Your lawn, garden or fence now looks like a miniature war zone, with holes, weeds and damaged vegetables. You know who to blame: your dog! Why is your dog digging in the garden? What will you do there? Here are seven tips to help stop your dog’s digging habit.
- More playtime and exercise
- More toys and chews
- Maintain an area for acceptable digging
- Discourage digging in unwanted areas
- Add digging deterrents
- Get rid of rodents
- Help your dog cool down
We’ll dig into the details below.
Digging Deterrents
If your dog has developed a habit for a certain area and continues to dig in the same place, you can do things to discourage him from digging in familiar places. good again. The easiest solution is to use strong and flexible barriers to surround these excavation areas.
- Many dog owners bury strong or foul-smelling deterrents in the digging area and report success.
- Bury small rocks (especially flat rocks) in the quarry.
- Remove chicken wire or plastic mesh from the bottom. (Iron can hurt dogs.)
- Citrus peel, cayenne pepper, or vinegar can clear the nose.
- If you have a sprinkler system, a motion detection system can be a great deterrent. Roses and shrubs can serve as border plants for areas of concern.
Your Dog Won’t Stop Digging? Walk It Off…
Some breeds may need more attention and exercise than others, but the number one cause of unwanted digging is fatigue and lack of exercise. Those angry bodies and mindless people are looking for work! If these legs are not working properly, the non-rotating world starts to look like a way to work this energy. Puppies often enjoy this type of behavior, but according to the Humane Society, digging is common if dogs don’t mind the exercise. If they can’t leave the camp straight, why not straight?
Take Action: Spend more time with your dog. Running, swimming, sailing and other activities help release nervous energy. Plan other trips to get them out of the park and explore the world. If life doesn’t allow you to travel more, use Rover to find the perfect dog walker.
Distraction Works
Dogs play by instinct, but also by reason. A good option for digging is to give them fun dog entertainment where they can provide that energy. This may mean collecting different toys and turning them around for new things.
- Get the classics: tennis balls, stuffed animals, toys. Treat dog games that let them solve problems for rewards!
- Chewing the teeth with different chewing options will give them a long service life that benefits the teeth and gums.
- Sandbox: Consider creating a designated space for your dog to scratch. As mentioned in our article on dog-friendly gardening, a dog litter box can be the best way to satisfy the need to dig in the dirt. This can be a free box or just a designated pit area around the corner of the house. Spend some time practicing to make sure your dog understands that he needs to play there, not somewhere else.
Pest control
Is your dog just messing up the lawn? Gophers, squirrels, rats, or other predators can leave trails, scents, and other things to irritate your friend and cause him to scratch the fence or tear up the hardwood floor. A sign can be if they are digging near trees or plants. Take action: Look for signs of rodent attacks or scavenging animals. Call an exterminator if needed or use safe, humane methods to keep the animals away.
Keeping Cool
Your dog’s interpretation of digging can be a hot topic! During hot weather, dogs can dig in the ground to create a cool space to rest.
Take action: Plan your yard to make sure it includes shelter and shade to keep it cool. You can use a simple tap to stretch between trees, but if you don’t have something handy to hang the sun shade on, try the free popup option.