DIGGING

Digging is another common normal behaviour in dogs that can progress into a destructive habit. Dogs will naturally dig to cool themselves in warm weather, to flush out prey while hunting, while nesting, to retrieve bones, or for attention-getting purposes.

Inappropriate digging may be curtailed by increasing play and exercise time with your pet, and giving them a more appropriate release for their energy load. If that is not sufficient to prevent destruction, the dog can be housed in an area with concrete, tiles or a gravel type surface. The dog should be well exercised before entering the kennel area though, with an adequate number of toys or treats in the area. Actually allowing the dog to have a specific digging area may also be helpful to eliminate general digging behaviour.