Digging Support Your Dog's Digging Habit

Before you address the problem, you need to understand why dogs dig in the first place. There are several reasons for this behavior.

In the wild, canines had to hunt for their food. If they couldn't finish it all off in one sitting, they would bury it so that other animals wouldn't eat it before they could get back to it. Even though your canine friend doesn't have to hunt his own food any more, this instinctive behavior persists even now.

Digging holes is a way your pup provides himself a cool place to escape the summer heat. If he's outside in the winter, he'll dig into the ground or into the snow to provide a snug warm place for himself. And, of course, wild canines dig dens for themselves and their offspring.

Certain breeds are more inclined to dig holes. Terriers dig to hunt for rodents and other creatures living in the ground. Retrievers and hounds are prone to digging, too. Plan ahead when choosing a dog breed if you want to prevent dog digging problems.

Digging is also a dog's way of relieving stress and "letting it all out" so to speak. If a puppy is experiencing anxiety levels due to a new baby in the house, a recent move, strange people, or lack of attention, then he is going to dig in order to help himself feel better.

Fortunately there are ways in which you can help diminish your puppy's digging behavior so that it is less destructive to your belongings while at the same time giving him a place to dig without being punished for it.

Below are a set of instructions that will help you train your dog not to dig and claw in areas that you do not want him to, as well as creating a place of his own where he is free to dig at his heart's content

1. The first thing you need to do is find one area that your puppy is allowed to dig in as much as he wants to. This could be somewhere in your house, in a nearby park, or better yet, in your backyard if you have the luxury of owning the property.

2. Make it fun for your puppy to dig by burying some of his toys and bones underneath the dirt. Now play with your dog and start digging with him so you can both play the game of looking for his toys while digging. It becomes a lot of fun to watch your puppy dig along with you in search of his hidden treasure.

3. Every day, go back to your dog's digging area and instruct him to start digging by giving him a command. This command could be as simple as "Sparky, Go Dig!" After a while he will immediately begin clawing at the dirt in wild anticipation for the fun that lay ahead.

4. If you see your puppy digging in any area other than his digging spot, be sure to correct him with a firm "NO!" And then guide him to his proper digging location. This is the same protocol that you would use when housebreaking a puppy after he makes a mess in the house. Eventually, your dog will seek out his digging area when he feels the urge to dig away.