How to Stop a Dog from Digging in Your Lawn

There are some dog behaviours that tend to transcend others in terms of how frustrating and angering they can be.

Digging is one of those behaviours - a major problem for many dog owners with yards.

The reasons are simple enough. A dog digging up your flower plots or putting holes under fences seems to be creating destruction for the sake of destruction.

But, in reality, a dog digs because dogs naturally dig. The dog may be bored, or it may feel a need to protect its possessions in the ground.

Rather than growing angry and trying to punish your dog when they dig in your back yard, your real goal should be to reapportion that energy and find something more productive for them to do.

The Curse of Boredom

Nine times out of ten, a dog starts digging because it is bored. That boredom can develop quickly in some breeds, especially when a dog is still young and has a lot of excess energy. Your goal, as a dog owner is to provide something equally as fun for the dog to do with its time.

* Toys and Treats - Give your dog some treats and toys to keep them busy. The more complex the toy, the better. Try to find durable toys that will keep them excited and happy while you're not around. Kong toys are great options for this.

* Training - Dog and puppy training is a great way to reduce excess energy. Dogs that are asked to complete certain tasks will use both physical and mental energy and will not be nearly as bored.

* Exercise - Simple exercise can also be very useful in reducing the destructive capacities of your dog. Take them for longer walks, run with them, play fetch, and take them to dog parks where they can get the digging out without destroying anything.

Sometimes, boredom is not the only thing that drives digging, and you'll need to get more creative to stop the behaviour. There are a few ways to do this.

Blocking the Digging

To start with, keep your dog from digging in places that are important to you by covering them with mesh netting or chicken wire. The dog will likely not even try to dig up something that has wire on it. If they do, you may need to keep them away anyways, to avoid them getting hurt.

This is only a temporary solution though as you learn to handle their boredom or give them a different place to dig.

To do this, you will need to set aside special digging space that can be used only by your dog to dig up. There are some dogs that just need to dig and everything you do will not work to stop them. For instance, if you try to tell your dog to stop, they'll simply learn to stop only when you're around.

The point of putting your dog outside is to keep them busy when you're not around, so this is unlikely to work very well. However, if you create a pen and fill it with sand or dirt that they can dig up to their heart's desire, they will be much less destructive in your flower gardens.

Every dog will dig a little bit. They just like to do it. But, that doesn't mean you should stand by and let them destroy a perfectly good backyard. Spend some time learning how to protect your flowers, creating a safe space for them to play and training them to stay busy other ways.

If you do these things, your dog will be much better behaved than if you simply yell at them each time you see them digging.

For the ultimate guide to stopping your dog from digging under the fence, garden and other people's yards, check out:

Download Dove Cresswell's guide instantly by clicking this link...