Digging Dogs – Causes and Solutions
Why your dog digs and how to solve the situation
Is your dog insistent on burying chew toys, squeaky toys, or tennis balls? It can be frustrating to find expensive chew bones buried and forgotten or slimy toys among the couch cushions. However, dogs usually have a reason for their actions. Let's delve into the purpose behind their digging behavior and provide solutions to curb it.
Dogs' instinctive food storage
Dogs don't have refrigerators, secret drawers, or closets. The simple explanation for their persistent interest in burying items is that they instinctively store their treasures underground. Any leftover food from a hard-won hunt isn't left for the neighbors. Wolves bury food to reduce the scent of remaining carcasses that might attract thieves. Burying also protects food from the sun, initiating a slow decomposition process under the ground that makes bones and cartilage easier to digest later on.
Saving food: a natural behavior in dogs
Wild and stray dogs, like wolves, save food they can't finish eating or carry home. This behavior is a survival strategy deeply ingrained in our pets. It's even considered a "behavioral need," as the action is performed even when there's nothing sensible to bury. Imagine a dog trying to bury a chew toy on the hallway carpet—scratching, digging, placing the bone in the "hole," and using the nose to "cover" it with "dirt." Inability to hide surplus can cause stress. Visible resources might imply competition and danger, which worries dogs that prefer to avoid such scenarios. You can read more about this in the article on Resource defense in dogs.
The dog's need to bury leftover food
The behavior is related to food storage during times of abundance. Dogs that are fed beyond their needs or given larger chew toys than they can consume are more likely to exhibit this behavior. Many of these caches are left untouched; we might think the dog forgot about them, but well-fed modern dogs often don't need to retrieve stored food.
The impact of shin splints on digging behavior
Hormones can also be a factor. A false-pregnant female dog may want to store food until it's time to nurse. Increased hunger at this stage and food caches near the den can benefit her and the survival of her potential offspring. Therefore, our pet female dogs might insist on bringing branches home during walks or stealing food and burying it if they are experiencing a false pregnancy during their heat cycle. The need can be just as strong in a pregnant female as in one experiencing false-pregnant who still believe they're going to give birth but aren't truly pregnant. The emotions are genuine.
Digging for attention
Some dogs dig to get a reaction. An angry dog parent might amuse a bored dog, as the circus of attention is exciting, even if it's negatively charged. It's important to differentiate between this behavior and dogs that dig for the sake of digging, rather than to bury things. Repetitive, unexplained digging can often stem from under-stimulation, stress, itchy paws, or a hunting instinct (for burrowing rodents).
Digging as a natural instinct
Trying to just eliminate digging behavior isn't always the right approach. Sometimes, we need to understand our dogs' intentions and needs. Letting them bury items is catering to an instinct and enriches a dog's life. Giving your dog the opportunity to behave naturally is not only required for their welfare but also makes for a more enjoyable dog parent experience.
How to manage your dog's digging behavior
The actions to take depend on the cause. To address digging long-term, you should first determine if your dog's intention is to dig up rodents, relieve frustration, or unbury items.
Dietary changes and digging sites
If your dog buries food that she/he can't finish, try giving smaller, more enticing portions more frequently. Provide chew toys that are completely consumed and avoid large chews that leave left overs. However, burying is a natural behavior. So, a critical question is whether we should really try to eliminate it. Allowing your dog to bury can be considerate.
Create safe and permitted digging sites for your dog
Set up storage options for your dog. Choose a designated area, preferably outdoors. Create a secluded digging area, like a sandbox or a tire filled with dirt and sand. If you live in an apartment, you can even have an indoor spot. Fill a large box with low sides with blankets and strips of paper.
Train your dog to dig in the right place
Direct the behavior to the designated area by taking your dog and a bone there when the tendency arises. If your dog starts digging, say "dig" to associate the behavior with the cue. Over time, you can say "dig" and point to where you'd like your dog to bury her/his treasures. Clarify by digging in the dirt yourself. But... don't stand and watch. The purpose is to hide things, not do it in public view. If you watch, your dog will likely want to find a more secret spot. So, your digging area should be a place where your dog can retreat to privately. Stay away from the area afterward.
Management of burrowing in pregnant females
If your female dog is burying resources due to hormonal reasons, hormonal balancing might be the solution. Supplements containing agnus castus, homeopathy, or, if nothing else works, spaying or hormone injections can help. It's quite challenging to change a behavior motivated by hormones without hormone-stabilizing help. Our pet dogs don't naturally experience a breeding season, they have hormones circulating that drive actions that might not be suitable. The solution isn't to forbid these behaviors, but rather to adjust the hormones, especially if you notice your female dog becoming stressed or manic.
Provide positive attention to reduce digging
Is your dog digging for attention? That's an important message. Provide your dog with lots of attention and one-on-one time with you when your dog engages in desirable behaviors. Otherwise, it can quickly become an unfavorable behavioral chain. Give your dog what she/he needs in terms of your undivided attention, cuddles, affection, training, and companionship when she/he is calm, well behaved and affectionate the way you want her/him to be. Soon, Fido will associate positive behavior with attention. Avoid chasing after, scolding, or correcting a dog that's burying items for attention; your response will only encourage the behavior.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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