Does your backyard look like a tunnel work in progress? Or does your garden eternally looks like an after-party scene that’s demolished by gophers? Well, you’re not alone. In order to understand how to stop a dog from digging, it’s imperative to identify the root cause of the behavior.
Digging comes as naturally to a lot of dogs as playing comes to most kids. In some cases, it’s instinct-driven, in some cases it’s play driven and in a lot of cases, dogs dig just to relieve boredom. Whatever the reason be, digging behavior needs to be tackled if it happens in unwanted places.
6 ways to curb digging behaviour in dogs
1. Avoid leaving your dog alone in the digging area –
As straightforward as this solution is, it’s also the least resorted to. Under zero supervision, your dog WILL get into trouble and make a mess. If not leaving your dog alone is not an option, barricade the digging area in some way or the other so that it’s unreachable to your dog.
Controlling and managing the environment to the best if our ability is the first step in curbing any bad behaviour.
2. Redirect the behaviour –
Digging is usually either the result of a bored mind or a breed instinct. In either case, it’s important to give the dog something else to do instead of digging. Catch the behaviour instantly and redirect it to something else that’s equally fulfilling and enjoyable for the dog to do.
3. Fulfill the instinct –
Breeds like Beagles, Jack Russell Terriers and Dachshunds were bred to be hunting dogs and hence are experts at digging. In these breeds, digging is often a hardwired behavior, thus can be difficult to break. However, playing games that can feed this instinct in these dogs can go a long way in controlling the behaviour. Digging goes hand in hand with sniffing. Games that encourage sniffing like Hide and seek with objects, Find the scent, cups game etc would be the most advisable to begin with. 
4. Change the activity association around the digging area –
Over a period of time if a dog is habituated to digging in a particular spot like the backyard, the dog starts associating that area with just one particular activity – digging. Closely monitor your dog’s behavior in that area for the next few weeks and control the games your dog plays in that area. For eg – if your dog has a tendency to dig in planters and pots, play mental stimulation games around that area and take him out of that spot once the game ends .
5. Introduce a digging zone –
If your dog truly enjoys digging, it would be unfair to put a full stop to the activity. While you curb the activity in and around the house, try introducing a digging zone to your dog and let him go wild there! Make sure the digging zone doesn’t have the same surface as the one he’s currently digging in. eg – if he’s been digging in a grass patch, don’t introduce the park as a digging zone. The sand box or the beach would be a good option. 
6. Go crazy on mental stimulation activities –
Mentally stimulating your dog would keep boredom and frustration at bay, which are usually the top 2 reasons for digging behavior. Mental stimulation games not only teach your dog useful skills and puts his nose to good use, but also enhances the quality of your interaction with your pooch, thereby bettering the relationship you share with him.
7. Watch out for nervous behavior –
At times, digging can be a sign of nervous behavior in dogs. If your dog ends up digging only in a particular situation or after a specific event, it’s usually a sign of stress. Eg – One of the dogs that I’m working with starts digging when another dog is about to approach him. Incidentally, that’s the only time he digs. In this case, the digging behavior is more of a calming signal than a frustrated behavior. 