Continental Kennel Club

How to teach your dog to stop digging!

This is a problem for many dog owners and has caused many, many dogs to end up at a shelter, and sadly, many euthanized. Put to death for something that is as natural to them as you or I biting our nails or popping our knuckles. First, let’s look at the problem. Dogs need to dig! Some dig out of boredom; some looking for nutrients their bodies are telling them they are missing; some simply for comfort, such as to get cool or to get warm.

But the number one reason dogs dig, is because, to them, IT’S FUN!! From our point of view, it is a nuisance and it’s destructive. How do we reach a compromise? Well, rather than trying to teach them that it is wrong, or trying to punish them for a natural activity, let’s give them an appropriate place to perform it.Many times owners look for a way to punish a dog for digging.
 

Many resort to very extreme measures such as e-collars and such. In order for the e-collar to work, you’ve got to be there. Not only do you have to be there, you have to see it happening. My question would have to be: If you are there watching the activity, why not engage in an activity that is positive to burn off that energy? Or spend that time guiding the activity to an area where you will allow digging to occur?To fix the problem, you need several bones that can be filled with treats or a product like the Kong.

A Kong is a hollow rubber toy that is pyramid in shape. Cookies, peanut butter or canned cheese can be put into the Kong. Next you will need a place designated as an “allowed digging area.” This can be a place in the yard out of the way where you loosen up the ground. Or, it can be a plastic swimming pool planted in the ground and filled with sand or dirt.

You can even put a fancy border or shrubs around it to make it more presentable. Now for the fun part, take the bones or Kong’s and plant them in your “allowed digging area.” Next, lead your dog to the area. Put the dog on a long line for the first few sessions. Once in the area, encourage the dog to dig. Sometimes, this means you might have to sit down and show the dog what you are asking. I usually plant one Kong with part of the Kong exposed.

The dog will soon get the idea. Once he starts digging, praise him. The more he digs, the more you praise him. It won’t take the dog long to understand where the best place to dig is. You have now turned a negative activity into a positive activity. Once the dog learns “where” to dig, you can then use a firm “phooey” command and lead them to the “allowed area” when they choose an inappropriate area.

Make sure you plant your goodies each day to give the dog something to find while you are away. When the dog finds the Kong, he then will spend hours getting the goodies out of the Kong. When he finishes, he can go find another. Usually 3 or 4 planted Kong’s will keep the average dog busy for 6 - 10 hours. And remember to praise the dog anytime he is NOT digging in an “off limits” area and especially remember to praise him while he’s being a good boy, lying in the backyard chewing on his Kong he found in his digging area.