Dog Training Basics

Archive for October 25th, 2009

Digging is one of the most common dog behavior problems. This is complained about by dog owners nearly more than any other problem. There are things you can do to stop a problem with dog digging with your dog and you can start today? You have to understand why dogs dig and what to do about it.

Understanding the reasons that dogs dig will be your first step to stopping it. This will help you determine why your dog is doing it and what you can do to stop it. Some common reasons why dogs dig are:

· Some breeds are more prone to digging (these include terriers, labs and hounds)

· Your dog gets lonely or bored

· Your dog is trying to hunt creatures that live in the ground, like moles

· Your dog is acting on wild instinct to bury his food

· Your dog needs a cool place in the shade to relax

· Your dog is trying to find shelter when he is cold

· Your dog is trying to escape (such as digging under a fence)

· Your dog is attracted to the smell of your fertilizer

Now that you know some of the reasons why dogs dig, can you think about what might be the reason your dog is doing it? What things might you be able to change or control? Some things are out of your hands such as the breed of dog and their predisposition to digging. However, there are other things such as loneliness that you can control or if your dog does not have a cool, shady place to rest.

You need to stop digging in dogs by finding otu why the problem is there in the first place. You can go over the checklist above one by one. If you haven’t purchased a dog yet, consider breed now before your buy.

Is it possible your dog spends a lot of time alone and just feels lonely or bored? This can be remedied by spending more time with your dog or asking friends and family to help out with spending time with your dog. You can try a dog sitter to help you when you are away from your dog.

If you have a dog that’s partial to digging in the garden, try turning on the sprinkler system. Turn it on each time she starts to dig or maybe put a timer on it so it comes on randomly. Then your dog might blame the garden and want to stay away to avoid it.

You can also use chili powder or red pepper mixed with water to spray on your plants and flowers to keep the dog from digging them up (canines don’t like the smell). Always be sure your dog has proper food and shelter and that his basic needs are being met properly.

You also need to be sure you stimulate your dog mentally at least a little each day. You might play a game, teach her a trick or just spend some time together doing something she enjoys. When all of these conditions are met, you shouldn’t have a problem with dog digging anymore.