Digging
Digging is a common behaviour of many dogs but it is certainly not a behaviour desired by many people.
Wild dogs and the ancestors of our domestic dogs dug dens to rear their litters in. They also dug to bury food which they could not immediately eat - a practice many of todays domestic breeds still follow.
Some breeds of dog are much more likely to dig than others. For example, the Jack Russell Terrier, Fox Terrier, Siberian Husky and Dachshund.
The Terriers and Dachshunds were developed to "go to ground", ie to follow the quarry into the underground den and to dig or drive it out. The Siberian Husky in his native country dug cavities in the snow for protection and in a suburban backyard he can still be an enthusiastic excavator.
Many dogs are simply attracted to the smell of freshly turned soil and may only be tempted to dig in the flower bed or vegetable garden.
It is always easier to prevent undesirable behaviour in puppies than to try and alter a bad habit once it has developed. Young pups should be told a firm "no" when they are caught digging, then redirected to do something else and praised when they do. A small fence around garden beds should be sufficient to keep young puppies away from freshly dug soil.
Older dogs who are diggers must be confined to areas where they cannot dig (concrete) and allowed access to the lawn or garden only under supervision so it can be stopped and told 'no'. You must redirect it to something else.
Dogs left alone at home all day are often the worst offenders.Bored dogs often dig under fences to escape. In these cases the fence lines must be secured or the dog must be confined to prevent escape and possible injury on the roads.
Dogs who dig from boredom should be give lots of exercise and more things to do- such as raw bones to chew on and treat balls to play with which is nothing less than any dog should expect from its owner!
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