Seeing a freshly dug garden bed or holes in the lawn can frustrate any dog owner. Yet for dogs, digging in your garden is an instinct rooted in their genetic makeup.
However, unmanaged digging can damage plants, lead to escape attempts, and even injuries.
Once you understand why they are digging, you can manage the behaviour to minimise its impact on your home and garden and potentially enhance your dog's well-being.
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It's important to remember that digging is normal for dogs. It's a part of their instincts and served practical purposes in the past, such as burying food or creating dens. Understanding this can help you approach the issue with more patience and understanding.
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Temperature Regulation: Many dogs dig to find cooler ground during hot weather or to create shelter and warmth during colder seasons. This is commonly seen in breeds that originated in extremely cold climates, like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes.
- Hunting and Foraging: Certain dog breeds like terriers exhibit a stronger predisposition to digging, reflecting their historic role to hunt, often digging for animals that live in burrows.
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Nesting and Comfort: Pregnant females will often dig to create safe and comfortable dens for giving birth and raising their offspring, a behaviour deeply ingrained for ensuring the survival of their young.
- Boredom and Anxiety: Some dogs dig out of boredom, seeking stimulation or as a coping mechanism for anxiety and loneliness. This is common in working breeds like border collies and kelpies, and this behaviour can quickly escalate if not appropriately managed.
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Fun: It's important to remember that digging can also be a source of fun for dogs. Puppies, in particular, love to explore and many find digging entertaining. Even adult dogs may dig purely for fun.
What to do
It's unrealistic to eliminate a dog's natural inclination to dig, but you can manage and redirect this behaviour to more appropriate areas and prevent damage to gardens and landscapes:
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Provide a designated digging area: A digging pit filled with sand and some toys in a shaded area can encourage dogs to channel their digging instincts constructively. This designated spot can serve as a permissible outlet while preserving other areas of the yard. You should supervise and encourage your dog to use that area.
- Increase physical exercise: Regular exercise, including off-leash running and interactive play sessions, helps dogs expend energy in positive ways, reducing the likelihood of boredom-driven digging. Dog sports like agility, flyball or nose work are rewarding ways to get your dog active.
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Supervision: When outdoors, your dog should be supervised and redirected to other activities that do not involve digging. Short training sessions are great for this – use lots of treats for positive reinforcement. Access to digging areas should be restricted if you can't actively supervise.
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Environmental enrichment: Give your dog other activities to do such as interactive puzzle toys and chew toys. These toys should be challenging and engaging, providing mental stimulation and helping to redirect their digging energy to another activity. Creating a secure and stimulating environment reduces the motivation for digging.
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