What does it mean when a dog digs a hole and lies down in it?

Question

My shepherd mix is about 10 years old and is restricted to a gentle leader outdoors. It has been very very hot, and whether it is the heat, her noise phobia (thunder, guns, planes, etc) or something else is bothering her, she doesn't want to take a long walk. She has to be leashed because she has a streak of fear aggression and cannot be relied upon not to run off helter skelter after a squirrel, motor cycle, etc. even though she knows to come when called... and does except when carried away on more important matters... I know that this is my fault, though I will say that she has been difficult to train. She needs a fenced in yard with supervision. I just wondered if there was any special signifigance to the digging in the dirt (she loves to do this for fun and when she is mad) and lying in it. She also loves to just lie down in a grassy place and become immovable/roll and roll. One of her nicknames is Cinnamon Roll. She is definitely slowing down. Please be constructive.

Answer 1

keeping cool in the cool dirt ; instinct; dog whisper, cesar milan, national geographic channel to assist to make puppy happier ; long fur , heat, age and the inability to sweat , I can't blame her; I would want to lie down in the dirt and keep cool myself ; an animal has it right; no pressure, no cares; what is better than lying down and looking at the world and just enjoying life, nature , no stress - we need to follow animal's lead and don't worrry just be happy at the simple pleasures in life

Answer 2

I accept the fact my dog wants to dig a hole in area to cool down and feel safe (like a dog in the wild that digs a den). dog does need to regulate their body heat. After searching and searching, all I could find is articles on "How to stop your dog from digging." Why should we always have to stop our dogs basic instinct. Can t I help my dog out? If she was thirsty, I would not deny her water. So, she has a favorite spot that allows her to see the yard and stay cool. I filled it in a few times, so this is the spot. So, where is the article with instructions on how to build the hole (or line the hole) that will keep a dog cool and continue to use it. Is it marble. Pastry chefs use marble counters that stay cooler than other stone. Do you line gravel of smooth marble? Do I line with brick, or other stone, or concrete? Any proven solutions. I don t want to do something she will hate and not use. . THOUGHTS?

Answer 3

I don't know if this will work but it worked for me. You have take a deep breath and just stay calm even when you feel the frustration comes just take a deep breath again. The dog fights your energy when you get frustrated. But when you open the door , don't walk out, make the dog stay inside the door and when he tries to get out just push him back in. You do this to the dog lays down and give up then you reward him and then you take him out. Do you have a bicycle? it's Amazing how much energy you drain the dog with the that, it's like the dog goes in to a working mode and just run. I know because that how a drain one of my neighbour Bordie Collie ,HIgh High energy dog. Taking the food of the table well, that's hard one. I don't know if he takes it when you are not there or if he does it when you are there. This it what I did, I made the dog stay in one place and waited 5 minutes and gave him a treat for staying and then made the wait time longer. If you push the dog with a flat hand they maybe doesn't feel it but if you use two fingers so the dog feel the touch will help the dog to snap out of it. Make different boundaries around the house, like not come in to the bedroom. My dog is 5 years old and I got him when he was two and o boy how much he used to bite and growl at me, so I showed him I don't put up with that behaviour so I took my hand laid him down on the side and gave him a bite on the side of his neck (NOT hard!) I waited to the growling stopped then I loose my hand and waited to he calm down. Now the stimulation, some dogs just lock them self on the behaviour I mean you can't say any thing because the brain is locked, but what I did, I take piece of cheddar cheese because it smells. And dog react to smells. So when My dog wouldn't listen I would distract him with cheese so he would do what I wanted him to do. It's more but practise small stuff and be patience with him, both of my dogs took almost three month and I did one thing at the time and when they got that I would move on to the next bad behaviour. Good luck:)

Answer 4

Mine does this even when its not hot. She is sensitive to sounds, she was an abused dog who was rescued a few time's for running away. She is ultra social and has abandonment issues but does not get along with other dogs. I just fill up the holes when she's done and give her more baths lol.

Answer 5

I have a shepherd/pit bull mix that i rescued and she digs holes in any soft soil only to lay in them also. Like your dog my has a high prey drive and cant be left off a leash. I have two trainers for my dog and they say that she is hyper active and needs more exercise. She does this because shes bored, and because they dig the dirt in order to get to the cool earth underneath and cool off that way. She lays in her hole when it is hot outside.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

Your dog is basically trying to cool off. Literally and figuratively. Most dogs do the digging thing when they're upset, it's like when we go punch a punching bag to relieve stress. It's also been a very hot summer all over so it wouldn't be surprising to see your dog lying in a ditch to cool off (the further down you dig, the cooler it is, at least in warm weather; during the winter it's the opposite effect)

Answer 7

You have the dog outside in the heat. More than likely she isn't in a covered area. Its just their natural instinct to dig and get to the cooler dirt the cool themselves off.

Answer 8

When the summer heat is on all dogs prefer to sleep on grass or a pit. The earth is much cooler below the surface.

Answer 9

She is probably just hot and is doing it to cool her off or just likes the feel of the dirt on her

Answer 10

Remember that dogs, regulates their body temperature though there stomach that's why she lies on the cool moist ground.