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Nobody likes to discover their pooch has dug up their prized rose garden. Worse yet, when those dirty paws have soiled the carpet or couch cushions.
Why do some dogs have a fascination with digging?
To be fair, dogs are natural-born diggers. Just look at their paws: their footpads are sturdy and rugged, and their claws act like mini garden hoes. Wild canines use their digging ability to pursue prey, build dens, escape the heat and cold, and hide food. Digging is a survival tool.
Today in suburbia, we prefer our pet dogs would give up this habit.
Here are three tips that may help stop your dog from kicking up dirt:
- Fight the Boredom. Like people, dogs get antsy. So give them something to do. Twenty to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise every day can burn off excess energy, writes Amy Shojai in Dog Facts: The Pet Parent’s A-to-Z Home Care Encyclopedia.
- Make it Legal – In a Certain Place. Designate a certain place in your yard where it’s ok for your dog to dig. The Complete Book of Dogs recommends using a garden trellis to fence off an area where your dog is allowed to dig. Bury a toy or doggie biscuit and encourage him or her to find it. Praise your dog to reinforce the behavior.
- Think About Why They Dig. Consider why your dog is digging. Certain breeds, like terriers, were specifically bred to dig for varmints. Dogs also dig to escape confined spaces, like a fenced-in backyard. You may not want to leave your dog alone too long because he or she might get the urge to tunnel to freedom.
Remember, a dog’s natural urge to find buried things isn’t all bad. Rescue dogs help save skiers and other snow enthusiasts buried during avalanches. (Read about how these dogs are used on the unstable snowpack of Colorado.)
Seeing that your chances of surviving an avalanche drops to 50 percent after being buried for 30 minutes, I don’t mind if a dog does some digging to help get me out!
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
Sources and Links:
ttps://www.thewildest.com/dog-lifestyle/avalanche-rescue-dogs
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
