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November 7th, 2008 by Mason Harding

There are 2 extreme schools of thought when it comes to a dog digging holes in your garden: one, that a dog is a dog and he’s going to dig, and he should be allowed to express his true doggy nature whenever and wherever he wants; and two, that a flowerbed is reserved for flowers, and if that dog even sets foot in it he’s in big trouble.

My opinion is somewhere in the middle; although it’s a natural thing for dogs to want to dig, and it’s healthy to allow them to do this from time to time, there is no reason that flowers and dogs can’t coexist peacefully in a yard. However, it may take a little effort on your part to get this accomplished.

So for now, you are here for a reason – you have a dog that digs and want to know what to do about it. You are probably too far down the dog ownership road to tell you that some dogs are known for digging, like Huskies, Malamutes and Terriers. However, if you are in the research stage, this is good information to put in your file as you continue your search for your one and only dog.

First off, some explanations on why dogs dig.

1. Not enough exercise. Digging gives them a way to burn off all their energy.

2. Being bored. For dogs who don’t have enough to do, they find digging is just the ticket.

3. World travelers. Some dogs want to see what is on the other side of the fence. So there digging is a means of escape. These dogs are much harder to train no matter how much working out and jobs you give them.

Then how do we make them stop?

Obviously, you can get busy with dogs, getting them out and about. Or give him something constructive to do if he’s bored, like a toy to play with. Better still combine the two, and play fetch.

Use a natural deterrent. Dogs hate to dig where there is their own poop – even if they occasionally eat it! (For more information on dog poop-eating, visit the website below) If it can be arranged for there to be dog poop where he likes to dig, that might help.

You’ve tried everything and he just won’t stop digging – now what? It probably makes sense that he needs to dig. Your job is to find a spot that you can live with and start training him to use that place only. The size of your place doesn’t limit this from working.