1 Provide your dog with shelter
Some yards have patios, shady trees and all manner of cozy places for a dog to rest when the weather turns bad…
However, other yards are little more than a field of grass bordered by a fence. If that sounds like your yard, then it could be the reason your dog is digging – especially if this digging occurs when the weather changes.
You see, a yard like this offers no protection from the elements.
But your dog is resourceful. He will take it upon himself to build his own shelter. Well, dig one up anyway.
Don’t want your dog to dig a hole for protection? Then you should provide shelter for him.
Note, even if your dog does have a dog house, he might still dig. You see, if your dog house sits in full sun, it can be hotter in the house than outside. This brings me to the next reason why dogs dig…
Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.com is the safe, reliable, and free way to find a loving new home for a pet. Our dedicated team of experts is here to support you with resources to help you keep your pet when you can and find the perfect new home for your pet when you can’t. Learn more.
Mothballs are not the answer, but there are many other ways to stop your dog from digging. Dont give up! With a little patience, youll find the solution that works for you.
Mothballs are poisonous to moth larvae (thats kind of the point!), but they are also harmful to dogs and cats. Symptoms include:
In the most severe cases, death can occur. This is obviously not something you want around your dog. Instead, here are a few tips to help you stop your dog from digging:
Mothballs may act as a deterrent to stop some dogs from digging, but they are toxic to dogs and should not be left in a place where a dog can access them. Instead, find a repellant that isnt potentially harmful to your pet. In order to effectively stop digging, you should first try to figure out the reason for the behavior, as that will help you address the cause rather than the digging itself.
Create a super fun dig-pit
Instead of letting your dog choose where to dig in your yard, why not decide for him?
All you need to do is create a digging zone, just for your dog.
This could be as easy as tilling the earth in a specific section of your yard – dogs prefer to dig where the soil is soft and sandy.
If you have the time and money, you could take this concept a step further and create a sandy area just for your dog to dig in – children’s sandboxes work great here.
Dog’s love to dig in the sand because it’s soft and easy to move around.
You can encourage your dog to use this area by sprinkling or burying treats. You can even hide dog toys below the surface – when your dog digs here, he is rewarded!
By regularly hiding surprises in your dog’s dig pit, he won’t want to dig anywhere else!
Don’t have room in your yard to set up a dedicated doggy digging zone? Check out this toy instead…
This toy features many layers of material that you can hide treats inside. Your dog will be overjoyed as he digs through the layers to find these treats.
FAQ
What repels dogs from digging?
Are mothballs poisonous to dogs?
…
Other scents that may deter your dog from digging include:
- Citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)
- Coffee Grounds.
- Citronella Essential Oil.
- Dog poop (bury your dog’s poop where he digs.