How do I get my dog to stop digging holes in the yard?

Question

I have a springer spaniel, lab mix. I have tried everything to get him to stop digging holes in the backyard. We have no moles, or other outside pest. He digs in different spots, and he digs the holes up as fast as I can fill them in. I am loosing my mind and have a hard time mowing as I or the mower wheels fall into the holes. I almost sprang my ankle in one of them. I have caught him and scolded him, and then he will wait till I am in bed to start his digging again.. I love my dog and don't want to get rid of him, but I don't no how much longer I can take fighting with him and filling in holes. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

hot sauce! get a bottle of tabasco (we did this with our dog) put a little on the dogs nose. then sprinkle some in the holes. the dog wont like the tabasco because its hot, and will stay away from the current holes because they smell like hot sauce. do this every time a hole is dug (although it isnt really nesesary to put it on their nose every time. just in the hole) and eventually they will learn. we did it with our german shepard and havent had a hole in 5 years.

Answer 2

Definitely try the poop thing. Put his feces in EVERY hole he digs. Be 100% consistent for 2 weeks.

If that doesn't work, try laying chicken wire in his favorite digging spots and covering it with a thin layer of dirt.

If that doesn't do the trick, you may need to build him a sand box and train him to only dig in that area. That will require that you only let him in the yard when he is supervised so that you can redirect him to the sand box when he tries to dig in the yard.

GoodLuck!

Answer 3

usually dogs dig because they are bored. try spending more time with him and getting him some toys he can play with instead of digging.

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Answer 4

I like the poop idea thing and will try it with my dog!

He gets lots of attention and has lots of toys but just likes to dig.

Answer 5

My neighbor is a dog trainer (owns a Bark Busters thing) and said to bury his poop in the holes and cover it up.

Answer 6

Most dogs are natural diggers - some breeds more than others. Punishing them for digging is useless and cruel. Without guidance, a bored and lonely dog is going to find something to do - usually something you don't like. They love the smell of freshly turned earth - they don't understand that you treasure those flowers!

Make sure they're getting plenty of exercise and training and play time with a human. Try making an area with a sandbox and encourage them to dig there. Or find another fun thing to distract them. Get a tetherball game and hang the ball at a low enough height that they can grab it. (NOTE: this can sometimes lead to a lot of barking and really piss off your neighbors!) For my terriers, I installed an overhead wire across my yard, attached a pulley and ran a second wire down toward the ground with a fuzzy dog toy at the end of it. They love zipping it back and forth and playing tug-of-war with it. You can also teach them to play flyball - a competitive dog sport where the dog is trained to launch his own ball from a box with a spring inside.

http://www.abtc.org/flyball.htm...

There are many devices they sell at the garden centers for discouraging deer and wild animals - it has a motion detector that turns on your sprinkler and chases them away. Of course, that won't work if your dogs love the sprinkler or if they dig everywhere! This is one of them:

http://www.critterridders.com/scarecrow....

And someone else suggested this to another person with the same problem - get doggie boots! I thought it was BRILLIANT! As long as they don't chew them off...

You could also build a dog run with a concrete floor. Don't leave him loose in the yard unless you're there to supervise him.

Answer 7

Spend time with your dog and train him properly to obey you. This is time consuming, but if you don't have time to do it properly then you don't have time to own a dog. ;) H

Answer 8

If your dog is digging to escape from the yard, try to figure out why he wants to escape. If anxious when left alone, see your veterinarian or a behavior consultant for help in treating possible separation anxiety.

Your dog may be trying to leave the yard to find a mate. In that case, neutering may help. If he is leaving to raid your neighbor’s garbage, buy your neighbor a dog proof garbage receptacle. If you have a benevolent neighbor who is feeding your dog whenever it arrives on the doorstep, ask your neighbor to stop feeding your dog.

Whatever the reason for your dog’s digging, it is essential to ensure a reliable containment system. The addition of an underground electric fence or a fence that extends under the ground for a few feet may help. Leaving your dog in the house when he or she cannot be supervised is another solution.

If your dog is digging to have fun, show him how to have fun in other ways. Provide lots of exercise and play for him. Food toys are a great way to keep a dog busy when you can’t be around. Try feeding him his daily meals from a Busta Cube or Kong Toy.

Consider providing a special area of the yard for your dog to dig and teach him that it is acceptable to dig there but not in the rest of your yard.

Here are some other tips to keep your dog from digging:


Provide fun and tiring exercise for your dog every day. Always keep him busy and mentally stimulated!


Supervise your dog when he is out in the yard. Reprimand if he starts to dig. Get him interested in doing other things instead, like playing with a ball.


Make sure your dog has shade and a place to cool off on hot days (paddling pool).


Have your pet neutered.

Answer 9

Don't: she could dig up buried treasures..........

Answer 10

you could pave it