People think 2 different ways on whether it is okay for a dog to dig. Some feel it is what dogs do and to be true to his nature, he should be allowed to. Others feel like there are boundaries in their yards the dog needs to learn and they must not be crossed.
My opinion is somewhere in the middle; although it’s a natural thing for dogs to want to dig, and it’s healthy to allow them to do this from time to time, there is no reason that flowers and dogs can’t coexist peacefully in a yard. However, it may take a little effort on your part to get this accomplished.
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already got a dog digging problem and it’s too late for you to find out that certain dogs like Huskies, Malamutes, and Terriers are notorious diggers. If by chance you’re just doing some research and are about to head off to the shelter to see who’s available, you may want to keep these breeds in the back of your mind as possible candidates for dog digging problems.
Let’s start with why dogs dig.
1. They are not getting enough exercise. Digging provides an release to their pent up energy.
2. Boredom. Bored dogs need a job to do, and digging holes can quite often fit the bill.
3. World travelers. Some dogs want to see what is on the other side of the fence. So there digging is a means of escape. These dogs are much harder to train no matter how much working out and jobs you give them.
Then how do we make them stop?
For sure, you can get them more exercise by walking them or letting them out more often. And if they are bored, buying them their own toys. And then best of all play tug of war with them
Deter them with their own poop. Yep, dogs do not like to dig where they poop. So move their poop to the area where they are prone to dig. Even if they occasionally eat their own poop, they won’t dig there. (For info on Dogs Eating Poop, see the website below).
OK, so what if this doesn’t do the trick? You are going to find a place where he can dig! Then you teach him to dig in that spot only. You can do this, even if your yard is not too big or you just can’t bear to see holes in your precious lawn.