How to Stop Your Dog Digging in the Yard

If you are an avid gardener, the sight of your dog digging furiously in the yard and ruining the plants and flowers that you so lovingly planted just a few days ago may very well be enough to cause an anxiety attack. But when this happens, don’t immediately punish your dog because there may be a very good reason behind the digging frenzy.

Dogs turn to digging due to various reasons, starting with the need to release pent up energy. When an energetic dog is left all alone in the yard with nothing to do, he is very likely to start digging as a way to entertain himself, especially if the soil is freshly-tilled and is quite loose.

If you have recently planted seeds or seedlings in your yard, a good way to protect them from dog digging disasters is to keep your dog away from the area. If this is not possible, you can also lay some chicken wire over the plant beds to discourage the dogs from digging in the freshly-planted spots.

Another common reason why certain dogs like to dig in the yard is to hunt small animals. This is particularly true for dachshunds, terriers and other hunting dogs. So if you have moles, groundhogs or other vermin in your yard, you can expect your dog to start digging into the ground to chase after them.

Stopping dog digging habits in these earth dog breeds might be next to impossible so all you can do is to fence off your yard or keep your dog leashed when taking them out for a walk or to go potty.

Northern dog breeds like the Siberian Husky easily gets hot especially during the summer. They find comfort in the cooler temperature of the earth, which is why you might find them digging burrows in your yard during particularly hot days. You can stop these dog digging activities by providing your pet with a wading pool with cold water, which is even more inviting than a patch of cool soil.

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em

For some particular breeds, dog digging is so innate that you won’t be able to stop it no matter what you do. In this case, the best solution is to allot an area in your yard where digging is allowed.

Make sure this area is clearly separated from the rest of the yard and that the soil here is well-tilled and combined with some sand.

It might take some time and a little of training but eventually, your dog will figure out that he is to do his digging only in this area. When that happens, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief and know that your yard will be safe from any more dog digging catastrophes.