Digging 101

Digging can be an annoying problem to deal with.  It can ruin your backyard and offer an escape route under the fence.  But why do puppies and dogs dig?  A lot of breeds are diggers; terrier breeds for instance love to dig.  A lot of the terriers were bred for hunting purposes, and they mainly hunted rodents.  So, to get to the rodent they were hunting, they developed great digging skills, lucky you!! J

But this is not the only reason why dogs dig.  Let’s face it; digging is fun, especially when you’re board.  You’re probably thinking, but the dog is outside, how can he possibly be bored??  Boredom can be a result of many different things, including lack of mental stimulation, lack of exercise, and lack of excitement.  Proper exercise and mental stimulation will tire a dog out.  A dog won’t want to escape as much if he is too tired to do so.

Yes, your backyard is boring!!  If I put you in a room for exercise day after day after day without changing the scenery or toys available, you would eventually get bored, right?  And just beyond the fence…. oh look, a new playmate to meet (dogs and people passing by).  So how can you curb instinct and keeping the dog interested enough to stay in your yard?    Buy him a sandbox.

Buying him a sandbox provides him his own area to dig in.  This will encourage your dog to dig in appropriate places.  In the beginning, place new chew toys and bones sticking out of the sandbox so he sees them.  This will entice him to dig, plus give him a rewarding toy.  Change up the toys and bones so you keep everything new and exciting.   Once he gets the idea where to dig, you can start burying the toys even further in the sand.  This makes it a little harder to find, making him use his nose and brain to find the toys.  You should soon have a happy and tired dog on your hands, who will want to stay in his yard.

"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies."

- Gene Hill