How to Stop Your Dog From Digging Up the Lawn

By eHow Pets Editor

Rate: (33 Ratings)

Digging can be either a characteristic of your dog's breed or evidence of separation anxiety and a desire to escape. Here are a few tips to help prevent your dog from digging as well as preserve your lawn.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Avoid punishing your dog for digging ' this only teaches her not to dig in your presence. She may resume digging when you're not around.
Step2
Take her on walks. Dogs often dig to expend energy, and walking is a less destructive way to accomplish this.
Step3
Put up a fence to keep your dog out of areas ' like your well-manicured lawn ' where you don't want her to dig.
Step4
Confine your dog in a dog run with toys, shade and water.
Step5
Keep your dog's sleeping area shaded in hot weather, and supply a wading pool if it's hot outside. Dogs often dig in search of a cool place to lie down.
Step6
Turn on the sprinklers or spray your dog with a hose each time she starts digging ' this may discourage her from digging if she doesn't like water sprayed on her.

Tips & Warnings

  • Digging is often a result of boredom, so keep your dog occupied with other activities.
  • Give your dog her own place to dig ' a sandbox or dirt area ' and encourage digging in only that spot by hiding treats for her to find. This allows your dog to enjoy the natural behavior of digging without ruining your yard.

Comments

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MissQ15 said

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on 7/15/2008 i have a dog pool,and her cage is in the shaded patio..i am starting to walk her..i hope it works..

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on 7/11/2008 Although putting dog feces in spots where the dog digs does help I have a huge yard and they just go somewhere else. How can I stop it altogether?

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 9/25/2006 I tried different spices, but nothing seemed to work. I placed my dog's most recent excrement in the holes he dug and he stopped digging immediately. I also bought two large rawhide chew bones. One is kept outside and the other indoors. This way he doesn't bring his dirty bone inside on the carpet. My dog loves it and he has something to keep him busy while I'm at work.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/24/2006 Sprinkle Cayenne pepper in the spots where your dogs likes to dig. Then when he/she tries to dig/sniff it gets a big nose full of it, very discouraging!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 The only thing I found that works is putting some of my clippings from thorn bushes in the holes and he does not want to get pricked by the thorns.

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eHow Article:  How to Stop Your Dog From Digging Up the Lawn

eHow Pets Editor

eHow Pets Editor

Category: Pets

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