Setting up a legal Dog digging zone

If your dog is a natural born digger, you can substitute the wrong conduct with a more acceptable one. Why not try making a safe and consented area for him to dig in. A digging area can be the size you want it to be but generally a size four feet by four feet is a good guide for smaller dogs and twice that size for larger dogs. You can build a box using wood and turn it into a sandbox. Or you can use the existing dirt in the garden. Dig out an area of that dirt and on the bottom put a layer of stones if you live in an area that rains a lot so that this does not turn into a mud puddle, then cover this hole with sand. Now that you know how to do this, you can proceed with making it even more fun for your dog and hide treats and snacks in his sandbox. Try buryingtoys, balls, treats, and anything you know your dog enjoys. If your dog is a natural digger you can even make this game more challenging for him like burying some treats in tricky places. Change these toys and treats weekly so that he doesn't get bored. Following are some ideas on things to bury:

• Dog cookies (hard ones)
• Kong toy filled with treats
• Marrow bones (uncooked ones)
• Bones, chips, rawhide sticks
• A snack inside a paper bag
• A small cardboard box filled with snacks
• A toy you know he loves such as a ball etc

Make sure that you hide things that are safe for him. Observe him while he is digging these things out to make sure that he does not eat the paper bag or cardboard box. Remember that correcting a digging problem is an ongoing process. The only way to stop a dog that digs is to not allow him to dig in the wrong places. Your job to reducing this problem is to observe him constantly and think about building him a digging area. A dog that loves digging will enjoy digging in a permitted area. As you may have noticed there are no suggestions on punishment, this is because too much digging is usually an indication of a bigger problem. Dogs dig to release energy, or because they are bored or frustrated. Instead of demanding or punishing your dog, try making up for whatever he is lacking. Be sure to get your dog plenty of stimulating toys or take him to a dog day care center so he can have entertaining classes on doing tricks, jumping etc. Doing this will ensure less holes in your garden. Reclaiming a runaway