How to Stop My Dog | Digging
Pet owners whose dog has a habit of digging, will more often than not, find themself frustrated, not only about the damage their beloved pet is doing to their and possibly, their neighbor's yard but also because they feel powerless to stop it.
Yelling at the dog or punishing him or her sporadically, doesn't work, primarily due to a lack of consistency and carefully, planned approach. In order to stop a dog from digging it is important that the owner develop a plan and then follow through with it. Consistency is paramount.
An owner who isn't ready or able to commit to training their dog to stop digging will find that digging becomes a way of life for their pet. If they want it to stop, they will have to be willing to do the work necessary.
Dogs dig for a variety of reasons. They may do so for attention, because they enjoy it, out of boredom, to create a den, shelter, store food or simply because they are prone to. If a pet owner can figure out their dog digs, they can help stop it and prevent it from occurring in the future. For instance, a dog that digs because he or she is bored may need more exercise and play time. A dog that digs for shelter may need a dog house or a better one if they currently have one. If a dog is digging to store food, they may not be getting enough to eat or not enough of the right kind of food.
If an owner can figure out why their dog is digging, this is obviously ideal. However, it's not always possible and even it is, in order to put a stop to it, behavioral modification (training) will likely be necessary. The first thing that needs to be communicated to the dog is that digging is wrong and unacceptable.
Once a dog begins to understand that digging is wrong, his or her owner(s) need to make sure that the dog has plenty of opportunities to exercise and is both physically and mentally stimulated. This can be very helpful in discouraging digging. Instead of using their extra energy to dig, the dog can use it walking and playing.
When a person is not around to supervise their dog in order to make sure that they are not digging, it may become necessary to keep them confined. Placing them in a kennel, a crate or indoors will prevent them from digging.
If a dog does dig, it is important that their owner reprimand them, for instance, squirting them in the face with a water bottle or hose. This will cause the dog to associate digging with something negative and over time, will encourage them to stop.
