Digging Holes

The damage from a canine earth mover excavating your yard can be infuriating but your dog, well, he’s having the time of his life. It’s a problem that screams for a solution.

• Forget quick fixes like putting feces in the holes or submerging your dog’s head in a mud pit.

• These methods are dangerous, intimidating, and they don’t work anyway.

Dogs dig to:

• Bury treasure
• Hunt rodents (real or imaginary)
• Burn up unspent energy
• They also do it for temperature regulation.

• Body heat can be trapped against the sides of a winter hole.
• In hot weather digging into the cool moist earth feels better.

Your dog will have less reason to dig this summer if she has:

• A child’s wading pool
• A water mister will also help.

• They’re cheap and easy to install.
• Add a timer that switches on during the hot part of the day.

Your dog will really dig it if you give her a sand box (or dirt box) on the North side of your house where there is no direct sun to bake the earth.

• Break up the dirt and moisten it now and then.
• She’ll take a serious interest if you plant a few rawhides for her-just like an Easter egg hunt.

There will be less digging and other naughty behavior if your dog gets more exercise and has healthy after-school activities.

• “Play time” at a good kennel is a perfect way for the party animal to run hard and sniff rear ends a few times a week.
• Dog parks, while they don’t work for every dog, are a no-cost alternative.