How to Stop Your Dog from Digging for Good

Written by A-Z Animals Staff
Updated: October 15, 2022
Share on:

Advertisement


Digging is a common activity among dogs. You may notice your furry companion digging in the yard, clawing on the sheets, and rummaging through the trash cans. Digging is an instinctual behavior. Dogs do it for comfort and shelter. They also do it to look for food and water.

Since your dog does not need to dig for survival, how do you stop your dog from digging? Let’s look into these questions to stop this habit, especially if your dog is digging inside your home.

What Can You Do to Prevent Your Dog from Digging?

It can be difficult to stop your dog from doing everything canine. Digging can be a challenge to stop. But if you become successful, you can maintain a garden and even a manicured lawn. Below are some effective ways to stop your dog from digging:

Find Out Why Your Dog Digs

There are many reasons for a dog to dig. This habit can be destructive, especially if your dog does it inside your home. Observing your dog is the first step to stopping the digging habit.

Maintaining temperature may be a reason for this habit. It may be too cold or too hot. If your dog stays in the yard most of the day, digging a hole in the ground under a shade can be a cooling rest spot. The hole can warm them up as well if it gets too cold. This can translate to digging into beddings and furniture inside the home.

Boredom can also be a strong reason for digging. Some pet owners leave their dogs alone in the yard or in the house without tiring them out on a walk. The dog may be tired of the old toys in the toy box. Looking for something exciting is only natural. Digging is a physical and mental activity for dogs. It can entertain your dog, especially when there is no one to play with.

Frustration and anxiety are also reasons for digging. A hole can be a good place to hide when your dog has a sudden scare. Loud noises in or around your home can trigger anxiety. Fireworks, machinery, wind, or thunder can cause your dog to dig for protection.

Survival is also a reason for digging. If you adopted a dog that survived on its own for years by digging for food and hiding food, this can be a tough habit to break. Your dog may take some of his food, go to the yard, dig a hole, and hide it for later. Digging could take time to stop if this is the reason for your dog’s digging.

Overall Best
Zippity Outdoor Products No Dig Baskenridge Semi-Permanent Vinyl Fence
  • Semi-permanent fence
  • Made of white vinyl
  • Easily cleaned with garden hose
  • Three feet high
Check Amazon

Catch Your Dog Digging

Scolding can be effective if you catch your dog in the act of digging. Your dog will associate the reprimand with the digging. This will let your dog know that the digging is not acceptable. Any scolding words should be reserved for anything that your dog does wrong. However, scolding is only effective if done in the moment. Reprimanding your dog for digging after the fact will just confuse them and add to their anxiety.

Can You Train Your Dog to Stop Digging for Food?

Yes, you can. It takes patience, consistency, and strategy to make this possible. Telling and showing your dog that digging for food in the yard and trash can is bad should be regular. Blow a loud horn when your dog approaches or pushes the trash bin. Claim the trash can by using your body to block your dog from getting to it.

Clapping once or shaking a can of coins whenever your dog goes near the trash can or his digging spot in the yard. This will startle your dog. It can then stop your dog and make him turn around.

You can also place an alarm on the trash can. The alarm can be a touch-sensitive gadget or a string attached to the trash can lid and a stack of empty cans. Your dog will get the message once the alarm goes off.

Diverting your dog’s attention to more positive activities can move his attention away from the dirt or the trash can. This is possible by placing treats in random areas of your home. Choose treats with strong smells. Cheese, boiled bacon, and milk bones are ideal in this doggie snack rescue mission. Giving your dog a treat-filled toy can keep him busy as well.

Will Organizing the Yard and Kitchen Work?

Removing your dog’s easy access to the yard or trash cans can help stop the digging. Creating barriers to the yard or lawn can prevent your dog from digging. There could still be treats buried in your yard and your dog can easily dig them out again.

Placing a gated deck or porch can stop your dog from going to the yard and digging everywhere. You can also change your regular trash can with one that has a tight lid. You should also find a trash can that can fit in a secure area like the utility closet or underneath the sink. Childproofing the door to the utility closet or sink cabinet is an additional precaution.

The smell of food can push a dog to dig or rummage through the trash can. Being strategic with your trash can’s location can stop your dog from digging for food inside the house. Dogs have about 300 million olfactory receptors. This is about 40 times more efficient than a human’s sense of smell.

The sense of smell is the first one that a dog uses from birth. It dominates a large part of the brain. Studies show that dogs also have neophilia. This means that they are attracted to interesting and new odors. Blocking their noses with the strategic location of your trash cans can stop them from digging into them for food.

