How to Stop Your Dog from Digging Up Your Garden

Let’s face it. If your lovable little furry friend is creating craters in your yard, he’s only doing what comes naturally. Digging is a natural part of puppy hood and some adult dogs dig because it is part of their genetic make up.

So Is It The Dog or The Garden?

If your furry friend is digging his way to China it is possible you will never stop his digging completely. But many people have dogs and beautiful gardens. So you do not really have to choose.

This is a great opportunity for you to train your dog at home, in the garden. This is not the kind of behavior that will be dealt with in puppy or obedience classes.

The same way you have rules for inside the house, you can have rules for the garden. You can teach him where to redirect his energy and can properly train your dog to dig in one area rather than in your gardenias. You can also have some off limits areas in the garden.

Your course of action is going to depend on why is your dog digging the garden.

Let ‘s First look at Why is Your Dog Digging?

• Gardening soil smell, feel and taste good to a dog taste bugs and it is fun.
• He wants to bury a bone or a toy and the garden has nice and loose soil, it is easy to dig and fun.
• It is a hot summer day and digging a hole to curl up is a great way to stay cool down.
• Your dog is a terrier and this is what terriers are bred for: dig up rodents and critters.
• You have a puppy or a young dog that is not getting enough exercise. This is a way to release energy and have fun.
• Your dog spend to much time alone in the garden and has found a way to keep himself entertained

Here Are Some Solutions to Keep Your Garden Holes Free and Have a Happy Dog

Give Him His Own Puppy – Dog Play Pit

If your dog is just being playing and having fun, you can train him to play in a designated area of the garden.

1 – Set a place aside in your yard that will be puppy digging heaven. Try to choose a portion of your yard that is shaded in the summer and offers protection from cold winds in the winter. The size will vary with the size of your garden and your dog.

2 – Next, dig a bit and add some sand in for drainage – remember you want a digging pit not a mud bath! Try to make this fun for your pup by allowing him to join in creating his new play area.

3 – Now, how do you get him to actually dig in the pit?
Take some of his favorite toys and tasty treats and bury them. Make a fuss so that he knows what you’re doing. Call your puppy over (if he’s not there already), and help him dig them up. When he understands that you want him to dig there, praise him and tell him “dig in your pit, dig in your pit.”

He’s being rewarded instantly the moment he digs up a treat and eats it. When he finds a toy, play a game of fetch or tug of war with him, then bury it again. Encourage him to dig it up again, while repeating “dig in your pit.”

Put him inside for a few minutes while you bury some more treats and toys. Let him out and say “dig in your pit.” Praise him if he goes there, and play with him if he digs up a toy.

This in home dog training is fun for both you and your dog. He’ll probably learn what “dig in your pit” means in just one afternoon. Continue this day for a few minutes to reinforce it. Every morning bury some toys and treats in the sand box before you go to work. You can bury a toy that you can stuff with food, like a Kong. When he digs it up, that will keep him happily occupied for quite a while.

Exercise … Exercise

When dogs do not get enough exercise and play time, they will find a way to use up their energy. This usually show in the way of destructive behaviors such as digging or chewing up.

If your dog is high energy, make sure walks, play time and socialization are part of the day.

By the way, for most dogs being out in the yard is not sufficient exercise. You have to take your dog out for walks or play with him.

Boredom

If your dog is spending to much time alone in the yard he will find something to amuse himself: digging the garden is one, chewing on the plants is another one or laying in the middle of a flower bed because it feels good is a possibility.

Do not leave your dog alone for a long period of time. Dogs are pack animal and most do not do very well when left by themselves especially puppies.

Know What Your Dog Breed is About

As I said before Terrier are great diggers. So if your dog is a terrier or a terrier cross, digging is part of what he is bred for.

Working dogs such as terrier, shepherd, hounds for example are always looking for something to do. Small or large, they require a lot of stimulation , exercise and training.

You can redirect that energy with extra training activities such as agility, flyball or tracking. When a dog has to use his brain to perform, learn new things, he gets more alert and calmer and stay out of trouble.

Fence or Enclosed Beds and Gardening Area

Sometimes this might be the only solution to keep your dog out of the garden especially with a puppies or an adult dog that require more training.

Your garden is another perfect training ground for your dog to learn the rules of the house. This is the time to apply some basic training, have some fun and play together.

Catherine Potin is the editor of HappyDogConnections.com and offers free online dog training tips and resources from various experts so you too can understand and train your pooch better. From basic dog training to solving behavior issues, you will find solutions to get better result and create a deeper bond with you dog.