So you’ve found dog poop in your backyard, you don’t own a dog yourself so you know that it must be that pesky mutt next door. Not only is dog poop gross It’s also technically an environmental hazard according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Dog poop can pose a serious health risk to you and your family. It contains a huge range of really nasty diseases. To add further insult to injury dog poop can also cause long lasting damage to the lawn as it contains excess nitrogen.
Cover the area with bad smells
Ever notice how your dog sniffs the dirt as he digs his hole? We are going to use this behavior against your furry earth-mover.
Yep, by assaulting your dogs keen sense-of-smell you can stop his digging in his tracks. All you need is a nasty scent.
The most effective digging deterrent smell we tested was red cayenne pepper.
Sprinkle a small amount of this powder wherever your dog is digging. Once your dog takes a sniff, he will avoid the area completely.
When inhaled, this red pepper will irritate your dog’s nostrils. You’ll know it’s worked because your dog will likely snort, shake his head or even run…
Most dogs don’t think digging is worth putting up with this pain – but don’t worry, it’s only temporary and harmless.
Best of all, you likely have a bottle of red cayenne pepper sitting in your pantry. Especially if you like spicy food as much as I do!
However, If your dog is a dig-o-holic, the small-sized jar in your pantry might not be enough. For this reason, I recommend buying in bulk – 6lbs will be more than enough for most yards.
It is worth mentioning that you will need to reapply cayenne pepper when it gets wet. Rain, dew, and water from your sprinkler system will wash it away.
Other scents that may deter your dog from digging include:
Some of our readers have even had luck with by spraying areas with anti-chew spray.
However, these scents are much less aggressive than red cayenne. You may find they are not strong enough to stop a determined dog from digging.
How do you keep animals from digging holes in your yard?
Here are some things you can do to strengthen your lawn and discourage animals from digging in it.
2 Calm down your excited dog
I must admit, it’s cute watching dogs get excited. It’s like they lose control of their body. They jump, wag, shake and, unfortunately, dig.
One of our product testers, Boots, a Corgi, gets excited when it’s walk time. When he sees the leash come out, he will bounce from one spot to the next, frantically pawing at the floor.
Now, while this doesn’t cause any damage inside, outside is a different story. This frantic pawing wears down the grass and creates shallow holes in the lawn.
Common causes of excitement include:
Does your dog dig in any of these scenarios?
Then you’ll need to train this behavior out of him. Generally, this involves teaching your dog to sit or stop when the exciting event occurs.
Here is an excellent video on calming an overly excited dog:
Again, if you are having trouble training your dog, you should speak to your local dog trainer!
FAQ
Are dogs attracted to mothballs?
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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.