How to Stop Dogs From Digging
Why dogs dig, and what to do if it’s a problem.
Jolanta Benal, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
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How to Stop Dogs From Digging
If you just looked up to see a fountain of dirt rising from your lawn, and only your dog’s hindquarters aboveground, this episode is for you. Today, the many reasons why dogs dig, and a few things humans can do about it.
Why Dogs Dig
One size hardly ever fits all. Your Dachshund, the neighbor’s mixed-breed, and the heavy-coated hundred-pound something or other down the block may each dig for different reasons. So different responses are appropriate, too.
Dogs Dig to Cool Off
Let’s take that big, heavy-coated dog first. If it’s 85 degrees out and your dog is lounging in the pit he has excavated under the evergreen hedge, I will bet my consultation fee that he is trying to keep cool. In general, the bigger a dog is, and the denser his coat, the more uncomfortable he’s likely to be in summer heat. And all of the flat-faced dogs — Pugs and English and French Bulldogs, for instance — are structurally unable to pant effectively to cool themselves.
If heat is your dog’s motive for digging, your best bet for preempting the behavior is obviously to cool him off. Some dogs may like a wading pool. Others may do fine with access to shade and plenty of cool drinking water. Or, if your dog is happy and relaxed in his dugout under the shrubbery, you can always let him stay. Help him cool down by rubbing him with ice cubes, too. In hot, humid weather, save outdoor exercise for early morning and the evening hours. Flat-faced dogs are safest in an air-conditioned room.
Dogs Dig in Pursuit of Prey
If your digger’s a Dachshund, or one of the terriers, remember that hunters produced these breeds to go after rats, badgers, and other tunneling prey. The word “terrier” derives from the French for “earth,” and Dachs is German for “badger.” Should moles or groundhogs, or for that matter badgers, take up residence in your yard, your Dachsie or terrier will likely go after them. Who can tear up more perennials faster?
Maddening as this may be, it’s hard to blame a dog for trying to do the job her breed was developed for. If you’d rather she didn’t, you’ll need to evict your underground tenants yourself. And consider giving your dog an outlet for her talents — Earthdog is tailor made for her. In this sport, dogs follow a scent and navigate a tunnel to find a caged rat. I had some qualms about what the experience might be like for the rats, but Lucy Bailey, who breeds Welsh Terriers and competes in Earthdog, reassured me. Lucy says the rats are “quick to learn that the dogs are not a threat” and that “in training young dogs, one of the biggest problems is that the rats go to sleep.” I’ve put links and more info about Earthdog in the show notes, which you can find at dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com.
Dogs Dig to Escape
Some dogs tunnel under fences to escape their yards. Escape artists may be motivated by general boredom and pent-up energy, or they may have a specific goal. Even a neutered male may be attracted by a female dog in heat, for instance, so if you’ve got a neighbor who hasn’t done right by his lady dog, why not have a friendly chat about spaying? While we’re on the subject of reproduction: pregnant females may dig to create a nest for their pups, and so may a bitch suffering from pseudopregnancy. Pseudopregnancy can occur in females spayed at a particular phase of the heat cycle but is usually limited to unspayed bitches. Pregnancy, of course… well, spay your dog.
Some Digging Has an Aggressive Component
Some dogs react to passersby, and in particular to passing dogs, by charging them; if your dog is rushing the fence to lunge and bark, he may also try to dig past the barrier. Here aggression, not digging, is the real problem. No dog should be left outdoors unsupervised, and that goes double for fence-chargers. If this is your dog, he should be indoors unless you’re actively working or playing with him, and you’ll probably need professional help with his behavior.
Why Do Dogs Dig to Hide Food or Toys?
Dogs may cache food or toys — bury them, then go and dig them out later. I suppose all behaviors give us a glimpse of dogs’ evolutionary history, but this one has always struck me as particularly vivid. Wolves and other predators cache food to protect it from scavengers, for example vultures, that can’t dig. Call of the Wild, anyone?
Build a Digging Pit for Your Dog
As regular listeners know, I’m all about working with dogs, not against them. If your dog caches food or just plain loves to dig, consider letting him. Wait, wait, don’t hyperventilate. I’m not going to tell you to turn over your whole yard. But perhaps you can give your dog a spot of his own where digging is “legal,” even encouraged. Set aside a piece of ground plenty big enough for his whole busy self, and mark it off with a low garden border fence or a line of flat stones. You might want to choose a location where you already know he likes to excavate.
Give a couple of bones, chews, or favorite toys a shallow grave, bring your dog over, and let him go to town. You can dig at the ground a bit yourself, to help him get the idea. If he starts digging in some other spot, gently interrupt him and lead him to his digging pit instead.
Finally, we’ve got the dog who’s just plain lonely, bored, and underexercised. Maybe she’s spending hours a day all alone in the backyard. If this sounds like you and your dog, I hardly have to tell you what to do. She might like a digging pit well enough, but what she really needs is more of your company, more mental stimulation, and more just plain fun. Go play!
That’s all for this week. Come find me on Facebook. Or you can call me at 206-600-5661, or email dogtrainer@quickanddirtytips.comcreate new email. Thanks for listening. Goodbye!
Resources
Smith, Cheryl S. Dog Friendly Gardens – Garden Friendly Dogs. Dogwise Publishing, 2004.
Earthdog
The North American Mixed Breed Registry homepage includes links to Earthdog trials welcoming mixed-breed dogs. NAMBR is a Canadian group. The American Kennel Club also sanctions Earthdog trials, but these are open only to certain AKC-registered breeds and not to mixed-breed dogs at all. Earthdog trials held by the American Working Terrier Association are open to certain mixed breeds. As far as I know, there’s no overarching Earthdog organization open to all behaviorally and structurally suitable dogs, but you may be able to find a local group.
About the Author
Jolanta holds professional certifications in both training and behavior counseling and belongs to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She also volunteered with Pet Help Partners, a program of the Humane Society of the United States that works to prevent pet relinquishment. Her approach is generally behaviorist (Pavlovian, Skinnerian and post-Skinnerian learning theory) with a big helping of ethology (animal behavior as observed in non-experimental settings).