We all have come out to our backyards and discovered with much horror some new “landscaping” from our dog friends. Many dogs have a natural predilection for digging and while an occasional hole in the backyard isn’t a big deal, some dogs just don’t know when to stop. So why do dogs dig holes?

There are several reasons why dogs dig holes. Dogs are den animals and in an earlier time would dig out dens to rest in (i.e. below-ground dog sleeping areas). Fundamentally, dogs digging in the ground and then lying down is a instinctual action to essentially create an-in-yard-bed in your backyard. In other cases dogs dig to create a cooler or warmer place to rest, are hunting ground-dwelling animals, are creating a place to bury valuable items (and of course forget about them later!), or they simply are entertaining themselves. In any case, here are some ideas how to control your dog’s digging impulse and keep your yard intact.

Entertainment Digging

This can be the most problematic digging behavior as your dog is digging for the sake of digging itself. The solution to this problem is to not leave your dog alone outside (to begin with), and keep them entertained while they are outside to tire them out and give them an alternative venue for entertainment. What types of games does your dog like to play? Try playing with them outside more often and see what kind of impact that has on your dog’s digging.

Treasure Digging

If your dog likes to bury their treats instead of eating them, the best way to begin eliminating this behavior is to limit the amount of bury-able treats they receive. Think about giving your dog small eatable treats in place of larger treats that they do not finish eating immediately. Some experts suggest creating an acceptable burying area for your dog to re-use for burying their treats, but this means you will have at least one hole in your yard.

Digging for Small Animals

Dogs love to chase small animals (even if they never actually catch them!). If you have moles, chipmunks, and ground squirrels in your yard your dog may not be able to resist the urge to dig up the ground and try to catch those little guys. In order to prevent this digging you may wish to set live traps and try to catch and release the small animals to an alternate area. By removing the small animals, your dog will not have the urge to dig up holes searching for them.

Den Digging

Den digging can be a dog’s reaction to overly hot or cold temperatures. If you find your dog is digging holes in your yard and lying in them you may need to provide more outdoor shelter. Look in to buying an insulated doghouse and see if that provides the temperature control and sense of shelter that your dog is looking for.

What reasons does your dog dig for? Have any great pictures of your dog in action? Post a reply!

This and more outstanding dog training articles are located at the 0utstandingpet.com blog.