Is Your Dog a Digger? 3 Preventative Tips

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Is Your Dog a Digger? 3 Preventative Tips

Dachsunds are natural diggers, bred to hunt vermin and go underground to find rodents, badgers,a nd other animals farmers disliked.

Do you dig your dog? Does your dog dig you….your yard?

Certain dog breeds, like terriers and dachshunds, were originally bred to dig in order to go after vermin on property, such as in farmer’s fields. Therefore, these types of dogs are born diggers and if you have a terrier or a dachshund, understand that such behavior is in their nature. Other types of dogs may dig due to boredom, in order to keep cool in summer, or they are seeking prey, such as mice or insects in the yard.

Alleviate Digging

Your dog may dig for a number of reasons. If s/he isn’t spayed or neutered, your animal may try to escape to find a mate. Perhaps your dog is bored or the weather is too warm and s/he doesn’t have enough water. Try to determine the cause of your pet’s digging and then do something to change it.

If you don’t want your dog digging up every square inch of your yard, here are three ideas you can implement to alleviate the situation.

If your dog is seeking shelter from the sunshine and heat, it may dig a hole to cool off. Our blind dog, Sage, dug a large hole near the concrete patio at the first house we lived in and a smaller hole under the lilac bush; she would lay in one of those spots during the times outdoors in the summer heat. The solution, if you don’t want holes in your yard, is to bring your dog inside more often or to provide a comfortable, outdoor shelter and ensure your pup has access to plenty of water. If your dog still digs, try setting aside a special area where such behavior is okay.If you believe your dog digs because it’s bored, spend more time with your furry friend. Play fetch in the yard; go for an extra walk; have more cuddle-time on the couch (dogs, TVs, and couches go well together!). You can also provide interactive toys inside and outside the house or teach your dog new commands or tricks and spend about 10 minutes each day in training. You can also set up an agility course in the yard or join an agility club and spend time with your dog going through the activities. Border collies, Australian shepherds, corgis, and other breeds can become bored easily, and these are the types of dogs that relish activity and do well with agility. Any of the aforementioned ideas, or a combination of such activities, are great ways to provide extra entertainment for your pet as well as added time with you.Could your dog be digging to find something? If you think your dog is going after “prey,” such as ground squirrels, mice, or insects, the Humane Society of the United States suggests a pet parent “Search for signs of burrowing animals, then use safe, humane methods to fence them out, exclude them or make your yard or garden unattractive to them.” However, “Don’t use any product or method that could be toxic or dangerous to your pets or other animals. Anything that poisons wildlife can poison your dog, too.”

Border collies and other breeds need constant and consistent activity; they become bored easily. Agility is a great activity for dogs like that, and border collies do well in agility.

Understand Digging Behavior

Dogs also dig for other reasons, such as trying to escape the yard (perhaps your dog is afraid of something, like as a neighbor dog that barks and growls from across the fence, or someone has been teasing and harassing your dog from the alley), or your intact dog is trying to get out of the yard to search for a mate. Perhaps your dog is burying treats and food.

There are many reasons dogs dig. Try to understand the “why” of your dog’s digging behavior can help you address that behavior and work on changing it as needed.

Dogs aren’t the only pets that dig: many cats also enjoy digging in dirt, especially during hot days or to find mice and other creatures.