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To Dig, or not to Dig, that is the Question.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a dog that did not like to dig. Like chewing and smelling things that make normal humans go into a gag-reflex digging is part of what a dog is. Over time many breeds have been bred specifically for digging like the Terriers which were bred to hunt and disperse rodents. This breed will dig out rodent tunnels until there are no more rodent tunnels and dens to dig into. This is the inherent nature of a Terrier breed and what it was "born" to do. I find that when a dog is inactive or left to their own devices that ultimately they will begin to dig if only to remove the boredom of being stuck in the yard.
If you do not have one of the digging breeds or even if you do and unwanted digging is costing you serious landscaping fees there are ways to eliminate or reduce this activity. First you should take a look at how your dog's "normal" day would play out. As I've written most dogs when left to their own devices for too long will eventually dig as well as explore their range of motion, chew just about anything they can find to chew, etcetera. We are like dogs in many regards and need stimulus from the outside world as well. Too long removed from 'normalcy' we have a tendency to eliminate our boredom with any means available. It's about time. Your canine has a pack mentality and socialization and play within any pack is strong. They need consistent interaction from their owners, us. They need lots of together time and that time can come even at night if your animal is in his bed next to you. The more time you spend with your pup even if just in the home the more secure socially your pet becomes. When you pet is relegated to outdoor time insure that they have plenty of outdoor toys to keep them occupied. This is the first deterrent to digging is spending more time with your dog and allowing them to spent more time with you. The more involved in the pack that they are the less likely they will feel alone and bored.
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Another cause of what I would call focused digging is when your dog is not spayed or neutered and that particular time of the year arrives when one is in rut and the other in heat. Guys as we know will be guys and if they sense a female in heat I know of few fences that could hold them at bay. There are many reasons that a dog will dig other than the instinctual prompt to do so. I would not want to take that "exercise" away from my dog but can say that there are certain places where I do not want him as Micah and I call it, "Digging to China!" With Duma the digging is contained to areas where he smells and sees rodent holes in the lawn. I actually encourage him to follow the scent. But then I would not like him to dig into the roses or vegetables.
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For dogs who constantly raise the back hairs on your neck when you come home and find a new tunnel under your property fence I have a few suggestions and I checked around and it seems I'm not the only one who practices pack knowledge and good old fashioned common sense. Provide for a horizontal barrier to meet the vertical barrier. An example would be to bury a rolled out section of chain-link or chicken wire on the ground extending out for (your choice) number of feet. It will not harm the root systems of your border plants or shrubbery at all and will offer a barrier for your pet and take away the close to the fence digging.
If you have a breed that is inherently a digger dog or one that enjoys digging but you want the random digging to stop then give them a place that is all theirs where they can dig to their hearts content. Pick a section of your property where they seem to dig a lot and relegate that space for them. Take your pet to your picked location and encourage digging. Throw some toys in the hole or maybe a few treats. Let your canine know that this is their piece of the world and can dig or roll in it all they want. Give lots of praise when they dig in their spot and of course corrective behavior when they dig in "your" yard.
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Cesar Millan
