DOG BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Are you frustrated with your dog or puppy digging up your lawn?  Is he already out there digging up something you just planted five minutes ago?  He’s not really doing it to drive you crazy or to get back at you for something.  Digging is an instinctive behavior for canines, but some of them do seem to seem to take an insane pleasure in it.  Is there any way to stop dog digging in your lawn or garden?

Learn Why Dogs Dig

There are many reasons for digging. Canines in the wild dig dens, both for shelter from the weather, and to provide a safe place for their offspring.  They also bury extra food to protect it from other animals until the pack can eat it later.

Instinct aside, the most common reason for dog digging behavior is due to boredom.  Too often, we tend to leave our pets alone for long periods of time with nothing to do.  People often think that dogs have it made.  Wouldn’t it be great to just lie around and sleep all day?  Well, maybe it would for a day or two, but you’d soon be bored, lonely, and restless if you were by yourself all day with nothing to keep you occupied.  You’d find something to do, just to keep from dying of boredom.

It’s the same with your pet.  A canine, young or old, left to his own devices, will find a way to entertain himself.  The problem is that his idea of entertainment will more than likely develop into an annoying dog behavior problem like digging.

Can You Stop Dog Digging?

The first step in controlling dog digging behavior is to understand what’s causing it.  A healthy canine needs at least an hour and a half of exercise every day to burn off his energy.  A long walk in the morning, and another in the afternoon or evening is essential, both for exercise, and for your pup’s mental health.  If you don’t have time for this, you might want to hire a dog walker.

Set aside a corner of your yard where he can dig to his heart’s content.  Bury toys and treats there for him to dig up when you’re gone.  If you bury a toy stuffed with food, he’ll be happily occupied for a long time trying to get the food out.  

You need to teach your canine friend where it’s OK for him to dig, and where it’s not.  It’s up to you to teach him the house rules.  If you don’t, it’s not fair to get mad at him when he breaks them.  

Spend at least ten minutes a day training him.  Provide a digging pit for him, and bury toys and treats for him.  Encourage him to dig in his pit, and say “dig in your pit” while he’s digging.  When he finds the toy, play with him for a few minutes, and then bury it again.  Remember to keep saying “dig in your pit” when he digs it up.  He’ll soon learn the meaning of this command.  

When you catch him digging someplace else, take him to his pit and tell him “dig in your pit” and praise him when he does.  Don’t make the mistake of punishing him after the fact, because he won’t have a clue why you’re upset.

Consistency Is The Key

Whatever you do, be consistent.  Everyone in the household needs to be doing the same thing with him, or you’ll never get him trained.  Here’s where a good dog training course comes in handy.  It makes it easy for the whole family to work together to stop dog digging.

Darlene Norris has worked at a vet clinic and an animal shelter, and has had lots of experience with dogs. If you need to stop dog digging, and solve other dog behavior problems, visit No More Bad Dogs at http://NoMoreBadDogs.com to learn about a dog training course that will work wonders!

Behavior problems with my dog,help please!?

Okay so here is the problem: Lately,i’ve noticed that everyday I get home from school something is chewed into pieces….rugs,blankets,etc. His name is Luda,and he’s a male. Luda’s breed is part black lab/part greyhound,so he is big for his age. (about 2 yrs old.) The problem is that…if he is punished…he will put his head down,and cry. We would be more strict,but the problem is that he’s my brother’s dog. We are watching him while my brother finds a place to live & a job (due to relationship issues.) Along the way..Luda was abused by someone that he was watched by,because he always puts his head down if you encourage him,and he flinches with the slightist move of anyone.
(moving arm,walking across room,etc) Can you give me some advice to teach him to stop misbehaving,but without being too strict? Thanx.
1.) Yes,I am spending enough time with him….right when I get home from school i let him outside,and then I pet him for awhile,and do my homework. He is very affectionate & he is probably spoild with attention & time—–}
2.) He has NEVER been hit by us,since he has been living with us. 3.) If we do get him toys…it cannot be plastic,because he chews them into shreads,even when we are home to spend time with him.
4.) He DOES have a crate,he cannot go in it because….He is scaried to death of it,& he used to be in the crate everyday for hours where he used to live…also he won’t even eat or drink all day if his food/water is near his crate as well.
5.) He has a surplus of bones to chew on while we are home. We also ensure that he has food & water before we leave….& yes I told him today right when I got home,and things were chewed up,that it is very bad,& i sent him outside.

Answer
It sounds like Luda is having problems coming to terms with the upheaval in his life. His heritage would suggest that he needs a lot of exercise and lots of company. He sounds like he’s bored and chewing to occupy his time.
Dogs love pigs’ ears and hide bones, and the kong toys can have peanut butter and treats inside so they spend ages trying to get them out. Hide treats around his area, so he is rewarded for being good. You must contain him, always reward him for good behaviour, but never make a big fuss of going out and coming home. Try leaving the house and returning at odd times so he gets used to the fact that you go out, then come home. Take him out for as long a run as possible every day, and he’ll be too nackered to do anything but sleep while you’re out. NEVER tell him off for anything you don’t CATCH him doing. It’s pointless. All he sees is you doing the angry face and he hears blah blah blah, but can’t associate all that scary stuff with chewing the rug four hours ago. A good tip when you do catch him misbehaving is to make a strange noise (a tin with a coin in rattled just once out of his sight). This will confuse and distract, without scaring him. Add the word NO in a firm but low voice. No need to shout – they can hear way better than us. The trick with dogs is to reward the good stuff, and let them know what you want them to do. Without guidelines, they have no idea that the best rug is anything but a source of fun. Teach him to ‘leave’ and be consistent (the whole family all use the same method and words) and Luda will eventually suss out what it is you want, and what it is you don’t want. Be aware that he is a chewer and make sure the only things he chews are what you want him to chew. When you’re out, the chewing of anything is reward in itself, so he’ll keep doing it unless you remove those articles, and keep him occupied with better stuff. He’ll be a clever, innovative, active dog. You’ve got to stay one step ahead!!

Good luck!