Pick of the Litter Dog Training
Seattle/Tacoma Area, WA
Jennifer Schneider, CPDT
Phone: (206) 779-3552
Unleash your Dog's Potential
Private Lessons
Group Classes
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Training Philosophy
Behavior Problems and Solutions

 
 DIGGING
The invariable truth is that dogs that dig, find digging enjoyable for some reason or another.. For some dogs, digging is a genetically preprogrammed behavior. Another reason a dog might dig is because of the dog’s natural instinct to “den” in a cool area, and the dirt is much cooler the deeper your dog digs. The third reason a dog might dig is because the behavior is enjoyable as it relieves boredom or stress. The last reason for digging behavior is that it is a great way to escape the confines of the yard.  To discourage a problem digger, follow the following guidelines:                                     

  • DISCOURAGE DIGGING IN INAPPROPRIATE AREAS   
    The easiest way to discourage digging is to fill each of the holes your dog has already dug with his own feces. Cover the feces with a few inches of fresh dirt. When your dog attempts to return to these same holes and dig again, they will be deterred from doing so because of the feces.
  • PROVIDE APPROPRIATE AREAS TO DIG
    Decide upon a small section of your yard, about four feet by four feet square, where it is allowable for your dog to dig.  Place an adequate amount of fresh dirt into this section and bury a couple of bones and treats just below the surface.
  • RELIEVE BOREDOM
    Give your dog a Kong toy stuffed with canned food mixed with dry food, dog treats or cheese and topped off with a small amount of peanut butter on a daily basis, and plan to spend time every day working on obedience skills.
  • PROVIDE ADEQUATE CONFINEMENT
    When close outdoor supervision is not possible, confinement is the best option. Either use a crate or a small room in the house as confinement, or provide an enclosed kennel run in the yard where your dog can rest and relax and stay out of trouble.

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