Crate training can also prevent your dog from wandering around the house and digging into anything that smells new and delicious. Trash cans are full of interesting smells. These are the closest places a dog can dig into if the yard is inaccessible.

Best Invisible Fence
PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence
  • The fence is a wireless barrier
  • Covers a 1/2 acre of space
  • Very easy setup
  • System is fully portable
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Can Changing Your Feeding Schedule Make a Difference?

Part of being a good pet parent is knowing your dog well. If your dog likes to eat but your vet insists on preventing weight gain, you should still keep your dog well-fed. This involves giving your pup small meals throughout the day. High-fiber foods can help your dog feel full for longer periods.

It is difficult to say no to those puppy dog eyes when it is feeding time. Keeping your dog’s stomach satisfied can help prevent digging and raiding the yard or trash can. Adding in some interesting but healthy ingredients can keep your dog interested in the dog food you serve.

Will Increasing Distracting Activities Stop the Digging?

Killing off the boredom is one of the main reasons for your dog to dig for food. Digging is an exciting activity, which may or may not have a reward of food at the bottom of the hole. That is why dogs do it if given the chance. You can cure boredom by bringing your dog new toys and engaging in more playtime with him. Interactive toys can also help. Walking your dog more before you leave the house and when you arrive can also tire him. There will be no time to think about digging in the yard or the trash can for food.

Can You Use Safe Repellents?

There are several commercial dog repellents available on the market, but if you want to try a home remedy, use baking soda. Dogs do not like the taste of baking soda. Even if they lick baking soda a little, it will not be toxic to them. Sprinkling it over the trash can and on your dog’s favorite digging spot can help stop your dog from digging for food.

Is Positive Reinforcement Effective?

Animal behaviorists say that dogs have a more enriched life when you practice positive reinforcement with them. This means praising your dog for doing correct things is better than punishing them. Dogs do not respond well to anger. Praising your dog for not digging will form a more lasting association than scolding your dog for digging. Rewarding your dog for not digging can make your dog look forward to the treats and the conditions associated with them.

Best for Dogs that Dig
Dig Defence 4 Pack No-Dig Large Animal Barrier
  • Extends into the ground
  • To be used together with a traditional fence
  • Made in the USA
  • Easy to install
Check Amazon

Products That Can Help You Stop Your Dog from Digging for Food

You can get some helpful products to make your goal easier to achieve. Getting the best interactive toys and the best dog toys for fetch can help your dog become more physically engaged. Draining your pet’s pent-up energy can help your dog forget about digging for food.

Rewarding your dog with the best dog treats can help your dog forget about raiding the trash bin or yard for food. Feeding your furry friend with the best organic dog food in several small meals in a day can have the same effect. Of course, having the best dog gates can also help block your dog’s efforts.

Conclusion

Digging is a string instinctual behavior in dogs. It has helped them survive since the time of their ancestors. This behavior is still in the genes of modern dog breeds. Since your dog does not need to do things for survival anymore, digging for food must stop. The mentioned tips and products can help you correct this habit in no time.

Up Next…

Ready for more great content? Read one of these resources next:

Why Do Dogs Dig? – Learn more about the many reasons dogs like to dig.

The Best No-Dig Fences for Dogs – Check out our top picks for the best no-dig fences on the market.

All of Your Dog’s Strange Behavior, Explained – Learn about the causes of the most common (and strange) behaviors in dogs.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © majivecka/Shutterstock.com

Ready to discover the top 10 cutest dog breeds in the entire world?

How about the fastest dogs, the largest dogs and those that are -- quite frankly -- just the kindest dogs on the planet? Each day, AZ Animals sends out lists just like this to our thousands of email subscribers. And the best part? It's FREE. Join today by entering your email below.

What's the right dog for you?

Dogs are our best friends but which breed is your perfect match?

X-Small
Small
Medium
Large
Xtra-Large

If you have kids or existing dogs select:

Kids
Other Dogs

Should they be Hypoallergenic?

Yes
No
How important is health?
Which dog groups do you like?
How much exercise should your dog require?
What climate?
How much seperation anxiety?
How much yappiness/barking?

How much energy should they have?

The lower energy the better.
I want a cuddle buddy!
About average energy.
I want a dog that I have to chase after constantly!
All energy levels are great -- I just love dogs!
How much should they shed?
How trainable/obedient does the dog need to be?
How intelligent does the dog need to be?
How much chewing will allow?

Share on:
About the Author

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.