If you want to stop a dog from digging and reduce your own anxiety then you need to examine why your dog is digging and work out an appropriate regime.

Visit dog training methods for even more help

Traditional training techniques don’t seem to work in controlling dog digging behavior.

Training doesn’t work well on digging, because it’s a behavior that is hardwired into your dog’s instincts. Certain things trigger the impulse to dig; once triggered, it won’t stop. Not, that is, unless you remove the thing that triggered it.

This is difficult to understand from a human point of view, because your dog doesn’t seem to be accomplishing anything with his digging. Well, not accomplishing anything beyond destroying your yard. Sometimes figuring out the motivation behind the digging is difficult for us, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t one.

But even if his digging seems pointless, it isn’t. There are several reasons digging is such a powerful urge. It’s connected to many of a dog’s natural survival instincts.

For example, if you dog’s digging seems to be concentrated along the edge of his fenced play area, or at a gate, the instinct that’s driving him is that to escape. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s afraid of something inside the fence, or wants to “run away, ” though–dogs also try to dig out simply to explore, or because being enclosed just triggers the urge to have more space.

There’s another instinct that can cause the impulse to dig. That is the desire to hunt. Some dogs are more likely to respond to hunting impulses this way. Terriers, for example. However, any breed of dog may manifest hunting instincts through digging. To pinpoint this cause, watch your dog’s behavior and location while digging. If he seems excited and inspects the hole often, sniffing and wagging his tail, that’s probably what’s happening.

Digging has proven a versatile behavior for survival, so there are other instincts linked to it as well. These include hiding and hoarding impulses–like when your dog buries bones, and seeking protection from the elements.

Want more information on dog digging?

Understanding a few basics may help lessen or remove digging altogether. The first is that punishment for digging does not work. Giving your dog a reprimand may stop him digging, then but its not a long term solution.

The second is that if you can remove the trigger or take away the fun of digging, he’ll stop. If you have a dog digging to escape, for example, bury large, flat rocks or wire mesh at the foot of your fence. If he’s digging for protection, provide him with an adequate dog house or don’t leave him outside too long

Lastly, boredom and anxiety make digging behaviors escalate. These can result from spending too much time alone. Be sure you spend time together training, and playing. Teaching him games that provide mental and physical exercise helps too,games like fetch or catching.

Digging is part of a dogs nature and you can’t remove it completely. You can be smarter than them though and putting a good plan in place will help you stop a dog from digging.

For The Best Help on dog digging

Related posts:

  1. The Repeat This, Get That Guide On Stop Beagle Digging The Idiot’s Information To Stop Beagle Digging Explained
  2. How To Stop Dog Digging
  3. Please Stop Digging My Garden
  4. An Electric Dog Fences To Stop A Dog Digging And Stop Dogs Escaping.
  5. How to Stop a Dog From Barking Use A Friend

Tagged with: • • • •

Filed under: Dogs

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!