How to Stop a Dog from Digging Holes

Regardless of why your dog is digging, you will probably want to stop it from happening or at least get your dog to dig somewhere other than under your rose bushes. Before you stop a dog from digging, it is important that you do a number of things to deter digging in your yard.

Tip Number One: Make your garden unappealing to your dog
The first thing that you should do is make your garden unappealing to your dog by spreading a smell in it that is offensive to them. Some great sprays that you can use are pepper sprays and citrus sprays.

If you don’t want to use a scent, place chicken wire just below the surface of your garden. This will not only stop a dog from digging holes, but also any neighborhood wildlife, since the chicken wire won’t feel nice on their paws.

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Tip Number Two: Secure your Yard
If your dog is digging to escape your yard, it is time to fortify it. This will take a bit of work but if you bury chicken wire about 18 inches into the ground below your fence, it will keep your dog inside and will also deter him from digging for the same reason as it does in the garden.

Tip Number Three: Fill the holes in your yard
Before you begin any training, it is important to fill up any holes that are already in your yard. To do this, combine your dog’s excrement with soil and use that to fill the hole. While this may seem a little unsanitary, it will deter your dog from digging in the same spot since he won’t want to dig in his own feces.

Tip Number Four: Exercise your Dog
As with boredom, high energy levels can be a big reason for your dog’s digging so it is important to give your dog the exercise he needs. In addition, if you make the backyard all about fun and games with you, he may not feel the desire to dig when he gets out there.

Tip Number Five: Create a Treasure Space for your Dog
Lastly, create a space in your yard for your dog to dig. This will be his digging space and it can be very easy to train a dog to dig on command or dig when in one space. Make sure you fill it with nice soil and you make it an enjoyable digging space. This will of course not stop a dog from digging but rather redirect his hobby to a more manageable behavior.

To train your dog to dig on command, it is good to have a digging spot for your dog and to make sure that the digging spot is different in smell and texture than other parts of your yard.

Start by bringing your dog to the digging area and then have him watch you bury a treat for him. Point to the spot where the treat is and say “Dig”. If he is really interested in the treat, he will begin to dig. When he does, praise him for doing such a good job.

Repeat with another treat and encourage him to dig by digging yourself. Your dog will think this is a wonderful new game and will be happy to join in.

Eventually, he will get the idea that he is allowed to dig and that “Dig” is the command to do that. Now it is the time to step up your training and add one more part.

During this time, you should never leave your dog in the yard unattended until he understands where digging is allowed.

When you catch him digging anywhere but his spot, clap your hands loudly to startle him enough to break the behavior, and then say, “No!”

Next, take him to the spot where he is allowed to dig and say, “Dig.”

If he begins to dig, give him praise for doing it. Make sure that he receives a correction for digging anywhere else but his special sand pile and that he receives nothing but praise when digging in the right spot.

Lastly, if you really want to encourage digging in one spot, play lots of dig and find games with your dog and he will begin to get the idea.

I hope you see that it doesn’t have to be hard to stop a dog from digging, you just have to be consistent and engaged when training your dog.

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