Dogs dig for many reasons. He may have a lot of stored up energy or not enough exercise. He may be bored or relieving anxiety. Perhaps they smell a gopher or squirrel underground. They dig to try to keep cool by digging down to the damp ground. Maybe they want to escape, either because of raging hormones, or just to explore the world. They may be burying their prized possession (like a bone) for later. As far as dogs are concerned, it is a perfectly natural thing to do. Some dogs like terriers and were bred to dig.

Whatever the reason, sometimes it is not appropriate to dig. Here are some steps to curtail this behavior.

MOST IMPORTANT— Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. About 50% of his interaction with you should be some form of working off excess energy. A minimum of ½ hour walk, chasing the ball, training, playing—whatever it takes to tire him out. Exercise also releases endorphins to relax him so he is not so anxious. When walking, swing your arms naturally. If your dog is not in a heel position then he should be walking freely behind you or beside you. That is a sign of respect. It relaxes the dog.

Running around in the back yard is not enough. Your dog may be bored or frustrated. In their natural environment, dogs are constantly foraging, traveling, migrating, marking their territory, etc. They need some stimulation. After all, you don’t stay in your house all day, or you would go nuts. So do they. If you work off the energy, they will be (1) fulfilled and (2) too tired to dig. A tired dog is a good dog.

Catch him in the act. If you catch your dog digging, distract and redirect. Take him to a separate digging area where he is allowed to dig. Make his sandbox interesting for him to dig. Provide soft dirt. Hide his toys, bones and food treats in the allowed area. Start digging with him, until he gets the idea.

Fill the holes he has already dug with chipped lava rocks. Trim his nails short. (Be careful not to trim to the quick.) When he starts to dig in the lava rocks with short nails, it will become uncomfortable for him.

Do not give him free reign of the yard unless he is supervised. Prevention is the best medicine.