Does your pet have a habit of wanting to dig holes every chance he gets? Would you like to know how to stop the animal in its tracks? If your answer is yes, then you came to the right place. We will try to give you some tips regarding what you should do to stop your dog from digging holes everywhere he goes.
We hope that through this article, you will be able to protect your garden from damage eventually and train your puppy to become more responsible when it comes to this annoying habit. Would you like to learn more? Read the next few paragraphs.
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Why Do Dogs Dig Holes?
If you want to prevent the canine from digging holes in your backyard, or anywhere else in the neighborhood, it is essential that you figure out the reason why your pet does this. Once you can find out the reason, it would be easy for you to take steps to avoid the digging behavior altogether.
Here are some of the primary reasons why dogs love to dig holes wherever they go, if particularly in your backyard.
1. To Escape
They would like to escape the confines of the backyard. They may also be trying to get away from something that they are frightened of. Whether it be fellow dogs or a human that they view as a threat, they dig holes to form an escape route. They will also do this to escape the sounds of thunderstorms.
2. Curiosity
They can also dig holes to find out what’s underneath. If they smell dead bodies or hear small insects underground, chances are they would want to excavate a hole to find it.
3. Extreme Heat or Cold
They also create holes to escape extreme temperatures. If you are located in an arid area, your pets might want to dig a hole for cooling off.
4. To Find Additional Food and Minerals Underground
They could be missing certain minerals in their food. They make holes in the hopes of finding it underground.
5. For Hunting and Mating
The reason also depends on the breed and gender. Terriers, for example, are hunters by nature. They excavate holes on instinct to hunt for prey. On the other hand, female dogs may also do this for mating.
5 Tips On How to Stop the Dog From Digging
If you want to stop your canine friend from digging in your backyard, first, you have to find out why he is doing what he’s doing. Quietly follow and observe your pet. Find out if he is trying to bury something in the backyard.
If there’s nothing buried in the backyard, try to see if he is looking for something underground. Also, be sensitive to your dog’s feelings. See if he is afraid of someone or something in the backyard. Once you find out the reason, it would be easy for you to stop the behavior.
Here are five practical ways to stop your dog from digging.
1. Create a Larger Hole for Your Pet
First, you can dig a larger hole for him to play in somewhere isolated in the backyard. This way, he will not feel the need to take anywhere else. You can train him to dig the hole you created even further by hiding treats in it.
2. Keep Them Comfortable
Secondly, try to keep your pets as comfortable as possible. As mentioned earlier, dogs tend to dig holes to create a place of comfort for their bodies. Be sure to choose a private location that they could hibernate in during the cold winter months and hot summer days.
To prevent him from digging a hole because of discomfort, find a safe place for him in the backyard. Somewhere that has proper coverage and ventilation for both the cold and hot months. This way, he will not feel the need to dig a hole wherever he wants.
3. Have Them Undergo Procedures to Curtail Their Libido
It would also help you to have the animal neutered or spayed. As mentioned above, the female dog stands to dig holes as part of a mating ritual. If you genuinely want to prevent this from ever happening, they did in the bud by having them undergo these particular pet procedures.
This will also help the males by getting their aggression under control. If they are calm, chances are they won’t dig a hole to get themselves out of trouble.
4. Make Sure That They’re Getting Enough Nutrients and Don’t Lock Them Up as Much as Possible
Try to feed them as regularly as possible. If they’re getting enough nutrients from food, they won’t feel the need to try to get elsewhere. The critical thing to remember is to make sure that you can attend to their needs, whether it be dietary or emotional.
It would also help not to confine the pets as much as you can. Take them out for walks regularly so that they don’t feel the need to escape you by digging holes to get away. Have them spend time with other dogs as well. This will teach them to socialize and make them forgive about the holes much more often.
If you can do this, then you will not find it hard to stop them from exhibiting the behavior.
5. Spend Time with Them Regularly
Always try to distract them as much as possible. Spend time with them regularly and train them not to dig holes in the backyard as much as possible. Remember that it is but natural for dogs to uncover as much as possible. For this reason, you will not be able to curtail it completely.
The best way for you to stop your pets from digging is to assign them the designated spot in the backyard. As mentioned earlier, you can dig a big hole for them or have them do it on their own. Either way, train them to focus on that one spot whenever they need to dig.
By training them, you will not have to worry about your pets destroying property in your backyard and around the neighborhood.
These are just some of the five tips that you can do to make sure that your pet does not dig a hole in your backyard often. If you feel that your pet is doing it because of something underneath the ground, try to find out if there is anything buried in your backyard. If you can, excavate and remove it as soon as possible.
Conclusion
With the tips above, you will undoubtedly be able to train your dog to be more disciplined in when digging holes. As mentioned earlier, since it is quite natural for them to do this, all you can do is to make sure that they don’t destroy property while doing it.
If you can reach this goal, then you would have accomplished your mission as a responsible and well-educated dog owner. In addition to this, make sure that your dog is always protected against possible diseases born out of constant tunneling. Have him inoculated and checked regularly. It is better to be safe than sorry.
