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Lovabledogs
Newsletter
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What causes Dogs to Dig
For dogs,
digging is in there genes. There wild ancestors
dug to hide their food and create dens to rear pups.
Humans helped nature along by selecting that same trait in
dog breeds to dig up vermin and other prey from earthen
tunnels.
Terriers, the most popular group for this job, even take
their name from the Latin word for earthterra. Scottish
Terriers and West Highland White Terriers, in particular,
were bred to be efficient digging machines. Their
turned-out feet let them shovel dirt to the side, an
improvement over Fox Terriers and other straight-legged
Terriers that eventually fell into a hole as dirt piled up
behind them. If you've been dealing with dogs that have
been bred to dig, it's very difficult to stop the digging.
A gardeners nightmare as dogs seem to be attracted to the
fresh scent of tilled earth. They lose interest in mature
plants in old soil. Waiting a few days after gardening to
return dogs to the yard helps. Maintaining lush sod instead of
patches of bare ground helps .
Experts say to properly diagnose your
dogs digging
problems you should observe why they do it.
Here are 5 common reasons
why your dog may dig:
- Lack of exercise;
A common reason dogs dig is outright
boredom, exercise frequently. Many owners let their
dog out in the yard and think it's sufficient exercise.
Ideally a dog should be taken out of the yard for
more rigorous exercise for an hour a day.
- "Monkey
see-monkey do," Some dogs dig by example.
Your dog sees you digging while gardening and
copies the behavior. Prevent the wrong message from
being sent by keeping your dog away when doing yard work.
- The Territorial
Dog: Dogs also may dig for territorial
reasons. Your dog may see the backyard as "there"
domain and anything you plant or bring that they don't
approve of is unwelcome. So they dig up your prize
roses and gets rid of them.
- Need to
Socialize: When you put your dog in the back
yard for any length of time, your dog may become lonely.
So when they see the neighbors come home they may want
to dig out of the fence to go for a visit to get
some attention.
- Dealing with a
Hunter: Some dogs were born with the
hunters instincts. Breeders bred dogs specifically for
that reason. When they see a squirrel or any other small
animal wondering by that they don't consider as part of
there "pac" they will go to any lengths to dig under a
fence to get them.
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Here are 5 tips that may
also help with this problem:
- Trimming your
dogs nails: You can slow down or prevent
the problem but clipping your dogs nails. With long nails,
it's easy to dig.
- A
motion-activated scarecrow that makes a thumping
sound and sprays water when a dog approaches an
off-limits area.
- Pennies in an
empty coffee can close the lid, and when
you see a dog start to dig, toss the can into its
direction to startle it.
- Power of
compromise: Your dog may just be digging to
see what's on the other side or look at what you're
doing. Pouring some concrete near the fence or that
area leaving just enough room for them to peek maybe all
that's required.
- Consider
building a sandbox: A 5-by-5-foot sandbox
in which you bury your dogs favorite toys and treats.
It's "normal" behavior, great exercise and your
dog enjoys it.
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