Digging

bowwow123

My New puppy i just got a month ago won't STOP digging what should I do?

Keno's Mom

How old is the puppy? What breed? And how long do you leave him/her outside alone. Some breeds are diggers by nature - most of the terriers are, some hounds (like beagles), and some others tend to dig holes.

Sometimes they do it out of bordom. I would supervise your pup and play with him/her a lot and don't leave them unsupervised for a long time.

DogAdvocat

Find him a place where it's okay to dig, and dig with him. Teach "Dig" and "No dig" by distracting and rewarding when he stops digging. Recognize that there are some breeds that enjoy digging more than others, and that were even bred to dig, like dachshunds. There's nothing wrong with digging, it's the place they are digging that may be inappropriate.

Georgie

Digging is natural canine behaviour. You will need to teach him where is acceptable to dig, and where isn't. If you want you can make him his own lil digging patch and he will learn to only dig there ( use pots if you dont want him digging in the ground )

I have an American Bulldog and they are notorious diggers. Mine is 4.5mths old and he has already dug up all my plants and shrubs that i've not long planted. He now has his own pots to dig in, and to make it more interesting I burry bones in them for him to dig out!!!

APBTgal

Digging holes is a natural behavior for dogs and these sorts of behaviors are the hardest to stop. However, if a cause for the digging that is treatable can be identified, it may be able t help with the behavior, especially if it is related to separation anxiety. There are probably a lot of possible causes for digging. They include wanting to escape the confines of the yard, trying to stay cool in the summer or warm in the winter, predation (if you have moles, for instance), separation anxiety, boredom, curiosity (digging at unfamiliar objects in
the soil), aggression (wishing to dig out to reach an object of aggression) and displaced aggression (digging out of frustration at not being able to get to an object of aggression). My guess is that there are probably other causes, as well.
For aggression, using some sort of screening (vegetation, fence slats, etc.) to block the view of the world can be helpful. Separation anxiety can respond to behavioral therapy and can also respond, in some cases, to allowing access in and out of the house through a pet door. This might also help with boredom.
Medications may be helpful with separation anxiety and with aggression. Among the medications that might work, clomipramine (Clomicalm Rx), fluoxetine (Prozac Rx) and paroxetine (Praxil Rx) are probably the most likely ones to help but they do work best when used in concert with behavioral modifications.
In the case of puppies, vigorous exercise programs can sometimes make a huge difference in behaviors like this. It is hard to single out the puppy for exercise when there are multiple pets but it can make a big difference. It often takes more than an hour or two or really intense exercise per day to make a difference, though. This can be hard for people to arrange but it is
something to think about. There are veterinary behaviorists who can help evaluate why a behavior is occurring and then help with the treatment of the problem diagnosed. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of board certified behaviorists in the country but it is worth a trip to one if the behaviors are making life miserable for you or for your dog.
Mike Richards, DVM

Puppy & Dog Forums