The Dog Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [11]
A Many dogs love to dig in soft dirt or sand. I’m sure you’ve noticed how much Greta seems to be enjoying herself when she digs. In the wild, wolves and other canids dig to create dens for their pups or to hide food. The instinct to dig remains strong in many domestic dogs who bury their bones or toys and scratch out cool places to rest during the summertime heat. Some dogs dig to burn off energy and relieve boredom. Unfortunately, digging, while not harmful to the dog, is destructive behavior that leaves owners frustrated and dogs in big trouble.
Before you can fix Greta’s digging problem, you need to understand her motivation for digging. Does she spend a lot of time alone in your backyard? Do you take the time to play with her? Is she exercised regularly? Both German shepherds and Labrador retrievers are high-energy breeds who need fun and mentally stimulating activities to help wear them out. If you don’t provide something for a dog like Greta to do, she will make her own fun, most likely in a way you don’t appreciate. This is probably why she has taken up digging.
Digging can be a difficult habit to break, because dogs find it so enjoyable. The key to fixing this problem is to give Greta less destructive ways to burn off her energy while also discouraging her from tearing up the yard.
Start by protecting your garden. One method is to put large rocks on top of the areas where Greta likes to dig. Fill in the holes that Greta has dug, and place rocks on top of these spots. Dogs usually prefer soft dirt to carry out their excavations, so for larger areas, try spreading chicken wire out and staking it down while she learns to redirect her energy. Sprinkling or spraying the area with red pepper flakes, citronella or pennyroyal oil, or a commercial dog repellent will make the area less attractive. Trimming her nails may not curb the digging tendency, but could lessen the damage, so give her regular pedicures.
If Greta isn’t already trained, enroll her in an obedience class. Most dogs need a job to do to occupy their minds, and both German shepherds and Labs have a strong work ethic as well as abundant energy. Teaching Greta obedience will give you control over her and give her something to think about besides digging, as well as building a closer relationship with you. If you have time, consider getting involved in a fun competitive canine activity like agility or fly ball. Greta would no doubt love to get involved in one of these high-energy sports. (See page 200 for more on canine sports.)
It is very important that you properly channel Greta’s excess energy. If you need to leave her outside in the yard while you are away at work, take her for a long walk or play a vigorous game of fetch with her in the morning to tire her out. Provide her with alternatives to digging, such as a big rawhide bone or a hollow, hard rubber toy stuffed with treats, to occupy her time. Because she is a high-energy dog, she may need a diversion in the middle of the day to distract her from digging. Hire a professional pet sitter or dog walker, or ask a neighbor to come and play ball with Greta or take her on a long walk. Relieving her boredom and wearing her out physically will go a long way toward discouraging her digging instincts.
In addition to the above, you might compromise a bit and give Greta her own turf to tear up. Try taking a plastic kiddy pool (available at major discount chain stores for less than $10), filling it with dirt, and hiding a few dog biscuits for Greta to sniff out and discover through digging. If you catch her digging on your turf, clap your hands or do something to startle her so that she will stop digging and look at you. Then direct her to where she is allowed to dig. If you praise her for digging appropriately in her own patch of real estate filled with goodies, she will be more likely to ignore