Digging

Why Does My Dog Dig?

Digging is a natural, normal dog activity. All dogs dig at some time. There are many reasons why dogs dig. They dig to bury special treasures or bones, only to dig them up later. Dogs may dig a dirt pit to cool off in summer or may dig a small den for shelter from the cold in the winter. Dogs dig out of boredom when left out in the backyard with no one to play with and nothing to do. They dig to escape, also out of boredom. If one dog digs, others will join in because the act of digging is a socially motivated behavior, just as snacking from a party tray is for us with friends. Some breeds, such as dachshunds or terriers, have been bred to dig to excavate rodents or other burrowing prey.

Dogs DO NOT dig to get back at you or to purposely destroy your yard. Digging is a natural behavior and you cannot totally eliminate it any more than you can totally eliminate sniffing behavior or urinating.

What Can I do About it?

Your dog needs more exercise (especially if he is 3 years old or younger and a working breed or a terrier). A dog sitting out in a yard with no one to play with is not going to keep himself exercised. Dogs play WITH someone, be it a dog or a person. They are social animals and need social interaction. Walk your dog more and play with your dog. Play fetch or Frisbee. Play hide-and-seek with toys. Change around the backyard environment. Add and subtract different chew toys and other safe toys. Put a ball on a stretchy tether and play with him, showing him how the ball springs back. Bring your dog to a dog park. Invite neighbor dogs to play in the fenced yard with him.

Create a digging pit for your dog: Put a pile of sand or dirt in a corner of the yard that you don't use and bury stinky, safe bones (knuckles, shanks), chew toys, and treats in it, the smellier the better. Take your dog to it every day and say "DIG PILE "or some other cue, while digging in it yourself. Encourage him to join in. Eventually, he’ll realize how delightful that pile is and all you will have to say is "DIG PILE" and he should happily head to the place where you have just hidden his favorite treats and a few new rawhides. Of course you need to be there at first to train him and show him that this really is the best area in the yard. Who cares about roots and bugs when you can get this kind of loot?

You could even make an outdoor kennel with the floor only partially covered by cement. Keep him in it and use one end for the digging pile. Soon, when you let him back out into the yard again, he'll head for the familiar digging pile in his kennel when he wants to dig. Dogs are creatures of habit.

You should also consider limiting his time in the yard alone. If you're inside at home, keep him inside with you. After all, he is a housedog. If he is an outside dog because of house training problems or other problems he may have, please see our other fact sheets or ask for help. Dogs are social animals and need human interaction, not isolation.

My Dog Digs to Escape the Yard

Once a dog escapes and has some fun (meeting other dogs, getting into garbage, chasing squirrels), he is going to try to escape again. The rewards are so great that some dogs chew until their mouth bleeds or dig until their nails are raw. They may cut themselves trying to get through patched wire or fall trying to jump over the fence. Your job is to keep your dog safe by not letting these things happen and retrain him to like the yard again.

First, get your male dog neutered. This will decrease 75% of the desire to roam brought on by male hormones. Second, exercise him more. Then, never leave your dog alone in the yard. Go out when he goes potty and reward him. Play a little before going in. Go out and play fetch or other games in the yard and practice the recall, giving him a special treat every time he comes to you. If you think he will scale the fence right in front of you, keep a long, dragging, lightweight rope on him to stop him before it happens but never leave him alone on it, as he can get tangled up and can even strangle himself. You may want to even feed him in the fenced yard and sprinkle kibbles by the house so he can search them out, giving him something to do.

Until he is trustworthy again, he must be supervised. Stepping into the house, for only seconds at a time, only to come back out and call him for a treat or play can be the beginning of retraining him to stay in the yard. He must learn that there are things in the yard that are BETTER than what is outside of the fence, and they may happen at any time, so its best to stay around. It is your job to teach him this.

Please do not tether your dog or keep him in an invisible fence if he is an escapee. These things allow your dog to be vulnerable to all passing temptations or dangers, such as squirrels, cats, teasing children, or loose dogs. Because of these things, it also increases his desire to escape.