If the dog digs the ground

If your dog is gradually transforming your garden at the cottage into the surface of the moon with craters, do not lose heart, as this behavior is consistent with their natural instincts.

The first thing you should do is try to determine the cause of this behavior. Dogs can dig into the ground, obeying a predatory instinct or trying to bury a bone or toy. This instinctive behavior aims to hide food from predators.

Digging up the ground can be part of the maternal instinct, especially if the dog is pregnant. Also, the dog can dig a hole if it is hot outside - this is how it arranges a cool place to rest. If your dog is digging under a fence or near a gate, it may be just trying to get out of the garden. Some dogs dig out for boredom or just for fun. Other dogs may have a genetic predisposition to this activity. For example, terriers are famous "diggers".

What can you do?

Once you've figured out why your dog is digging up the ground, solving the problem becomes easier. All you need is a little patience. If your dog is hunting wildlife, you need to find a way to isolate your dog from them, for example, construct a kind of fence or some kind of obstacle so that your dog cannot see other animals - after all, if he does not see them, then has no desire to catch up and catch them.

If the wildlife is on this side of the fence, you can only hope that the dog won't have the quickness to catch anyone - squirrels and birds are usually much more agile than the average dog.

Mice and rats usually disappear from sight rather quickly too. Be careful when using rodent poison as it can harm your dog too.

Waste of energy

If your dog is simply trying to waste excess energy, you should give him more intense physical activity. Walk more often or longer, schedule "sessions" of games in which your pet would have to catch up and bring toys - then he will be more tired.

Never punish your dog for digging a hole unless you catch it doing it. Even if you lead the dog to the hole he dug, he cannot connect the punishment with what he did.