WHAT Motivates Canine Digging Behaviour?

Sometimes it seems like our dogs were born to fulfill certain roles. Such as running around in the dirt, playing fetch, and chasing their tails. Although it’s cute to watch a cartoon dog dig a trench and bury a bone, when our actual Rovers do it, it ruins the landscape. Canine excavating behavior raises the question: why do canines enjoy the activity so much?

Indulge Your Dog with the Delicious Food They Deserve from blog-ctablog-cta!
Find Out More

Whether your puppy has always enjoyed getting his or her paws filthy, or your adult dog has developed a sudden interest in digging, there are a few possible explanations for why dogs dig. Let’s “dig in” and explore why our canine companions enjoy getting their paws muddy.

WHY DO DOGS DIG?

Dogs dig for several reasons, including entertainment and even hunting. If you want to stop your dog from digging, you need to figure out why he does it in the first place. As a result, you may work to give them something better to do with their time (and hopefully prevent them from leaving your garden looking like a Swiss cheese)!

You can rest assured that your dog isn’t intentionally being mischievous by digging up your prized flowerbed. Digging is an instinctual canine behavior, and there are several potential causes.

The question then becomes, why do dogs dig, and which of these would account for your dog’s digging behavior?

IT’S ENJOYABLE AND INSTINCTIVE

Dogs dig because it’s a natural and enjoyable activity for them. Whether or not your dog has ever dug up the garden, you’ve probably seen them “dig” at the carpet or their bed.

Our furry buddies engage in this behavior naturally because it helps them expend excess energy and because they quickly learn that it is fun.

THEY’RE BORED

In addition to being a pleasurable activity, digging can be a boredom reliever for some canine companions. If your dog isn’t getting enough mental or physical stimulation, or if you leave them alone for too long without anything to do, they may begin digging or exhibiting other destructive behaviors.

Your dog may be digging because he or she is bored or because you want to play with him or her instead.

IT’S A WAY TO BURY TREASURE

Dogs digging holes to hide bones may seem like a stereotypical or humorous behavior, but it is actually rather common among dogs. Our furry friends have a natural inclination to bury their treasures, whether it is a cherished toy or some tasty morsels they don’t want others to enjoy.

Dogs often try to hide their food and toys underground so that no one else can get to them.

THEY’RE TRYING TO FIND A COOL SPOT

Most people are aware that lying on the floor is a fantastic method to cool off on a warm summer night. After all, the temperature of the air causes the hot air to rise. When it’s extremely hot outside, a dog may try to cool down by digging a hole, as the temperature drops significantly just a few feet underground. Furthermore, all that dirt that is tucked away underground and out of the sun will feel as soft as a pillow.

How come my dog keeps digging holes?

What is causing my dog to dig holes?
When it gets hot in the summer, arctic dog breeds like Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes have a natural inclination to dig themselves a cool place to rest.

THEY’RE MAKING A DEN

Some dogs may dig to form a den for sitting and resting in, while others may be digging to create a cooler location to lie down. Pregnant female dogs have an intense desire to create a secure den in which to give birth, therefore they naturally have a high denning impulse.

Even so, some canines have what’s called a “denting impulse,” and they find great solace in their own private space. To alleviate your dog’s anxiety, you can consider purchasing a bed with a cover they can burrow under.

As an additional option, dog crates make excellent dens. You can convert it into the ideal den for your dog by placing their bed, some blankets, and their favorite toys inside. In order to create extra darkness and shade indoors, you might drape a blanket over the side. Dogs often feel most at ease while confined to their crates at night.

THEY ARE SEARCHING

Most dogs will periodically dig into the ground in pursuit of creatures they have noticed hiding nearby because of their intrinsic drive to hunt.

Since several terrier breeds—such as the Border Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier—were created particularly to hunt underground, it makes sense that they would start digging as soon as they spotted something. Despite their charming exteriors, Dachshunds were originally bred to be brave badger hunters who would burrow underground to capture their prey and use their enormous paddle-like paws to build a path to their adversary.

IT’S A DISPLACEMENT BEHAVIOUR

To release some of their pent-up stress and anxiety, many dogs dig.

Many dogs may dig, or at least dig at their bedding, in an effort to create a secure den, as digging is an innate denning behavior. It provides them something to do, and they can divert their attention from whatever is making them anxious to the task at hand (in this case, digging).

Dogs who are really excited or agitated may dig to release some of their energy.

THE GREAT ESCAPE

If you’ve ever asked, “Why is my dog digging under the fence?” your dog likely likes to dig. The most obvious and concerning answer is undoubtedly the previous. It’s an attempt to get away!

That doesn’t imply Fido doesn’t care about you or that he’s looking for an escape, though. To put it simply, something enticing lies beyond the boundary.

It is especially true with male dogs that have not been neutered because they have a strong need to wander. Your dog may be trying to dig under the fence so he may go see the beautiful female dog he smells in heat down the street. Female dogs, especially those who are estrous and hence actively seeking a mate, are prone to trying to break free.

Dogs suffering from separation anxiety, on the other hand, are prone to trying to escape by digging beneath fences.

Last but not least, dogs with strong hunting instincts may be tunneling beneath the fence in an effort to reach the animals on the other side. Maybe there’s already a hole under there where foxes are crawling underground, or your neighbour keeps hens in their garden which your dog can hear and smell.

Regardless of why your dog is digging under the fence, it’s obviously incredibly dangerous for your pet if they do manage to escape. A canine behaviorist can help you figure out how to stop the behavior, but in the meanwhile, plastic chicken wire laid on the ground near the fence can deter your dog from digging.

HOW TO STOP A DOG FROM DIGGING YOUR GARDEN

You can try to discourage the behavior or provide a safe alternative for your dog once you discover why he or she is digging up your garden.

A common question is why dogs dig.

That’s a good question: why do canines dig?
Putting stones or plastic chicken wire on the ground can help dissuade your dog from digging, as can restricting your dog’s access to the garden or keeping them on a leash while they’re there.

However, this won’t solve the underlying issue, therefore training to divert their attention away from digging and teach them a more desirable alternative behavior is still recommended.

CAN I LET MY DOG DIGG?

Since digging is a natural canine behavior, providing your dog with a safe place to dig and the opportunity to learn to limit their digging to that area will benefit both of you.

Unfortunately, many of us either don’t have gardens at all or don’t have gardens large enough to give the dog their own sandpit.

As long as your dog has enough exercise and cerebral stimulation in his or her regular life, he or she won’t miss digging at all. In addition, you can provide them snuffle boxes to forage for food, crates to den in, or a large blanket to dig about in to be comfortable if you want to help them channel some of their digging inclinations in a healthy direction.

Don’t scold or penalize your dog if he or she digs in your garden. Even if you manage to dig yourself out of the hole, scolding them won’t solve the underlying problem.

Propetspassion.com 2023