Moth Balls To Stop Dogs From Digging

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.

1 Be vigilant when modifying your yard

Dogs often dig because they smell something new and exciting. If that smell is coming from underground then your curious pup will dig until he can find the cause of the scent.

You see, your dog is a super-sniffer. He can smell things that humans can’t. That’s why dogs love going for walks so much…

Walks open your dog up to a whole range of new smells and scents that he wouldn’t get to smell at home in your yard.

Your dog knows what your yard smells like. It’s boring. It’s not new or exciting. Unless…

You decide to do some landscaping or modifying your back yard.

When you do this, you are bringing in new smells into your yard. And to your dog, that’s incredibly exciting.

Let’s say you plant a new tree in your yard. Don’t be surprised to find your dog digging up the roots in a hunt for new smells.

Even rolling out fresh sod (grass turf) – your dog will happily dig through the grass roots.

Same goes for digging up newly installed sprinkler heads and irrigation systems.

But it’s not just what you add to your yard. Even preparing a garden bed for flowers or vegetables can cause your dog to dig.

You see, dogs love freshly tilled soil. It brings a whole new range of smells to the surface. These smells were previously locked underground.

With the soil unearthed, your dog is now encouraged to dig. Not to mention all the worms and bugs that come to the surface – digging after these critters is great fun!

One reader even told us a sad story of when they buried their cat in their backyard and placed a memorial statue on top…

They were horrified to discover their dog digging the grave up days later. Dogs will happily dig up dead animals – to your dog, they smell great!

Does your dog only dig when you add something to your yard? The solution is simple:

By fencing off the area, you won’t have to worry about your dog digging up your brand new flower garden.

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…

But aren’t mothballs poisonous to dogs?

Yes unfortunately and this is a pretty big catch. Perhaps the main downside of using mothballs to repel dogs from your yard is that they are in fact poisonous to dogs if they are directly ingested. In fact even a small amount can pose serious health risks to dogs and may require them to receive immediate treatment.

So in summary, should you use mothballs to repel dogs from your property? Although it’s handy to have something that will keep dogs off your yard, you simply can’t go around poisoning your neighbours pets (no matter how annoying they may be!)

Mothballs are so toxic that even the fumes are also poisonous to dogs. Not only this but mothballs can also be harmful to humans, especially if you are exposed to the fumes long term. It is also possible for them to be ingested by unsuspecting young children who stumble upon them!

FAQ

Are mothballs toxic to dogs?

• Citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit)
• Coffee Grounds.
• Citronella Essential Oil.
• Dog poop (bury your dog’s poop where he digs.

Are dogs attracted to mothballs?