uberphot, Flickr
Dear Mary,
Could you tell me why dogs dig and how I can keep my pooch from ripping my flower bed apart? Thanks!
Dogs can make a minefield out of your yard for a number of reasons:
They're Bored: Left alone in a backyard, some dogs dig as an outlet for frustration. Digging provides something to do when an active, intelligent dog is bored out of his mind. Confined dogs will also often dig to get under a fence. There's a big wide world out there and the dog wants to see it.
It's In Their Genes: Some breeds -- terriers in particular -- are go-to-ground dogs who dig to find moles, lizards, mice, bugs, and any other critters in the hunt of the day. So they are doing what they feel genetically compelled to do.
To Cool Off: Dogs who are outside in the heat will dig to expose cool earth that they can lay on to lower their body temperatures.
For Storing Treasure: Dogs who like bones often bury them for safekeeping and to dig up later.
If you better understand why your dog has this habit, you will have more ideas about how to handle it. For example, the best thing you can do for a bored dog is provide mental stimulation through daily play and training sessions. The AKC Canine Good Citizen Program is a great place to start training all dogs and owners.
You can also manage your own frustration -- and focus your dog's desire to dig -- by designing a digging pit in your yard so there is a designated place for your dog to tear into. If you bury bones there for him to sniff out, it will help your dog learn that this place is an approved digging area.
Finally, in warm weather, bring your dog inside so that he doesn't have to handle the heat on his own. If you don't want to give your dog access to your whole house while you're gone, a designated climate controlled area with water and toys will be much appreciated by the canine member of your family.
Do you have an animal behavior question for Dr. Burch? E-mail mary@pawnation.com.
If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health, you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Paw Nation is not staffed to address individual questions about pet health, and we want your pet to stay healthy!
Related Videos
More Cute Stuff
- Lion Love (Daily Squee)
- This Cat Means Business (I Can Has Cheezburger)
- Zebra Tan! (I Has a Hotdog)
- Cat Guys or Dog Guys? (Petside)
- Reducing your Carbon Paw-Print (Discovery)
Sponsored Links
Add your comments
Advertisement
Why Vets Can't Always Smell What You Smell
This article was very helpful. Thank you! My husband and I have an almost four-month-old black lab mix who LOVES to dig (he even tries to dig when he is in his baby pool!). We have a little pile of dirt under one of our trees that we will now make his "designated" digging spot. Thanks for the tip!
Understand some of thie ssues, but our dog is not bored,cooling off or storing stuff. He is chasing lizards, rabbits or pack rats. A digging pit or bringing hin in the warm weather ain't gonna solve the problem. Anyone else have ideas for a critter chaser?
My pups the same, best thing to do is to get rid of the problem; the bugs, mice and moles.
If it's moles, find some of thire tunnles and put in some chewing gum. They'll choke on it.
For mice, look around for where thire coming from, they'll ware little paths into the ground and leave droppings. Hide poisen there out of the dogs reach, maybe behind a bored, check offten or fido's going to eat the dead mouse!
Good luck with the bugs, I haven't found a way to keep them out that dosen't envole nuking my yard. XD
Hope this helps.
I used to have a sheltie, who would dig ditches to cool off in. She'd also roll in it if she was wet, which was just great, as you can imagine. Needless to say, after baths she was kept indoors until dry.
My current dog has never cared much for digging, except for spring when there are grubs in the ground. He digs them up and eats them, or rather he would if we let him! Has anyone else ever met/had a dog that sniffed out grubs?
Beat your stick with a stick
Nice hot weather tip, now that the end of Summer is coming and cool weather is coming in we might be able to use that.