If a dog digs up the ground

If your dog is gradually turning your backyard garden into a cratered moon, don’t be discouraged, as this behavior is consistent with their natural instincts.

The first thing you should do is try to determine the reason for this behavior. Dogs may dig into the ground in response to a predatory instinct or to try to bury a bone or toy. This instinctive behavior is intended to hide food from predators.

Digging up the ground can be part of the maternal instinct, especially if the dog is pregnant. Also, the dog can dig a hole if it’s hot outside – so it arranges a cool place to rest. If the dog is digging under a fence or near a gate, it may be just trying to get out of the garden. Some dogs dig out of the ground out of boredom or just for fun. Other dogs may have a genetic predisposition to this activity. For example, terriers are famous “diggers”.

What can you do?

Once you figure out why your dog is digging up the ground, fixing the problem becomes easier. All you need is a little patience. If your dog is hunting wildlife, you need to find a way to isolate your dog from them, such as constructing a kind of fence or some kind of obstacle so that your dog cannot see other animals – after all, if he does not see them, then has no desire to catch up and catch them.

If the wildlife is on this side of the fence, you can only hope that the dog will not have the speed to catch someone – squirrels and birds are usually much faster than the average dog.

Mice and rats are usually out of sight pretty quickly too. Be careful if using rodent poison as it can harm your dog too.

waste of energy

If your dog is just trying to expend excess energy, you should provide him with more intense exercise. Walk more often or longer, schedule “sessions” of games in which your pet would have to catch up and bring toys – then he will be more tired.

Never punish your dog for digging a hole unless you catch him doing it. Even if you take the dog to the hole he dug, he will not be able to connect the punishment with what he did.