Show your dog a patch of land and he’ll see it as a challenge—how many holes can he dig? Sound about right? Don’t worry. It’s completely normal! Dogs dig holes for many different reasons:
- Boredom or loneliness
- Lack of attention
- Lack of toys
- Too much energy
- Feeling trapped; if he digs near the fence maybe he wants out
- Instinct to seek prey; maybe looking for bugs
- Nesting instincts (for mother dogs)
- Protection instincts, if he’s trying to create a den or hiding bones
- Feeling too hot; the dirt underneath is cooler than the hot surface
The first thing you need to do is pay attention so you can figure out what’s causing the problem. Once you identify the problem you can take the appropriate steps.
If your dog is bored, lonely, looking for attention, or has too much energy:
- Don’t give him negative attention for digging.
- Dedicate time to spend with him daily.
- Teach him some new tricks; this way he gets to interact with you and gets the positive attention he needs for learning them.
- Walk him twice daily.
- Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise.
- Keep him busy in the yard by rotating through a series of toys, including kongs.
If his digging is instinctual, provide for those needs in other ways:
- Give him a protected place outside, perhaps a dog house.
- Look around to see what he may want to escape. Is he outside for too long? Do neighborhood kids tease him outside the fence? Is your garbage right outside the fence, luring him with the scent of meat?
- Create a designated “digging area” covered with loose soil (maybe with treats and toys hidden underground). You’ll need to supervise his outside time for a while so you can train him to use it. If you see him digging somewhere else, make a loud noise and move him. Reward him when he digs in the right spot—that way he gets to dig and gets positive attention!
- Make his usual digging spots less attractive. Spread rocks, or temporarily cover the area of plastic or wood. Place partially developed rocks along the fence
- Make sure he has water and shade to relax if he’s feeling overheated—maybe even a small children’s pool or sand.
No matter what the cause, remember not to scold him. This won’t help anything because it will only increase his fear and anxiety. If possible, supervise him whenever he’s outside so you can redirect him when he starts digging. It might be a challenge to curb this behavior, but it’s not impossible!





















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