Can You Dig It?

As the daffodils stretch toward the sunshine and the tulips unfold from the ground, many of us embrace spring with gardening. Gardening is a lot of work. The last thing you want to see after a backbreaking day of planting is your dog digging up your flowers. Rather than yelling at and chasing your dog away from the flower beds, create a digging spot of Fido's very own.

You can make a digging box with wood, an under-the-bed storage container, or a kiddie pool. Place the digging box away from the flower beds. Thoughtful placement helps to prevent accidental over exuberant digging outside of the digging box. Fill the container with loose dirt. Please don't fill it with mulch. We want your dog to distinguish his digging area from mulch. We also don't want your dog chewing on mulch. Bury several toys, plastic bones, bully sticks, and balls. If every paw strike uncovers a treasure, your dog is much more likely to dig in the digging box. Swap out the buried treasures to keep your dog interested.

Have a dog who loves to dig but don't have a backyard? My terrier mix loved the “indoor digging box” I made her. I filled a toy chest with batting (pillow stuffing) and buried her toys inside. (If your dog would eat the batting, this is not a safe alternative.) My dog would battle, shake, and strew the batting all over the condo. This was a great way to burn off some of her energy. And, my pillows remained intact!

Digging is great exercise for your dog's shoulders and it's wonderful mental enrichment. We hope a digging box bridges the peace between you and your dog's desires to dig. Need more enrichment ideas? Contact us at www.BehaviorUnited.com