How To Stop Your Dog From Digging
How To Stop Your Dog From Destroying Your Garden
Argh, you want to enjoy your garden and let your dog enjoy the space that they have, but when your dog is intent on turning it into something resembling a bomb site or destroys that beautiful plant you’ve taken so long to nurture and grow, it’s not so much fun any more. If your dog’s behaviour is causing havoc in your garden, you’re probably desperate to find a solution. Fortunately, there are things you can do, let’s take a look together.
Many dogs are natural diggers. This means that digging is something they are intrinsically driven to do: it's in their DNA or, as I prefer to call it, their computer programming. It is a very natural behaviour for lots of dogs to actively engage in instinctively and, for some, can be triggered by a certain stimulus as part of their Fixed Action Pattern (the sight/sound/scent of something specific triggers them to dig like a lightswitch). Different breeds might dig for different reasons. Some breeds of dog are bred to dig out prey (think of your average terrier, for example), while others dig for fun (it feels good). Some might dig to cool down or perhaps to hide treasures they’ve found (cache). In fact, there are many reasons as to why your dog might be digging in your garden. The first thing we need to do in order to enjoy our outside space together is to work out why our dog is digging.
Understand the Root Cause of Your dog’s Digging
Breed Tendencies: Some breeds are far more likely to dig in your garden than others. Think of your average terrier who is typically designed to dig out small prey. Or your Dachshund digging into an animal tunnel. Malamutes and Husky types might want to dig cooling/shady spots and Schnauzers are likely on the look-out for rats. Knowing your dog's breed and their natural instincts is really helpful in order to know how to approach the problem and provide suitable outlets for the behaviours that they are programmed to do.
Boredom: Dogs will often dig when they’re bored and need mental or physical stimulation. You might find that a working line dog or dog with high stimulation needs (such as a Border Collie or Malinois) will be more prone to digging behaviours if they are not being provided with adequate mental as well as physical exercise.
Stress: Some dogs might resort to digging behaviours if they are stressed as part of a behaviour that becomes obsessive compulsive. It is not uncommon for dogs who have been or are kennelled to engage in disruptive repetitive behaviours and this could have become a learnt behaviour for them. You might even find that stressed dogs dig in order to try and escape from particular situations.
Weather: If your dog digs in the heat, they might be trying to create a cool spot to lie down in and/or vice versa in cooler weather.
Scent: Your dog my have smelt prey. A squirrel or pigeon just on the other side of the fence, or even a mole or rabbit burrowing and tunnelling underground. Or perhaps your male dog has smelt a bitch in season.
Overtiredness: Some dogs may result in frantic digging behaviours as a result of overtiredness or frustration related emotions.
Separation Anxiety: Some dogs dig when they're anxious, especially when left alone.
Once you’ve worked out the reason(s) as to why your dog might be digging, let’s take a look at things you can do.
Put Suitable Management in Place
Remove Pests: If your dog is digging because of vermin, consider addressing the issue using humane measures or blocking off areas where vermin are most likely found.
Block Access to Tempting Spots: Is your dog digging in one particular spot? Do they return to the same places over and over to dig? If so, use garden fencing, chicken wire fencing or any kind of barrier that you can create to prevent your dog from accessing areas where they love to dig. This could be a small area or a large area, depending on the problem. Chicken wire fencing held up with bamboo canes is good for larger areas, such as flower beds and vegetable patches. One of the most important first steps is to ensure that your dog cannot practice repeatedly the behaviour we don’t want them to be doing. Practice makes perfect (and habits) and so blocking access to tempting digging spots is one way of trying to reduce the rehearsal of digging behaviour. Yes, they might find a new spot to dig in, but if you read on, you’ll find out how to avoid this from happening.
Provide Adequate Exercise and Mental Stimulation Throughout the Day
The most critical aspect and one that most dogs are missing is to ensure that they are getting enough mental stimulation throughout the day, especially if your dog is digging out of boredom. Short training sessions are the best way to mentally stimulate your dog. You might work on general obedience with them, or scentwork and tricks, or even perhaps little agility courses to keep their minds happy and busy. Other activities, such as enrichment feeders (Kongs, long-lasting chews and lickimats) can also be great at keeping them occupied without feeling the need to dig.
The amount of physical exercise your dog requires varies from dog to dog depending on a number of various factors such as their age, health and breed. A dog who is not exercised enough may resort to digging. That said, exhausting your dog to the point of overtiredness may also result in increased digging behaviours by them. You need to find the right balance between adequate physical and mental stimulation.
Create a Designated Digging Area
One of the best ways to help save your garden from being destroyed by your dog is to allow them to engage in digging behaviours by creating a designated digging area for them! This is especially brilliant if you have a dog who is computer programmed to dig because you are giving them an appropriate outlet to perform behaviours that they are naturally programmed to do. It couldn’t be easier to do too:
Grab yourself a sandpit or create a space in your garden for digging. I quite like to use low-level raised vegetable planters that my dog can easily step in and out of. I have used old car tyres before too.
Fill the pit with sand or loose soil.
Encourage your dog to dig in their spot by burying toys or treats in there. Initially, you might have to walk your dog over to their spot and help dig around a little with them to encourage them to dig. I like to make a big deal of what might be in there to really pique their interest…”OOO, what’s in here?” type stuff.
Once your dog finds their buried treasure, celebrate with them to help reinforce that this is the best place to be digging.
Redirect your dog calmly and happily to their digging spot if they start to dig in an undesired area (and perhaps then block that area off).
What I love about creating a digging pit is that it doesn’t take long for your dog to work out that this is the place to dig because every now and then, buried treasure awaits! It very quickly becomes their go-to spot for digging when you introduce it in this way.
Provide Comfort and Shelter
If your dog is digging to find a cool or warm spot in the garden, provide a shaded area or cooling mat to relax outside or a space where they can shelter from the elements.
Address Separation Anxiety
Your dog may dig as a result of separation anxiety. If you are unsure as to whether separation anxiety is a possible cause of your dog’s digging, please contact a professional for advice as the above strategies are unlikely to resolve your dog’s stress-related behaviour.
Punishing your dog for engaging in digging behaviour is unlikely to resolve the issue and more likely to make them worried about you (which could increase digging behaviour!). You can interrupt the behaviour and encourage them to engage in something else, however pure punishment is unlikely to resolve the issue. Concentrate on providing a suitable space for them to dig in and let them know how amazing they are when they dig there.
Don’t Punish Them
Consult a Vet/Trainer/
Behaviourist
If you’ve tried various methods and your dog’s digging persists, consult a professional. There may be underlying medical or mental health conditions, such as nutritional deficiencies or compulsive disorders that contribute to the behaviour.
Stopping your dog from digging can be challenging, but it's not impossible by any means. The key is to understand why your dog is digging and to address those needs appropriately. By following this advice, you should be able to meet your dog’s needs and save your garden at the same time. It’s a win, win!
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