Training Tip: If your Dog Digs Try this Approach to Changing his Behavior

Some dogs just love to dig.  For them, it is an activity as natural as eating and breathing!

But no matter how natural the behavior, we humans may find digging annoying and even destructive -- especially if it's in the middle of the front lawn or our favorite flower bed.

Scott Holloway, professional dog trainer and behaviorist for Best Friends in Spring Texas, says that dogs dig for different reasons.  The three most common are:

• The gardener. This dog digs up plants to eat or play with.  Dogs that were bred to hunt for rats and other vermin (such as Dachshunds and a number of Terriers) often fall into this category.
• The nester. Usually this dog just wants a cool surface to lie down in.  If you notice craters all over your yard, you may own a nester.
• The fencer. This fellow is often just a curiosity seeker.  He digs holes along the fence line to see if the grass is really greener on the other side. 

While no protocol works for every digger, Hollway believes nothing beats personal attention when it comes to changing behavior. He recommends trying the following approach:

Stage I: Direct Supervision
Release the dog into the yard ONLY for bathroom activities… no play time.  Supervise the dog the whole time, then remove him from the yard. After day 5, give him a little more yard time, but stay there to watch. Any sign of digging and you return to bathroom-only time.  However, with appropriate behavior, you can accelerate the program to regain the level you reached before the setback.

Stage II: Hidden Supervision
When your dog reaches about ten minutes outdoors without digging -- with you present -- try leaving the dog in the yard alone. Find a vantage point with a clear view so you can monitor him. (Scott likes to stand by a window with a view of the yard where he can have a cup of coffee while observing.) 

Once you are confident in your dog's ability to be in the yard without digging, you can extend his or her time enjoying nature in the yard.  If the dogs starts to dig, however, go back to stage one. This time, you can progress at a faster rate (as long as your dog is following the rules).

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