Why Is My Dog Digging?

Where a dog digs tells us why it digs. It is often helpful to know why a dog is digging so we can address the cause and not the symptom.

There are a few things you can do right off the bat to help curb the activity such as trimming the nails short, and keeping them short regularly, providing plenty of exercise on a regular basis, and providing plenty of toys both interactive and edible on a rotation schedule as well as quality supervision.

Dogs dig in many locations and many ways, here are some of the most common:

By the fence: Dogs typically dig by the fence to get out. Sometimes this is attributed to breeding in the case of intact dogs. Very often the dog is interested in something on the other side of the fence. Sometimes a neighbor has a dog who started digging from their side and your dog is following their lead. Sometimes there is a park or playground the dogs can see and they dig to get to that location. Most frequently the dog is bored in the yard and needs more exercise, if the dog wants to walk itself it is probably not getting enough exercise.

In the flower beds: There are two main reasons dogs dig in flower beds. First, they may be trying to find a soft, cool place to lie down. Second, they probably saw their owner digging and are mimicking the behavior. Sometimes when we garden, dogs watch us put things in the ground and they realize those things can come out as well. Fresh dirt should be pressed down because often the smell and texture are irresistible. Sometimes flower beds have irrigation, if the dog does not have a consistent water source this could be another reason for digging.

Under the porch or trees: Under the porch is usually for a secure resting location where the dog can cool off or warm up (depending on the season), make sure an appropriate location is available. Under trees is often because squirrels are commonly found there. Squirrel scent can make a dog want to dig as can the acorns the squirrels bury. If the tree looks like it gives good shelter, that is another reason for digging near the base of trees.

Hunting digging: If there are ‘ground diggers’ of any sort on your property be them groundhogs, moles, etc. the best way to deals with the digging is by getting rid of the pests. Be very careful about poison as a means of ending the infestation because you don’t want to harm your dog. Often the holes look more like trenches, long and narrow holes are a sign that a dog might be chasing a rodent as it tries to escape.

Burying digging: If a dog digs holes and hides things in them, we have a hoarder. This is also recognized as cashing or stashing. Toys and bones may need to be taken away as to help stop the dog from rehearsing the behavior. Be sure to supervise time spent with toys and interrupt the digging behavior if/when it begins.

Everywhere: This is the classic bored and unexercised dog. This can also be the dog that watched another dog digging and has decided to practice digging on their own.

There is something to be mentioned about the dog breed when digging is a problem. Terriers, in particular, are noted for digging which compounds things. The type of hole can give clues to the reason for digging as well.

Look at the holes: Are they uniform? Are they shallow or deep? Are they bigger around than they are deep? Other observations about the holes themselves can be helpful: Are they by sprinklers?

Once we identify the cause(s) of digging we can treat the causes while implementing a good behavior plan. I often recommend things like practicing ‘leave it’ with holes or putting a ‘secret 4-5 ingredient recipe’ in the holes to help discourage a dog from digging in that area again. Some dogs also do well with having their own ‘sandbox’ which is an area we chose to build and dedicate to letting our dog dig in that area alone. If you are looking for help with your digging dog, please contact us and we would be glad to help you with your own unique case.