Let's have a look at a natural canine behavior that drives us crazy.
All dogs have an instinct to dig – in the wild they do it to bury their food so no-one else gets hold of it. They dig when they're too hot, because the soil below the surface is cooler. Females will dig if they're pregnant (or have a phantom pregnancy) because they're making a safe den to have the puppies in. And some breeds, like all Terriers, are bred to dig.
So what can we do about it?
Starting with the bored dog – a topic which I've covered quite a bit. Boredom leads to a lot of the behavioural problems we see in our dogs. There is no substitute for spending time together playing, walking, and just generally 'hanging out'. Any dog left alone in a garden will eventually start digging.
The hot dog syndrome is also quite easy to solve - just try to keep him as cool as you possibly can. Especially if he has a heavy coat. If he has an outside kennel or dog house, put it under a tree – or a spot in the garden that never gets any direct sun if you can.
If that's not practical, you may have to keep him indoors if it's very hot.
For those of us without air conditioning in our homes, keep him in the coolest room with as many open windows as you can. You can also set up one of those small desk fans close to his crate or bed. Make sure he can't get at the power cable or the fan blades – and don't forget to 'introduce' him to the noise it makes.
Always provide plenty of cool drinking water for him – but NEVER give him ice.
If you know your lady dog is having pups, or she thinks she is – she should stop digging if you provide her with a whelping box in a good secure place that she believes is out of view.
If your dog is digging to bury his food, don't let him eat outside – or with the door to the garden open while he eats.
The most difficult cause of digging for us to pinpoint, relates to your dog's amazing sense of smell. The reason he almost always goes straight for the new shrub you've just planted is that he can smell your scent there; and the general scent of the area has changed because of the new plant. He'll do the same thing if you have someone else tend your garden, because he'll pick up the 'stranger's' scent.
There are also many 'wild' animals in urban areas these days. Your garden may be used by foxes, hedgehogs, or other small mammals, during the night – your dog will smell all of them when you let him out in the morning. He'll start digging to look for them.
Hounds, or any kind of dog bred with an exceptional sense of smell, will most often dig by your fence. They can smell something outside the garden that they want to get at. Males who haven't been neutered will do this a lot to get at neighborhood females in season.
If this is your problem, make sure there are no holes in the fence either above or below the surface. If you were building a new fence, you'd put a concrete foundation layer in the ground first – but if the fence is already there, try chicken wire across the bottom. Make sure the wire goes right down into the soil as far as you can, and curve it away from the fence underground.
If all else fails, and you have the space, try giving him his own piece of the garden. Have a bone or some toys buried in it for him to 'find'. This can be great fun for the dog – especially if you join in the game.
Phillipa Baxter offers sensible, effective dog training tips that have helped over 9,000 puppy owners worldwide build strong, loving relationships with their new dog. For more useful advice you are very welcome to visit her at http://www.DogTrainingCourses.com.
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