Uncovering help
Change your dog's digging ways

Your Dogman, Eamon Riley

Does your back yard look like the surface of the moon? Recently I had a student in my Adult Dog Class with this very problem. The student's dog, Andy, a 13-month-old Anatolian Shepherd, in just a few short weeks had turned a well-manicured back yard into a scene from the movie "The Great Escape."
I explain to owners that canine behavior is either the product of instinct or of learning. Digging behavior is no exception; it is an instinct. In addition, there are certain breeds that have been developed specifically for their ability to dig out game such as badgers, foxes and otters. I can remember watching one client's dog, a dachshund, slowly disappear underground as she dug in the flower garden.
To eliminate a dog's unwanted behavior, like digging, we first must understand the root of that behavior. Dogs dig for a variety of reasons. Doctors Foster and Smith, DVM, give the following reasons why digging occurs:
Boredom. If you leave your dog out alone in the yard for any length of time, he may dig just for something to do. Play with him out there or provide him with chew toys or interactive toys like a Kong or Pet Planet rubber toy with treats stuffed inside.
Escape. Your dog may want to leave a fenced yard because there are so many more interesting things to do elsewhere.
If you have an intact (unspayed or unneutered) dog, he or she may be digging to escape in order to mate with another dog. If you don't plan to breed your dog, a good way to prevent digging for this reason is to neuter him or spay her.
Relief. Since deeper layers of soil tend to be cooler, your dog may be digging to find relief from the heat. Always provide a cool, shady place for the dog to rest when he's outside.
Saving. Dogs are great savers. They will bury bones or other treats "for a rainy day" when they may need them.
If you use bone or blood meal to fertilize your garden, the scent may be irresistible. A dog may dig and dig trying to find that nonexistent bone!
Denning. Any dog may dig to excavate a den. A female dog may dig in order to provide a nest for babies, whether she is pregnant or not.
So now we have a good understanding of why a dog digs, but how do we stop it? The answer is we don't! Since digging is instinctual, we must attempt to manipulate the inappropriate behavior into appropriate behavior that we can all live with. Here are a few ideas on how to do this.

Give your dog a place where he is permitted to dig and train him, with praise and treats, to dig in that spot and not in an inappropriate place. A good place is a sandy area, an area that has already been dug up and where the soil is loose, or an area where there is plenty of shade. A sandy area has the added benefit of sand being much easier to clean off than dirt. If you don't want your dog digging into the ground, buy an inexpensive plastic kiddy pool. Fill this pool with sand and let your dog dig away!

Decide where this digging place will be, soften the soil, and then bury a favorite treat there. Bring your dog over to the area and dig with him. Praise him when he uncovers the treat. Repeat until the behavior is learned. If you catch him digging in an inappropriate area, say "no dig!" and then take him over to the desired area and say "dig," followed by praise if he digs. This training may take several days.

Deter him from digging in inappropriate areas by putting hot pepper, citrus or diluted ammonia on the area. There are also commercial products such as No-Dig or NIMBY that work by creating a scent in the area that is repugnant to animals or that interferes with the animal's sense of smell. Some products can be used directly on plants and grass, and some cannot, so be sure to check the label before application. These will also work to repel nuisance animals other than your own.

Finally, take your dog to obedience training. This will not only teach your dog to be more secure in its home environment but will also make it easier for you to train and correct other problem behaviors.

After attending class for only a few weeks, Andy's owner reported that the dog had learned to dig in his designated area, and he was responding to all the commands he had learned in class. Digging behavior, although deeply ingrained, can be modified. By being consistent and unwavering, you will be able to find a solution. And remember, good dog training is not expensive . . . it is priceless.

Eamon P. Riley can be reached at 689-WAGS or by e-mail at dogmanusmc@aol.com