The long hours you spend landscaping and caring for your garden can be ruined in a matter of minutes with a pair of cute paws. The aftermath takes twice the amount of time to fix, so there has to be a way to let your dog have fun on your lawn without having to keep an eagle eye on him, right?
The answer is to understand the cause behind the digging and solve the problem.
1. Hiding and storing food items.
They’re not chipmunks or squirrels, but your dog has the instinct to hide food away as well. Not only food, but your fur baby may also want to tuck away his favorite toy for later. The reason behind this is a canine’s innate nature is the need to safeguard what matters to them.
It may seem ludicrous to us because we wouldn’t want an old pair of smelly socks or a ratty stuffed animal encrusted with doggy saliva, but it’s of significant meaning and importance to your dog! You can bet he doesn’t want anyone else to have it!
Your dog won’t only hide items, but bits of food for later enjoyment as well. It may not be the best to let your dog eat dirt-covered turkey meat after it’s been buried for a few days so you will have to keep an eye on what he buries.
The Fix: It’s hard to stop this natural instinct your dog has to bury items for safekeeping, so we suggest sectioning off a part of your yard where it’s okay for him to dig. If your dog digs in other places where it’s not allowed, discourage him and only reward him when he does get it right.
2. Natural Instincts
A lot of dogs like to chase, and it isn’t always after cars or people. They sometimes take off after smaller creatures or other dogs.
If there is a squirrel or mouse scurrying across your lawn, your dog may lunge after it. The little critter will most likely try to escape from under the fence, which causes your dog to dig frantically after it. After all, this is your dog’s territory, and no other creature has the right to trespass!
The Fix: Try to get rid of the rodents or other creatures (they hate strong-smelling herbs) so there is no chance for your dog to dig, or you can incorporate digging deterrents such as a wireless dog fence that not only discourages digging but also teaches your dog not to leave an outlined perimeter.
3. Stress, Boredom, Anxiety Relief (and escape)
Sometimes the digging is emotional. Your dog could be bored, stressed or anxious. If any of you have ever heard of a Houdini dog (a magical escape artist), then you will know the dog owner’s hardships. Siberian Huskies are an example of a breed that would fit in this category. They are working dogs, master escape artists, and are known to be more susceptible to separation anxiety than other dogs due to their pack mentality.
The Fix: If the digging is due to boredom, then keep your dog occupied! Give him something to do or give him sufficient exercise during the day. A well-exercised dog is least likely to act up. If the digging is due to stress, try to figure out what’s causing it and eliminate it. Sometimes, it can be fear, and your dog wants to escape whatever threatens him. Figure out what it is to help your dog.
4. It’s Way Too Hot
Something you can’t do much about that may cause the incessant digging is high temperatures. The temperature under the surface dirt is much cooler, so your dog is digging in an attempt to lie down in a cooler spot. It’s unavoidable in certain seasons, but there are things you can do.
The Fix: Throw in some shade! Add some hedges, bushes, small trees—anything that can provide your fur baby with some relief from the sun. If you’re super skilled, think about placing a pond somewhere where he can cool off. You can’t control the weather, but you can control the environment in your backyard.
Dogs dig for a variety of reasons, and not all of them need to be discouraged. It’s important not to suppress your dog’s natural behavior. The most effective way to prevent your lawn from being upturned is to understand why your dog is digging and to address the problem using the unique strategies we’ve described above.
