Why Is My Dog Suddenly Digging Holes?
Is your dog suddenly digging holes in your yard?
Is Your Dog Suddenly Digging Holes?
If your dog suddenly starts digging holes, you may wonder what is going on inside that little yet intricate doggy mind. The behavior may sound like a mystery to unravel, especially if your dog was never very interested in digging before.
Why would a dog start taking a liking for digging out of the blue? Before taking a closer look at several probabilities, let's first start with one of the most obvious reasons.
Digging Is a Species-Specific Behavior
Digging is a species-specific behavior in dogs, meaning that it comes naturally for them to dig. Sure, some dogs are more inclined to dig compared to others, but all dogs are born with an instinctive drive to dig, given the opportunity.
While humans perceive digging as a nuisance (many dog owners report digging being one of the top nuisance behaviors observed in their dogs), dogs dig for many good reasons, with some of them even linked to survival.
When linked to survival, we can say the behavior may play an adaptive role, since it ups the chances of continuation of a species (reproduction) and its evolutionary history.
By recognizing the reasons behind a dog's abrupt passion for digging, we can be better equipped to address and manage this behavior while allowing dogs to still be able to express their natural instincts
10 Reasons Why Your Dog May Be Digging Holes All of a Sudden
Your dog's age, sex and breed can play a role in your dog's digging habits, as does their history. Even the areas that your dog chooses to dig can give you some hints as to the reasons why your dog is digging.
This understanding aligns with the concept of how dogs are the product of the interplay of nature and nurture. In a nutshell, a dog's behaviors are shaped by both genetic predispositions (nature) and environmental influences (nurture).
With this concept in mind, let's put on our investigative hats and discover several potential causes for a dog suddenly digging holes.
1. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Cool Down
If your dog is starting to suddenly dig deep holes in the yard during the "dog days of summer," there may be chances that he is desperately seeking a place to cool down.
We often see such digging behavior in dogs equipped with heavy, double coats, such as Siberian Huskies and Great Pyrenees.
Digging into the earthly ground helps dogs unveil a cooler surface, providing them with relief from the sweltering heat.
If your dog spends most of the time outside and doesn't have access to a cool, air-conditioned room, he may, therefore, resort to digging in search of the perfect spot to lie down and get some respite from the scorching heat.
Areas that have been recently watered are particularly attractive. By scratching off the surface, dogs can access the cooler dirt.
Solution: Provide your dog with a cool place to retreat to that is in the shade. Keep your dog indoors if it's very hot during the day. Dogs equipped with dense, double coats may enjoy access to water sprinklers in the yard.
Dogs may dig holes to cool down in the dog days of summer.
2. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Hide Food
Did your dog start digging holes after you began feeding him bones? Ethologists call this behavior caching, and this term refers to the instinctual behavior of stashing food for the future, an act seen in a variety of animals.
If you are familiar with Aesop's fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, then you'll have the perfect picture of the wisdom behind this practice.
Just as Aesop's ants diligently worked hard all summer storing food for the winter, dogs may instinctively bury any food surplus in anticipation of leaner times.
This behavior is reminiscent of a dog's ancestral past, when their predecessors used to lead a so-called "feast or famine lifestyle." In a nutshell, a dog's ancestors went through times where, right after a kill, they were exposed to an abundance of food followed by a potential time of food scarcity.
These periods of scarcity triggered dogs to "wise up" and start saving food in anticipation of scarce times.
While the practice of a dog digging holes to bury bones and other types of food may sound impractical and not very hygienic, consider this: by burying food underground, it remains cool and free from spoilage. On top of this, the food is protected from pesky bugs and opportunistic raptors.
As a matter of fact, a dog's instinct to cache food is so ingenious that we have borrowed the idea to invent underground cellars!
Solution: Skip giving bones or long-lasting chews and choose instead treats that are readily consumed in one setting. Remove any leftovers.
Yes, just as it happens in cartoon strips, dogs may dig holes to hide their surplus of food.
3. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Hunt
If your dog has taken a sudden liking to hunt in holes in your yard, consider the possibility of critters triggering your dog's hunting instinct.
Moles like to create tunnels just below the surface. Rabbits may dig burrows for shelter and nesting. Squirrels like to bury nuts and seeds. Rats and mice may create underground nests. Beetles, ants, earthworms and grubs may live under the surface. Frogs, toads and snakes may hide under rocks or in burrows. Earthworms may be living under the surface.
