Common Dog Behavior Problems
Digging is a natural behavior for dogs and is a very common problem. Most often digging is because of one of the following:
" Fun " Boredom " Mimicking Their Owners " Hunting critters in your yard " Attention seeking " Anxiety " Escape " Making Shelter
Dogs do not dig out of spite. Their minds simply are not made that way. They are not capable of spiteful thinking.
If your dog digs the first thing you should do is increase the amount of exercise that your dog receives. Most dogs require at least an hour of exercise per day. Time that they spend tethered or in the back yard does not count as exercise.
If your dog is digging for fun, boredom, or anxiety providing adequate toys may help solve and channel their behavior. This can also assist in fixing the other reasons for digging, with the exception of making shelter. You may want to consider Kong Toys, Nylabones, and Triple Crown's Everlasting Fun or Treat balls. Most dogs can not destroy these toys.
If your dog is digging because he is mimicking you, make sure you do not let your dog see you gardening. This is most often the problem when your dog un-plants the flowers that you just planted.
If your dog is digging because he is hunting in your yard consider getting rid of the critters either by humane traps or extermination. There are also repellants on the market that can encourage them to move on.
If your dog is digging because he is trying to escape or to make shelter make sure you are giving him adequate exercise. Make sure that there is adequate water available at all times and give your dog a sheltered area outside to get out of the sun.
To prevent the behavior when you can not supervise your dog, consider crate training. Crate training will help your dog to break his bad habits. This will make it easier for you to fix these problems.
If your dog is a devoted digger, you may want to also consider giving him a dedicated location where he can dig. You could bury appropriate toys in a location and encourage digging only in that location.
If you are having difficulty fixing this problem give me a call. We can talk about this in our consultation and look for solutions for your specific dog.
Angel Farrington is a dog trainer and pet sitter in Michigan. With several years experience in the care and training of pets, she can assist with your dog problems.
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