Does your dog dig every time it’s outside? Is this something you are frustrated with, feeling it’s uncontrollable? Are you wondering why this is happening and how to stop it? You will need to take a three-step approach to solve this problem for both you and your dog. This involves taking some time to observe your dog objectively and figure out why it’s digging, doing some research, and planning the best course of action for your situation.
Take two consecutive days to observe your dog and record what you see by writing it down on paper. If you are too close to the situation or too frustrated by it, ask a friend or neighbor to do the observations and recording for you, noting the day, the time the digging activity happens, what kind of digging it is, how the dog seems to be feeling and how it’s acting before, during, and after the digging, and any other information that may seem important.
When you have two days’ of observing your dog’s digging, it’s time do some research. Three major areas to research are your dog’s breed, your dog’s age and developmental stages, and care and training. This research can be done at the library, with your vet, or online. First, look into your dog’s breed, finding out how the breed was developed, what are the breed’s developmental needs, best environment and care for the kind of breed you have, strongest instincts of the breed, and anything else that will give you insight into why your dog is digging. Next, research the specific developmental stage your dog is in, such as puppy, young adult, or older dog, to try to discern special needs and problems of your dog’s age group. Last but not least, research what kind of care and training is best for your kind of dog and the environment you have it in.
Now that you have observed your dog’s digging behaviors and researched different aspects about your dog, you are ready to take action. Determine why the dog digs, how to avoid the digging while still providing care and training for your animal, and how you will make this happen. It will not be easy, it will take some time and effort on your part, but it will result in saving your lawn and your dog.