All these critters may pique a dog's interest, inducing him to avidly dig as his hunting instincts come alive.
Some dogs may be more predisposed to digging than other dogs. For example, many of the small terriers are diggers at heart. Indeed, the word "terrier" derives from the Latin word "terra" meaning dirt.
Dachshunds have been blessed with short paddle-shaped legs and long backs, and this peculiar shape allows them to dig and enter a badger's burrow with ease. The word "Dachshund" derives from the German word for "badger dog," as these dogs were selectively bred to fearlessly hunt down badgers.
Solution: Enlist the help of a pest control company that uses humane pest control solutions that are also safe for your pet.
If your dog is sniffing and digging, he may have detected some underground critters
4. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Create a Den
Is your dog an intact female dog? If so, she may be digging for the purpose of creating a den.
While dogs aren't den animals in the real sense of the word, they may instinctively start digging to build a den when they are close to whelping (giving birth) or enduring a false pregnancy. These dens are referred to as "maternity dens." This instinctive behavior is referred to as "nesting behavior."
Solution: If your dog is pregnant, it's a good idea to provide your dog with a whelping box and allow her time to acclimate to it.
If your dog is going through a false pregnancy, spaying her can help reduce hormonally-induced behaviors.
5. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Explore
Despite us always using the saying "curiosity killed the cat," dogs are also naturally inquisitive creatures. If your dog hasn't been very interested in digging holes in your yard until now, and suddenly, he is drawn to this activity, it could be that some novelty has piqued his interest.
Perhaps your dog is attracted to some roots or smells something unusual. Turning up stones can feel rewarding. Areas that you have recently dug may grab your dog's attention.
Solution: Many dogs who dig to explore are juveniles who are just learning about the world around them. As they grow, they may become less interested in digging to explore. In the meanwhile, it may help to fence off areas that you may want your dog to leave alone.
6. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Escape
If the holes happen to coincide with your fence-line, there may be chances that something outside of the fence has attracted him and by digging, he is trying to get to the side.
What may be on the other side? Intact male dogs may smell a female dog in heat. Dogs with a high prey drive may be interested in the neighbor's cats or squirrels scurrying around. Social dogs may want to meet and greet other dogs or people walking by. Fearful dogs may dig holes in hopes of escaping something frightening.
If your dog has a history of separation anxiety and is kept in the yard when you are gone during the day, he may also be digging holes at the fence line in hopes of escaping and possibly reuniting with you.
Solution: If you own a male dog that is attracted to the scent of pheromones, neutering may be the ultimate solution to stop hormonally-induced behaviors such as digging to escape the yard, urine marking, and roaming.
Curious dogs may be kept free of temptation by installing some type of privacy fencing that blocks outdoor views.
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety will need to be helped to develop coping skills. Here are some tips for dogs suffering from separation-related distress.
Digging by the fence boundary may signal a desire to explore or even escape.
7. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Keep Busy
Did your dog start digging holes in the yard after you started working full-time? Is he spending more time in the yard? Have you skipped walks due to a busy schedule? If so, your dog may be digging to keep busy.
Most dog breeds were selectively bred to carry out certain tasks. Retrievers fetch downed birds and deliver them to the hunter. Setters " set," in other words, crouch low upon spotting birds at a certain distance. Pointers point to signal the presence of birds. Scent hounds track scents on the ground, and sight hounds hunt by using their phenomenal vision.
If left with little to do, dogs may become bored and find their own "forms of employment."
A dog's mouth and front legs are their main executive parts. If they aren't offered any activities they may end up engaging in nuisance behaviors (from a human standpoint) such as chewing objects or digging holes, said Bortchelt in 1984.
Solution: If your yard is starting to resemble planet Mars, you may therefore want to consider the possibility of your dog needing more exercise and mental stimulation. And don't forget about socialization! Some dogs have strong social needs too.
8. Your Dog Is Digging Holes to Mimic Others
It's called allelomimetic behavior, also known as contagious behavior, and refers to a dog's tendency to mimic what other dogs or people do.
Here's the thing: dogs are in a perpetual learning state. They learn from every interaction, and the behaviors they learn can be desirable or undesirable.
