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Digging – What can I do?
Digging in your vegetable garden or fresh flower bed is very frustrating to us humans and does not make sense to a dog. If you dig in the garden, why are they not allowed to dig in the garden. Digging is very difficult to stop. It is easier to prevent or to allow certain digging than to stop it completely.
Nature is natural
Dogs dig because they are dogs and digging comes natural to them. They come with the tools and it is fun. They may dig because they are bored, they want a cool place to nap, to bury a new bone, to follow the smell of a gopher or mole, to visit the dog next door or just because it is fun. Certain dog breeds excel at digging, so consider the type of dog if you can not tolerate digging. Hunting and predator dogs and terriers are known for their ability to dig great holes everywhere.
Solutions
Create a “Dig Here” location in your yard. Occasionally, bury toys and rawhides in the area. Go to the “Dig here” area frequently and encourage your dog to dig out the toys or dig with him. Redirect your dog’s inappropriate digging to the “Dig Here” area and praise digging in the right area. The restricted areas should have some formal line of demarcation or fence even if it is very short to designate that the area is off limits.
 Put your dog’s feces in the bottom of the hole and cover it. This usually prevents most dogs from digging at that spot, but does not prevent a new hole a foot away.
Exercise or lots of interesting toys are a good solution to a bored or lonely dog. Bring your dog into the house with you, play a game of fetch, go for a walk or go to obedience or agility class. A tired dog is a good dog.
Prevention
Crate your dog when you can not supervise them. Build a kennel run with a non-diggable surface, such as concrete or horse stall mats. Prevention is the best cure as with most behavior problems.
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