Digging

Are you ready to think I’m crazy?

My go-to advice for digging (and to date, 100% effective rate) is a dig box. There are a few ways you can do this, and it doesn’t need to be fancy…but it can be!

• Raised Flower Bed

• Child’s Sandbox

• Plastic Pool

• Designated Section in Your Yard

• …etc.

As you can see, there are a multitude of ways you can give your dog their very own dig spot! Once you’ve chosen where you want them to dig, and what you’d like to fill with dirt/sand/mix, the next step is to put some random goodies in their box. You can bury toys, bones, treats…anything they like to chew on, play with, eat, etc. Let them watch you burying their things the first couple of times, and then sneak things in there when they’re not looking.

Why does this work? Because when they dig there, they find treasure. When they dig elsewhere, they don’t.

This solution works for dogs who are digging because it’s a naturally rewarding and enriching behavior. It feels good on their paws, they spread their scent this way (they have glands between their toes that release pheromones,) and - obviously - they find fun stuff! If your dog is digging for other reasons - such as critters underground that they’re chasing, or they’re trying to escape a fenced off area, or they’re trying to cool off or find water, these are other issues that should be resolved that require management rather than behavior solutions.