Build Your Dog A Digging Pit.
Digging is something all dogs love to do. It’s a natural behaviour, but it can sometimes be at odds with our love of gardens. In this Holidays4Dogs article, we provide some hints and tips on how to build a digging pit for your dog.
Many dog owners love their dogs but also enjoy having a lovely garden. Sometimes, it can be hard to keep a nice garden when you have dogs because many like to dig!
It can be a difficult balancing act, but it’s not impossible to have a beautiful garden and a dog.
You can read more about how to maintain a dog-friendly garden, in one of our other Holidays4Dogs articles.
Why do dogs love to dig?
We all know dogs just love to dig, especially terrier and hound types – bred to dig out quarry from underground burrows.
Lots of dogs have an innate desire to dig holes to make a den, as dogs would do in the wild. Some dogs may dig as a means of escaping, while others may dig due to stress, or frustration. It is also common for some dogs to dig holes to bury food, or other items.
Digging, however, can also be good fun for dogs. It’s a great boredom buster and stress reliever, which means some dogs can become hardened diggers, depending on their breed and lifestyle.
Should you try to stop your dog from digging?
Stopping the behaviour altogether may be a little unfair on a dog that has so much fun digging. After all, digging is a natural behaviour. If you think your dog is digging because he is bored, a dig pit will help.
However, this may not be enough for some dogs and you may have to consider other changes to their lifestyle. Your dog may benefit from additional exercise or, enriching activities.
Build your dog a digging pit.
A secluded digging spot?
What can you do if your garden is beginning to resemble the surface of the moon? Well, you could build a digging pit and your dog is bound to love it.
Rather than attempting to stop your dog from digging at all, the best solution is to provide your dog with a special area for digging.
While you might think this will encourage your dog to dig up your prize begonias all the more – this won’t necessarily be the case, if you reward your dog for digging only in their spot.
First, choose a good place where you are happy for your dog to dig. Behind a shrubbery, for example, would create a natural environment. You could also use trellis, or other screening material, to section off the dig pit from the garden if desired.
Using railway sleepers, or some other similar material, is a good way to contain soil or sand. Children’s play sand is better, as it’s less gritty.
Another idea is to use a children’s sandpit or rigid paddling pool. If you bury the play-pit into the ground, you could even build a ‘patio’ around the edge of the pit. By doing this, you can easily sweep the digging material back into the pit.
Encouraging your dog to use his own dig pit.
Once you’ve got the dig pit ready it’s time to encourage your dog to use it. Find some toys, or large treats and put them just below the surface. Place them, so the toy, or treat is just visible.
Encourage your dog to retrieve the toys, before hiding them deeper into the pit. Your dog will soon realise he has to try a little harder to find his prize. He will soon understand what the digging game is.
Because your dog will be rewarded for digging up buried treasure, he is far less likely to dig anywhere else.
Keep replacing the ‘treasure’ regularly. Your dog will benefit from the enrichment that digging provides and your garden will no longer need to look like Swiss cheese!
