Why Dogs Dig And What You Can Do About It
While digging is natural for a dog and part of their built-in survival mechanisms, some digging can be driven by separation anxiety in dogs. An anxious dog can develop many extreme dog behavior problems and attempting to dig their way out of the garden is just one of them.
Therefore while you are never going to be very happy to find holes all over your beautiful lawn or in your prized flower beds, ensure you know what drives the issue before looking for a solution to stop your dog’s digging.
Signs of Anxious Dog Digging
If your dog only digs when you’re out, they could be demonstrating how anxious they are to be with you. They’re not trying to run away, as many owners apparently think, but panicking to get out so they can come and find you.
You may have a worried or anxious dog naturally and it is just part of their character, or the anxiousness can develop over time. Either way, a training programme that can help you to desensitise your dog will help their anxiety, as will you taking on the task of pack leader by being the decision maker. These two approaches will help calm a stressed dog and the digging might just stop without any other help.
Dogs fundamentally need to know who leads a pack, which means if they are not persuaded that you lead the pack, they will think that they do. But as a dog does not understanding our world (why else do postmen get bitten the world over) they can get hugely anxious if they believe they’re in control as that makes them answerable for the security of the rest of the pack.
How to Stop Your Dog Digging
If your dogs digging problem isn’t driven by anxiety, you want to take a practical approach to stopping it because digging is natural and simply something some dogs do, whether to bury food or prepare a den. Those are both natural drivers.
First, accept that it’s just your dogs nature, and that some dogs are a load more susceptible to digging than others, then you can try to find a workable solution, such as not letting your dog out in the garden unsupervised. That way you’ll be mindful of what your dog is doing.
An alternative choice, if you have got a large enough garden, is to consider making a tiny area where they can dig. Take them there often and praise them if they dig in this area, making it a positive thing.
If you catch your dog digging where you don’t want them to, avoid making a scene (i.e. Don’t shout, run after your dog, or strike them) as some dogs will realize that this is a good way to get their owner’s attention whenever they desire it, even if you are cross and it can become attention seeking behaviour and give them some encouragement to dig much more!
Author Venice Marriott is a writer and dog owner and runs a Dog Anxiety website, which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with behaviour problems caused by anxiety. Get more information on how to stop dog digging, when you visit the site.
