Digging

Digging

Dogs dig for a number of reasons: to cool off, chase rodents, bury and retrieve bones, escape confinement, or just for the fun of it.

Digging commonly occurs when pets are left alone with insufficient stimulation. Provide your dog with stimulating chew toys, increased play and exercise, and perhaps even a second pet. Of course, give some thought to the addition of a second pet, since you could end up with two diggers instead of one.

Try these methods to discourage digging:

• remote punishment (turning on a sprinkler, pulling on an extended leash, tossing a tin can containing a few pebbles near the pet),
• changing or covering the surface (by placing rocks over the area or covering with concrete).
• For some dogs the most practical solution is to provide a digging area and to reinforce appropriate digging.

—Wayne L. Hunthausen, DVM, and Gary M. Landsberg, DVM