It's one of the most frustrating issues for dog owners Every time you look at your yard, you see a new ripped up hole.
The second you stop watching your dog outside, there he goes, digging up the lawn or under the fence.
If your dog digs under the fence, you're not alone|Don't let this behavior problem drive you crazy, there are solutions to excessive dog digging|Having a dog that digs under the fence or around the lawn in general is a common problem that makes dog owners go wild with frustration}. Believe me, I speak from personal experience.
Finally you're at your wits end and all you can do is ask yourself...
"How can I stop my dog from digging up my lawn?"
It's an expensive problem as well. Replacing the dug up parts of your yard can cost quite a bit of green after a while. Not long after, you discover your little buddy has torn up a new hole for his amusement.
Here, I'll be showing you how to stop a dog from digging out and give you some peace of mind.
Afterall, you can't be expected to watch your dog 24 hours of every single day.
Reasons for Dog Digging
There are several root causes for dog digging. First thing is first. Your pet doesn't know any better. But there are 3 fundamental reasons for his digging.
AFter pinpointing the precise cause of your dog's digging, you'll know how to stop it.
1. Escape
Your dog may have the urge to escape in order to get to something, explore or go somewhere in his field of vision.
It happens more often than you might think.
If your dog is digging along the fenceline, he's probably digging to escape.
Here are some options for you...
Install Chickenwire:
Lining the bottom of the fench with chicken wire that lays about 2 feet from the fence line will stop his digging in no time.
Your dog will feel the chicken wire against his paws and immediately stop digging. Don't worry, it won't hurt him. He'll stop digging before he irritates his paws against the wire. Initially setting this up will take a few hours, but think of all the time you'll save on future groundskeeping.
Ensure that the sharp edges of the wire are facing the opposite side of the fence. Your dog won't hurt himself on the other side so lay it carefully.
Bury Rocks Along the Baseline:
If setting up a chickenwire barrier sounds like too much work, you can implant or bury rocks along the baseline of the fence. You'll dog will quickly realize the futility of his efforts once he digs into the rocks and gets nowhere.
Bury the Fence Deep:
When you setup the fence, plant the base two feet below the ground. Although it might not prevent your dog from digging, you can be sure he won't escape and runaway in his excitement.
Check for Inviting Prey:
There may be distracting animals nearby. Take a look over the fence and play detective.
2. Comfort
Heat will definitely motivate your dog to dig.
Your dog digs in hot weather to find a spot in the underlying cool ground to lay down on. This is pretty genius if you ask me.
Additionally, your dog might start digging when it's cooler out to warm himself with the surrounding brush.
Look out for this red flag. Your dog may dig for comfort if you find he's laying in the holes quite often.
Here are some options for you...
Dog Houses prevent digging:
Although it's not the cheapest solution, it is one of the simplest. A good idea is to make sure the dog house blocks wind too.
You don't have to go overboard with the dog house, but think of it as an investment in your lawn.
Getting one that's versatile for hot and cold will last you for life. By versatile I mean, try to find one that has removable sides or windows that can be covered up. This will make it more useful in both hot AND cold weather.
Make Sure Your Dog is Drinking Water:
Make sure you leave out a water dish that can easily be accessed by your dog outside. When your dog is hydrated properly, his body temperature will cool and make him more comfortable.
A good idea is putting ice cubes in his water dish. Most dogs love this!
3. Attention
When you're just not showing your dog enough attention, he'll start digging to get it. Yes, your admonishment of his behavior is still considered "attention".
A good indicator that your dog is digging for attention is when you've repeatedly corrected him and he makes it a point to dig in front of you.
Your dog may also dig for attention if you haven't had much time lately for training, exercising him or just showing him some love with petting and positive reinforcement.
Here are some options for you...
The "Safe" Zone:
Set up an area in the yard that has some cover from wind and sun. Establish this as the "safe" digging zone for your dog. Pick a place near your fence that's less visible to passerbys.
Manage Your Time:
Don't just ignore this red flag. Start spending more time with your dog. You should spend at least 1 hour a day training your dog. That doesn't include exercise time or general walks.
If you don't have time for your dog then you shouldn't have gotten a dog to begin with. The neglect of your dog will ultimately lead to anxious behavior so attack this behavior problem as soon as possible.
How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging
The bottom line is you need to understand how to resolve ANY dog behavior problem with effective tactics that get results. Problems like dog digging problems will come up through different stages of your pet's life.
There will be times where he goes through periods of digging, times where he may show territorial aggression, times where he has excessive chewing issue, times where he just doesn't listen or won't respond to commands...
... the list goes on and on.
Although some of these behavior problems will be temporary, most of them won't if the issues aren't addressed immediately.
Bottom line - dog digging under fence takes time. Be patient, apply the tactics above and you'll be off to a great start.
