper on the spot where their digs would usually dig. The strong smell is found to be quite effective in making their dogs stop from digging.
Training your dog to stop his digging habit may not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end. One thing that you should never do though, is to punish him, because if his digging problem is based on fear or anxiety, you will only add to his fear and you are not really addressing the problem.
