It can be quite annoying to find that your dog is digging in your garden and ruining your flower beds. As a pet owner, you may feel it detrimental to your dog if you don’t allow him to follow his instincts. On the other hand, if you feel that you can’t put up with this any longer, it is time to find out how to stop dogs from digging in your yard.

So that you can compromise on this issue, you need to find a way to keep your dog happy and your garden intact. Breed often comes into play where digging is concerned - some breeds are more prone to this activity than others.

Reasons for digging

Why do dogs dig? There are several reasons why dogs find the need to dig. Here are some of the most common causes:

Not enough exercise - If your dog needs more exercise, he may feel the need to get rid of built-up energy. Try taking your dog out for more brisk, long walks to tire him out.

Separation anxiety - If you are away from home, your dog may become stressed while he is separated from you. He may feel that by digging a hole, he will eventually find you.

Sight of freedom - Some dogs are diggers by nature and it seems that nothing you do stops this apparent need. If your dog escapes no matter what you do, you may have no option but to keep him in a crate or at least indoors when you aren’t at home.

Boredom - When dogs feel bored, they will often find something to keep their minds occupied. Digging passes the time of day quite nicely for them. While you are away, give your dog some chews and toys to play with. Also, exercise him before you go out so that he will sleep for a good part of the day.

Stop dogs from digging in your yard

Here are some tips for those dogs that dig for no apparent reason:

Control your dog’s access to the yard - Supervised access to the yard will give him no opportunity to dig if you are controlling his actions.

Plant more resilient plants - By planting flowers that are hardier or have a natural defence, like roses, you will help keep the damage to a minimum.

Roll up your grass - This more drastic but effective method may take some time and effort on your part, but it will be well worth it. By rolling up your grass an inch or two and placing chicken wire underneath, it will convince your dog that it is useless and he will give up.

Give your dog a place to dig - If you want to accept your dog’s desire to dig, you may want to find an area in your yard for that purpose. Be sure to discipline him in a firm but gentle way if he strays to other areas. If you can’t find a corner for digging, a sandbox will suffice quite well. You may need to spend some time with your dog to be sure he knows that this is his space to dig in.

Finding a technique to stop dogs from digging may take a little time, but if you can work with your dog to find out the reason for this behavior, you will soon find a solution. Sometimes dogs just need to follow their instincts so you will need to work around this to resolve the problem. By compromising, you will keep your pet happy and your garden looking its best.