A digging dog digs for numerous reasons with the principal one being because it is a natural inherited trait. Wolves, who were our dog’s ancestors, would, in the wild, bury excess food that was not immediately eaten, and they could then dig it up later, when needed.
If your dog is a digging dog, chances are you have not had the dog at a dog obedience training club where you could discuss this problem with your instructor.
A dog that is constantly burying his bone is not being naughty. He is only following his instincts. This type of digging dog needs to be taught that he can bury his bone, but only in a designated spot that you have set aside for him.
Bitches that are pregnant will dig a lair to have their pups in. This is another inherited trait. In this case, if you are a home breeder then you need to build a whelping box and place this in the place where you want the pups to be born and where they will spend the first 3 weeks of their life.
Show the bitch the box which you have set up with her favourite blanket and water and feed her in the box. Let her sleep in the box.
If you find her digging a hole outside, clip a lead on and take her inside to her whelping box and treat her for getting into it.
Another inherited trait is for dogs to dig to get under or around obstacles blocking their path or stopping them getting at food or at a bitch in season.
A strong strand of wire, stretched as low to the ground as you can get it, and as tight as you can safely achieve, will often stop a dog from trying to escape under a fence.
Some dogs may still dig under this and you may need to bury the fence some 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 mm) underground.
When it is a hot day, dogs will dig a shallow hollow to reach cooler subsoils. If you do not have adequate shade in your garden, then it is likely you will have this problem. Easily solved with providing the dog with enough shade.
A dog house that is just big enough for the dog is in no way adequate.
If you have a new garden and have planted 6 inch high plants, then you need to provide a shade shelter around about 5 to 6 times the dogs length squared: ie : a 1 meter long dog should have a shelter approximately 5 x 5 meters square.
Then there are the manic and problem diggers who seem to delight in digging up your prize roses, or eat your most expensive bromeliads, or dig holes all over your prize croquet like lawn.
Generally these dogs are digging simply because they are bored and are looking for things to occupy themselves with. If you are able to provide the dog with a long walk, or better still, a good long swim, or a session chasing and retrieving a ball, he will sleep for a few hours and when he wakes up, he will need to find some great toys to play with.
If you fertilise your garden with an organic blood and bone fertilizer, you may find your dog is digging to reach this tasty treat. It also makes a great dog perfume, well in Fifi’s nose anyway.
Bury the fertilizer deep and water it in immediately so the dog does not get a chance to smell it.
Digging is an undesirable habit that is easily controlled as long as you can determine what sort of digger you have. An experienced instructor at a dog club providing sound dog obedience training courses will be able to work with you to determine what type of digging dog you have.
Author Resource:
Nev Allen is a dog trainer with 30 years of experience and he is now sharing this experience to help you make your puppy a good, happy and well trained obedient dog. http://www.dogobediencetrainingblogs.com Visit my blog for more detailed dog obedience training and clicker training articles.
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