Does your dog love to dig and is destroying your yard? This situation can be completely desperate, but a canine behavior expert has shared the solution. Check it out!
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Gareth Dickinson, a trainer at Forever Home Dog Training, shared that your dog may dig for various reasons, including exploring its environment, genetics, relieving frustrations, or simply because they enjoy the sensation.
“To overcome a dog’s digging, there need to be appropriate outlets for the dog to participate,” he told PetsRadar, adding that mental stimulation is a surefire way to keep your dog from getting bored and deciding to dig.
In addition to walking, Gareth also recommended trying enrichment activities like lick mats and puzzle games, which are great for mental stimulation.
“If your dog is focusing on a specific area to dig, you might consider blocking it off and redirecting the dog to another activity to reduce the fixation,” the expert commented.
If you’ve considered scolding your dog as a form of punishment for the digging behavior, you should reconsider. According to Gareth, you should never use harsh or aversive training methods, but instead use positive reinforcement for dogs.
“Harsh or aversive methods can increase a dog’s desire to continue that behavior, as we are drawing attention to it. We don’t want to instill fear in the dog, which can lead to redirected frustration,” he emphasized.
Instead of disciplining your dog in a punitive way, you should redirect their energy with a high-value, rewarding item or activity, Gareth advised.
This content was created with the help of AI.
