The Digging Dog-How to Halt the Process

Your dog is a digger or you would quite likely not be here reading this. For the dog who digs, there are people who say to leave him alone, that he'll be fine and that's what dogs do. There are also those who say that the digging dog has to unlearn the behavior and find new ways to express himself.

Your dog is definitely a dog and does have certain behaviors ingrained. In most cases you can stop them. Letting the behavior go generally means that the dog knows he's won. Like kids, they will push that envelope a step more and win more small battles and before you know it you're looking at other small misbehaviors.

Frankly the second makes more sense. Your dogs digging can not only be damaging, it can be downright dangerous. If you put them outdoors for even an hours time in the kennel, it can be a signal to dig for them, and that means they could actually dig under the fence.

While most people don't use outdoor kennels for their dogs, there are some who don't have the option to let them run in a fenced in yard. If this is you, then you need to address the digging before the dog actually finds his way out of the yard or fencing and into danger.

Your dog will dig for a variety of reasons. For the most part, if you put your dog outside with out you in a surrounded kennel they are used to being with you. Having you indoors while they are outdoors means that they are separated from the one thing they most want to spend time with. They are also quite likely bored without anything to do so they will even go after their dog steps. When the dog is bored, and there isn't anything to capture his or her attention, then digging is a great way to burn off energy and to get them where they want to be.

In many cases you will find that if you walk the dog and spend time with them, they will stop the digging process. Walk them, play with them for a few minutes and then put them out in the kennel or the yard if you must. In most cases they won't dig because they aren't getting too little exercise and they aren't bored.

Some dogs are just a bundle of energy and need to be entertained more than others. Give your dog something to do while they are outdoors. If you can't be with them then leave them a well loved toy. One of the best interactive dog toys for entertaining your dog when you can't is called a Kong. You fill the inner portions of it with treats or dog kibble, packed in very tightly. The dog will literally spend hours trying to get it out, a bit at a time.

Generally the digging behavior can be eradicated if you replace the digging with something else that the dog can concentrate on and don't leave them alone for an extended period of time. If you do catch them digging, a very firm NO and offering them