1300 489 873Is your fur child tearing apart your backyard? The first step to training your pup to keep his paws to himself is to understand the reason why he digs.
- Boredom
If your dog is bored he could be digging in an attempt to entertain himself. Spending long periods of time in the yard by himself or having few playmates or toys outside could force him to resort to this. It is also common in puppies or very active breeds.
The best way to avoid this is to provide other outlets for your dog’s energy. Try to take him on an extra walk or make time to play fetch with him. If you have a busy week and can’t find the time, one of our dog minders would love to help you out.
- Attention
Your dog might be seeking attention if he knows that he will receive it for this behaviour. The main sign of this is if he only digs while you are watching.
Instead of punishing your pup for digging, try ignoring the behaviour. Praise your dog only for good behaviour and make sure that you spend lots of quality time with him.
- He detects the scent of an animal
Dogs have natural hunting instincts and sometimes your yard becomes the victim of this. You will be able to tell that your dog is following the scent of an animal if he is digging in one particular spot.
If you want to rid your yard of burrowing animals, the best option is to try to make your yard unattractive to them. One way to do this is to sprinkle a bit of cayenne pepper and spread it throughout the problem area. It will disinterest them without causing any harm. You can also try to find them and then use safe methods to fence them out.
- Comfort or protection
Another reason that dogs dig is for comfort or protection. In extreme weather conditions, some pups will lay in holes to shelter themselves from cold winds or dig near buildings to try to find shade from extreme heat.
If you notice this behaviour in your dog, take steps to make them more comfortable. Provide them with a doghouse or allow them to come inside more often.
