Correcting Bad Dog Behavior: Dog Digging
Correcting Bad Dog Behavior: Dog Digging
Article by Juana Cruz
When it comes to owning a pet dog, owners know that accompanied with the joy and friendship a dog provides, come a million of behavioral problems that they should correct. Digging is a bad dog behavior that many dog owners are concerned with because of the consequences that they face. For example, if you have a garden and you want to keep it nice, of course you don’t want to be frustrated in having to ‘fix’ it after you see that wonderful garden dug up and turned upside down by your dog. But you don’t have to choose between your pet and that garden you have worked hard for; they both can co-exist harmoniously. All it takes is some active role in your part.
Why dogs dig
In the first place, there is a reason behind your dog’s digging behavior. Common reasons are:
1. It is really in the nature of the dogs to harness their natural hunting skills. Their canine nature calls for them to dig up from time to time. 2. However, some breeds are known diggers than other breeds, and examples of these are terriers. If you own a terrier, then, understand that he wants to dig to his heart’s content, whether you like it or not. 3. Dogs that are bored need to be distracted and direct their energy somewhere else. Dogs, when left doing nothing, tend to act erratically when they have unused energy killing them.4. Separation anxiety or loneliness due to your absence makes dogs dig up – it is their expression in wanting to see you. 5. Some dogs are actually just Houdinis in nature – they want to know the ‘great beyond’.
How to stop dog digging
Fortunately, rectifying bad dog behavior that is known as dog digging can be controlled. It can be solved using the following:
1. Make sure the pet is getting lots of exercise. A dog is a social animal that has lots of energy. By making sure you keep him exercised, you are also solving or getting to the root cause of his digging behavior. For example, if thte dog is lonely and is digging because of his loneliness, the exercises he does with you (like walking or running) is your chance to bond with him. If the problem is separation anxiety or boredom, getting your dog to exercise will make sure that he will sleep away when you are gone, which frees your garden from his adventure and your furniture and carpets, too, from his teeth.
One and a half hours of exercise is recommended for your dog to get him energized and fit, each day.
2. Of course, dogs are dogs, and at times he will really dig.You can’t stop him from showing his canine nature, so what you should do instead is to allow him to dig somewhere he is allowed. You can allot a space in the garden where he can dig all he wants, but if it is not possible, a sandbox with sand, earth and some leaves will do. Invite him to dig there, praise him and give him treats. However, if you catch him digging elsewhere, reprimand him right away and transfer him to the sandbox. Praise him as he digs there. The key idea is, praising him will help him associate that with digging in the right place, and reprimanding him will send him that message that he shouldn’t be digging somewhere else.
3. Place dog poop on places where he is not allowed to dig. Dogs do not want to soil their paws and coats. So placing dog poop will make him shy away from that place to protect their paws and coats.
A bad dog behavior like digging can be solved, by directing his energy somewhere else, as taught in this article.
About the Author
Learn how to handle a bad dog behavior by visiting Dog Training Secrets, your guide to training your dog effectively.
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