Dog Diggers - Digging Dogs

Dog diggers: One of the obsessive behaviors that a lot of dog owners have experienced is their dog digging where they shouldn't. A lot of breeds, and specifically terriers, dig by instinct while there are other breeds such as the Nordic ones like husky's, that dig to get out of the hot sun. Make sure you always provide your dog with a shady, cool place, especially if he is sensitive to the heat. There are some dogs that seem to dig out of pure entertainment. If you have a natural digger, try to keep him in a concrete area and give him a spot that he is allowed to dig in.This can be done by training the dog; the first step to doing this is to hide a bone in a specific corner or area and invite the dog to dig it out. Continue doing this, and make sure to always hide something different and to bury something the dog likes eating or chewing on, like a special treat. There are times in which a dog digs in a compulsive way inside the house or garden due to anguish or anxiety, causing the dog to dig to escape or get out of the place they are in because of fear. If your dog is acting this way, you will need to get professional help for him.

Questions and answers
Q: We live in a horse ranch and my dog has gotten into the nasty habit of eating horse manure. What can we do to stop this?
A: You could use a long leash on the dog when taking him out around the area the horses are. Take a loud sounding object hidden in your pocket and as soon as the dog starts smelling the excrement, bang it or make it sound to scare him. Usually when the dog hears a loud noise, he will go running back to you in order to feel protected. Make sure though that you only make the loud noise at the moment the dog smells the manure so he can relate the manure with the loud noise and not with you. Don't let the dog find out the noise is being caused by you. You will probably have to do this many times before your dog losses his interest completely in horse manure.