DiggingDoes your yard have more holes than a golf course?
Digging
Does your yard have more holes than a golf
course?
Don't worry, digging can be cured!
Here are some suggestions on how to avoid or reduce the problem.
Perfect Paws on Digging Make digging uncomfortable Dog Problem:
The Gentle Modern CureTeach acceptable digging When good dogs do bad things
Why do dogs like digging so much?
Comfort.
If it's too hot out, a hole will be cooler and more comfortable for your dog. If it's too cold, a hole may provide shelter from the wind and place to conserve body heat.
Food Storage.
Dogs bury bones and other surplus food so they will have it when they need it. Even though you've fed your dog twice a day for the last 6 years, they always want to be prepared for a famine.
Nesting.
Your female dog, whether she's pregnant or not, may dig a nest to have her puppies.
Boredom.
With nothing else to do, digging for fun might be amusing. Digging as an escape route offers a world of wonderful things to do!
Love is in the air.
Both male and female dogs will dig out of their yard to reach a member of the opposite sex when love is on their minds.
It's in their nature.
Is your dog on this list of known diggers? Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Fox Terrier, Airedale, Cairn Terrier, Afghan Hound, Dachshund, Weimaraner, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Doberman Pinscher.
A love of flowers.
Frankly, some flowers are irresistible. They just have to be dug up! (Super Dog's owner was very silly one Fall. All the tulip bulbs were buried with a heaping tablespoon of bone meal. Duh . . . bone meal, now I wonder what that is made of? Besides the fact that all the bulbs had be be reburied after they were dug up, the dog was very frustrated that she never did find the bone!)
Make digging uncomfortable
(This suggestion came from the Golden Retrievers email list.)This may seem a bit radical and labor intensive to some of you, but it works.
Trim the nails on the front paws every day. Use a very good trimmer, not the guillotine type, and take a very thin slice every time. Then, and this is very important, after each nail, give the dog a reward, a small piece of dog food works very well.
The food is important because rather than fight you, the dog will come to love this procedure. Opening the drawer where I keep the clipper actually makes the dogs salivate and they jostle each other to try to be first....even though I occasionally get too close and draw a little blood.
Why does this work?
Taking the thinnest possible slice on a daily basis will force the "quick" to recede. Doing this is similar to a person who chews their nails. Once you are back close to the quick, the dog will stop digging because it is uncomfortable. Think about digging in the dirt with your finger nails. Then think about digging in the dirt after you have trimmed your nails as far back as possible. Ouch!
Helen Redlus
Sunnyvale, California USADogs dig for various reasons...boredom...to cool off...to warm up...to build a den. Check out where your dog is digging and if it's digging on the sunny side of the yard maybe it's looking to warm up, shady side of the yard to cool off, etc.
You can fight the problem by disciplining, yelling, screaming and generally getting your panties in a bunch, or you might consider giving your furkid a digging pit of it's own. Loosen up some soil in an area acceptable to you and show your baby that you are going to put one of his/her favorite toys there. Put some dirt on top of the woobie and encourage "baby" to dig it up. Lots of praise whenever he/she digs in the appropriate spot. If caught digging in wrong spot, lead to his/her digging hole and have at it!
Sounds crazy, but it really does work. Takes patience, but it beats banging your head against the wall or a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
Dog Problems: The Gentle Modern Cure
| From the
book: Dog Problems: The Gentle Modern Cure David Weston & Ruth Ross |
This book is available through Super Dog from Amazon.com |
|
 When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
When
Good Dogs do Bad Things |
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This book is one Super Dog refers to most often when doggie problems occur. Our hints are but a tiny slice of the authors almost 5 pages of digging insights.
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