Digging is such a normal and natural behaviour, but can become quite a problem. So here are some tips on how to stop your dog digging holes all over the place?
REDIRECT THEIR BEHAVIOUR
The best way on how to stop your dog digging is to redirecting this behaviour.
Simply redirect it into an appropriate form. Build a legal digging patch for your dog to use, love and enjoy.
Encourage its use by playing games with her in which she is told “dig your patch!”. Don’t forget to praise her when she does.
Once this has been done a few times, you can interrupt her when you see her beginning to dig anywhere else.
Simply take her to the patch and motivate her to dig there instead. This technique is usually successful in preventing random digging within a couple of months.
HOW TO BUILD YOUR PATCH
The patch should be about 1 x 1,5 meters and situated in a shady, but well drained area of the garden.
It should be clearly demarcated by either logs or bricks set into the ground. This is important as she needs to learn that it is ONLY within these boundaries where her digging is allowed.
TIP
it’s usually a good idea to mix some river / beach sand with the heavier soil. It helps entice digging; and helps drainage. Because nobody needs a swamp during the rainy season.
HOW TO USE YOUR PATCH
When teaching her to use her now, legal, digging patch – you need to spend some time over a number of days to teach her what it is, how to use it, and what fun it can be:
- Take her to the patch and bury some food items and TOYS just under the sand in front of her.
- Whenever she shows any interest in it at all, encourage her by saying “Good Dog! Dig your patch, dig your patch!”
- Whenever she begins to dig at all, give maximum encouragement and the odd food TREAT.
- Do this over a number of days.
- Make it into a big game with her that includes both quality time as well as useful lessons learned.
- Toys and chewies can be buried under the top layer of soil. Encouraged her with great excitement to “dig you patch!” and then praised her every time she does. This needs to be repeated over and over, and chewies and other treats routinely buried in the patch to provide surprises for her to find.
- Anytime you see her about to dig somewhere other than the patch, interrupt by clapping your hands and encourage her over to the patch with enthusiastic calls to “Dig your patch!”
VERY IMPORTANT
REMEMBER TO KEEP THE PATCH WELL-STOCKED. IF THE PATCH RUNS OUT OF GOODIES, YOUR DOGS MAY VERY WELL START DIGGING IN THE LAWN FOR CRICKETS AGAIN!