How to Stop Dog Digging

If you have a dog and you have a yard, then the question of how to stop a dog digging may have crossed your mind at some point. Whether your yard is just unsightly or you have tripped in one of the holes your dog has dug, digging can be a serious problem. It’s even worse if your dog tries to dig his way under your fence. He could be putting his life at risk.

So, how to stop a dog digging? It’s not easy. For some breeds, such as the terriers, it’s what they were originally bred to do. For almost any dog, if they smell something interesting under the soil, they can seem to become possessed when it comes to digging a hole to find what’s in the ground. And if you have an escape artist who is smart enough to try digging his way out, you’re in trouble.

If you have a dog who is addicted to digging, as some people do, you may want to consider giving him his own small plot of ground in your yard. Some people set up a sandbox or other area which is dedicated solely for their dog’s use. He is allowed to dig to his heart’s content in this area without reprimand. Help him get started using the sandbox by half-burying some safe bones or his favorite toys in the sand where they will be easy for him to find.

If you have a garden of your own, you should fence it off so your dog cannot get to it. Not only will your dog be likely to dig in it but some kinds of mulch, such as coconut mulch, are poisonous to dogs. If you have planted things like tulip or daffodil bulbs in your yard, which can be poisonous to dogs, and your dog persists in bothering them, you can place them in a small wire container and plant the container. The bulbs will still mature inside the container and your flowers will grow without your dog being able to bother them before spring.

If your dog is digging throughout your yard and leaving big holes some people recommend filling in the holes with rocks or gravel so the dog will be less likely to go back and dig there again. Other people suggest filling in the holes with dog poop, which also discourages the dog from digging there — though it may not please your neighbors.

If your dog spends his time trying to dig under your fence the best thing to do is to reconcile yourself to the fact that you need to call the fence people to come out and dig under the fence and probably pour concrete along your fence line. You can try to shore up the particular spots in the fence where your dog digs but it’s likely that he will find soft spots where he can dig out and get loose. You can save yourself a lot of aggravation and worry, and possibly your dog’s life, by going ahead and pouring concrete along the fence. Or you can bury the fence a foot deeper.

Some people prefer to attach a few feet of chicken wire along the bottom of their fence. Dogs don’t like the feel of it and it may stop the digging in these spots.

If you are determined to stop the digging you may consider setting up a sprinkler system with the sprinklers aimed at places in the yard where your dog digs. Getting hit with the water while digging may be unpleasant enough to deter some dogs — but probably not all.

Sometimes it’s easier to accommodate a dog who loves to dig instead of completely stopping him. How to stop a dog digging may not be the right question. Instead you could ask, How do we live with a dog digging?