How to Deal With Your Dog’s Constant Digging

A dog that loves to dig can destroy your yard pretty quickly. And while you can scold them when you catch them red-handed, stopping the behavior completely will likely take a little more effort. With warmer weather ahead and yard landscaping on the spring to-do list, here’s how to fix those holes (plus some ideas for how to stop your dog from digging in the first place).

Why might your dog dig in your yard?

You can fill in the holes your dog digs, but you will do it forever if you don’t address the root cause of your dog digging holes. Dogs may dig up the yard for a number of reasons:

• They are bored and need entertainment or work.

• They were created to dig.

• They look for prey, such as burrowing animals or pests.

• They are hot (or cold).

• They are trying to run away after something or away from something.

• They are looking for attention.

It may be difficult to find the root of the problem at first, but looking at certain dog patterns and behaviors can help you narrow it down.

• Your dog may hunt for prey if he digs primarily in one area, around tree roots or on paths, which means you may have to deal with yard pests such as moles.

• If they are lying in their burrows, they may be seeking protection from the heat .

• Dogs left alone for long periods of time are more likely to dig in search of entertainment or attention – remember that how you “parent” your puppy can have a profound impact on his behavior .

How to stop a dog from digging in the yard

How you stop digging depends on the underlying cause, but in general, first consider what your dog might need—a toy for entertainment, shade, or water. Frequent walks, minimizing unsupervised time, and engaging your dog with tricks or commands can also help. As a rule, it is impossible to punish a dog. And if you’re on the lookout for pests, avoid toxic products that your dog might accidentally ingest.

Often repeated lore suggests that filling holes with your dog’s own feces will keep him from digging in the same place again. It’s worth a try – most dogs won’t hunt their own poop, but some will. If it’s a deeper hole, don’t put the poop in the bottom. Add some soil first, then place the feces a few inches below the surface and cover with more soil.

Finally, if the digging continues, you can train your dog to dig in a designated area —say, a hole filled with soil or sand and your dog’s toys. Lead them to this spot and reward them when they dig a hole instead of digging in other parts of your yard.

How to repair holes that a dog dug in the yard

Filling holes your dog has dug doesn’t seem like a big deal, but don’t just push the dug-up soil back into the hole. (You probably won’t be able to do this anyway, since dogs who dig tend to create a huge mess, throwing dirt everywhere.) Instead, you’ll need to bring in topsoil and, if you have grass, add grass seed or turf patch.

Follow these steps when repairing holes dug by dogs.

If you are using grass seed

• Fill the hole with topsoil, water it and add just enough soil to bring it down to ground level.

• Add seeds and water according to package directions.

If you are using turf patch

• If you are using a section of sod, fill the hole with soil just below ground level, leaving a gap equal to the thickness of the section of sod.

• Roll out the sod over the hole and trim the edges to size.

• Remove the sod and, if necessary, dig a hole with a shovel so that the area of ​​sod is level with the surrounding soil.

• Place the sod and water it daily until it takes root.

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