| by: O'Neal Hendrix
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| | TO FILL OR NOT TO FILL ..... EXISTING
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| It's downright infuriating to look out
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| | HOLES
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| the window and see Buddy digging another
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| | The second part of the story is.....
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| hole in the yard. You yell out the
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| | What to do with the holes that keep
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| window; he may or may not even
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| | reappearing, no matter what you do? Have
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| acknowledge he's heard anything; then
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| | you back-filled holes dug by your dog
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| back to the digging. This dog behavior
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| | only to find them dug again, over and
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| has got to stop.
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| | over?
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| WHY DOGS DIG.....
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| | When this happens, the next stage of
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| Did you ever stop to think WHY Buddy
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| | hole-filling is called for.
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| digs? (except to make you mad!). This is
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| | You might think this next step it
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| the real trick - to figure out why he's
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| | involves yelling at your dog, or rapping
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| digging in the first place, the
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| | on the window. Nope. Are you really
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| motivation behind the dog behavior. Then
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| | going to stand and stare out the window
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| you can take dog training steps to
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| | hoping to correct the situation while
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| discourage it, redirect that energy and
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| | it's happening (which would be the only
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| possibly stop it completely.
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| | way to really correct it using this
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| 1. I'M BORED!
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| | method)?
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| Location: Digging along the fence lines
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| | TECHNIQUES FOR "FILLING" HOLES
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| and at the gate.
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| | There are two better techniques to
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| Why? He is bored and wants to get out
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| | encourage your dog to rethink digging
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| for some action.
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| | that hole.
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| Solution: Provide more exercise for your
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| | The easier of the two is to fill the hole
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| dog, both physical and mental. The more
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| | until almost full. Mix the last portion
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| exercise the better, according to your
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| | of dirt with dog poo, pinecones, moth
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| dog. A tired, happy dog will rest nicely
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| | balls, or other repelling non-harmful
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| between great outings.
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| | substance. The next time your dog
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| 2. I'M HOT!!
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| | arrives for the big dig, he quickly finds
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| Location: Digging along the edge of the
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| | the game has changed. Most dogs quickly
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| house or shallow "pits," especially in
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| | change their behavior.
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| the heat of the summer.
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| | The second method is more time consuming
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| Why? Your dog is most likely creating a
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| | but effective. Cut a section of chicken
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| cool spot in the cool under-earth. If
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| | wire or similar to cover the hole plus 8
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| under the porch, he's creating a den.
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| | inches or more. Dig a hole a few inches
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| Solution: Check to make sure you are
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| | deep that surrounds the hole and will fit
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| providing fresh cool water throughout the
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| | the wire shape.
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| day and night.
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| | Fill the hole and then press wire in
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| Is there adequate shade to protect your
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| | place and cover with dirt. Pack the area
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| dog from the hot sun? Is good air
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| | well, particularly around the wire edges.
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| circulation available or possibly a nice
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| | When your dog returns, the wire will
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| breeze? Or is the space filled with
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| | stop his digging progress.
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| stagnant air?
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| | If along a fence line, secure the wire to
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| Provide plant life (trees, bushes) for
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| | the fence along the inside of the fence,
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| shelter from the hot sun. Cool grass
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| | just a short distance from the ground.
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| keeps the ground heat down.
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| | When the wire gets to the ground, keep
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| 3. IT'S JUST MY NATURE!
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| | going vertically a short distance
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| Sometimes it's the breed of dog, not so
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| | underground. Then bend the wire so the
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| much the environment. Some breeds tend to
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| | bottom is perpendicular to the top (forms
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| be burrowers -- hounds, huskies,
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| | an L). Bury the horizontal part
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| malamutes are a few examples.
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| | underground inside the fence, pointing
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| Solution: If this is the case, work with
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| | away from the fence. When your dog digs
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| your dog to agree on a place he can do
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| | he is stopped by the wire and his weight
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| his thing and camouflage it with
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| | on the earth helps keep the wire in
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| something like plants or fencing.
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| | place. The result is the dog gives up on
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| 4. I LIKE IT!!
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| | that area.
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| Some dogs just like to dig, and dig they
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| | Pretty cool, huh?!
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| will, no matter how much you yell and
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| | CONCLUSION
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| scream.
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| | We humans see digging as bad dog
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| Solution: Create and help them with the
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| | behavior. Dogs don't, and they dig for
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| ideal digging place -- a sandy blend with
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| | different reasons. If you can figure out
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| hidden treasures that reward digging at
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| | why they're digging, you can put dog
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| that spot. Having a prepared area
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| | training steps in place to stop it. Some
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| encourages the digger to focus the
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| | dogs dig, that's what they do. Set them
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| digging to the area you set up in an
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| | up a space to dig and you both win!
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| out-of-the-way place. Remember to keep
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| | Try these dog training techniques to
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| the area stocked with assorted treats and
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| | change unwanted dog behavior. They
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| toys.
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| | seriously work.
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