If your dog sees another dog dig with passion, he may feel compelled to dig, too. Even watching humans digging can bring in dogs a sudden desire to dig. While humans don't dig holes for the same reasons dogs do, dogs may perceive gardening as a form of digging.
So as you dig a hole to plant a new petunia, or dig out onions from their roots, from a dog's perspective this may qualify as a form of digging and may prompt him to want to dig too.
Solution: Avoid gardening in the presence of your dog. Keep your dog away from other dogs with an ingrained need to dig. If you want to adopt another dog, pick an adult dog who isn't that interested in digging. An adult, spayed female dog may be a good candidate.
Dogs may want to join us when they watch us gardening.
9. Your Dog Is Digging Holes Out of Frustration
Frustration takes place when a dog's desires are thwarted. Pay extra attention to what happens right prior to when your dog digs. For example, if your dog sees another dog passing by the fence, he may get frustrated he cannot interact with him as he would like to.
This barrier frustration can trigger agitation that will trigger the dog to vent by engaging in a bout of..., you guessed it, digging!
Similarly, dogs may get amped up or aggressively frustrated when they spot the mailman behind the gate or people teasing the dog behind a fence.
According to Campbell, 1992, this form of digging is more common in male dogs. Intact male dogs, in particular, may get frustrated when around other male dogs.
If there is a female nearby in heat, powerful pheromones may cause intact male dogs to dig out of frustration and/or in hopes of escaping the yard.
Similarly, an intact female dog may dig when being in heat and may act frustrated/attempt to escape in hopes of reaching a male dog.
Solution: Address your dog's high arousal levels and frustration considering that your dog's digging occurs secondary to these emotional states. For example, take steps to prevent your dog from barking at other dogs or people passing by the house. Spaying or neutering may only help if the behaviors are triggered by hormones.
10. Your Dog Is Digging Holes Out of a Need for Attention
If you have been quite busy recently and are spending less time around your dog, your dog may be craving attention. One particular caveat to be aware of when it comes to this is that to an attention-seeking dog, any form of fit may be perceived as appealing. This can be the case even if this attention is negative (such as scolding the do or pushing him away)
Solution: The best approach in these cases is to ignore the dog, which is obviously something difficult to do for an upset owner. Attention should only be given contingent upon the dog behaving appropriately.
Dogs breeds such as Dachshund and several small terriers have a strong predisposition for digging.
How to Permanently Stop Your Dog From Digging Holes?
As we've seen, addressing the problem of your dog digging holes requires different interventions based on the cause.
If you wish to stop the behavior completely, remember that digging is an instinctive behavior, and it may be impossible to suppress permanently.
Please be wary of tools or professionals promising solutions that will stop your dog's digging once and for all as they often involve the use of aversive, punishment-based strategies that will cause more problems down the road.
What you can do instead is take several steps to find a good compromise that will protect your yard while keeping your dog happy.
Protect Your Yard
Fence off areas where you don't want your dog digging. There are several barrier solutions that you can use to protect your garden and flowerbeds. Look for fencing solutions that are purposely crafted to prevent digging.
Provide a Place to Dig
As mentioned, you cannot totally eradicate a dog's desire to dig. Digging is an adaptive behavior that has played an important role in a dog's survival. It's species- specific and therefore part of what makes your dog a dog.
What you can do instead is to provide your dog with an area where he is allowed to dig to his heart's content. To make this area extra appealing, you can bury your dog's toys and you can entice him to dig.
I like to use my feet to make digging motions and most dogs interpret this as an invitation to join me into digging. Praise your dog for using his digging spot.
If you live in the desert Southwest, please be aware that dogs may get Valley Fever from inhaling spores found in the soil. I learned this the hard way, when my Rottweiler got this nasty fungal disease.
References
- Adams, Graham & Grandage, John. (1989). Digging behaviour in domestic dogs. Australian veterinary journal.
- Odendall, J. S. An ethological approach to the problem of dogs digging holes. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1996
If your puppy or dog shows signs of potential aggression (lunging, barking, growling, snapping, biting), please consult with a dog behavior professional for direct in-person guidance. Articles, videos, and general information provided online are not meant to replace in-person training/instruction. By using this service, you are waiving any liability claims or other types of claims related to any of your dogs' behaviors against you or others.
© 2024 Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST
