Q: How can I prevent my puppy from digging holes in my garden?
A: Digging isn’t something puppies do to annoy us. Digging is a natural dog behaviour, and some breeds, such as Dachshunds and Terriers, have an ingrained instinct to dig.
So firstly, make sure your dog isn’t in trouble for digging – he is not doing it to spite you, there’s likely a good reason for the behaviour!
Secondly, make sure to provide your puppy with plenty of appropriate activities, such as games with toys, short walks (puppy-length, not too long!), training sessions, treat-dispensing toys and puzzles. If you’re keeping your puppy busy in ways that suit you, he will be less likely to find his own entertainment in the garden.
As mentioned before, digging is a normal behaviour, so it’s a good idea to create a digging area just for your puppy, where he can unleash his need to dig freely.
Dig over a patch of the garden and loosen the soil where you don’t mind your puppy digging. Turning the soil regularly will entice your puppy to this area. Half bury some of his toys in the digging patch, and dig in the area yourself, to encourage your pup to use the area.
Make sure to change the buried toys regularly to prevent boredom and maintain his interest. If you’d prefer to keep your garden intact, you can fill a plastic half-shell with sand and designate this as your puppy’s sandpit. Don’t forget to wash your dog’s toys regularly.
Katherine Brown, behaviourist
