Ahh our little fur babies are so precious aren’t they? Always bringing us slobbery, joy-infused love. It’s always so uplifting when you come home from a long day of work, they greet you at the fence with a boisterous bark and a tail that is wagging so fast it’s a blur of fur. They skip and jump and run in circles like they’re the one who had the one-too-many coffees today. You’re tired but lapping up the affection from your pet. But then you notice the dirt-stained fur, the mud-clod paws and the sheepish twinkle in their mischievous eyes. You just know that if you take one more step onto your property, you’ll probably find a dog-dug crater large enough to be a portal to another world. But what can you do? Well, fear not frustrated and tired dog owners! We have some tips and tricks to share with you on how you can get your dog to stop digging!
Your dog doesn’t hate you.
And isn’t digging these giant holes to show their depth of spite. No, they’re just bored. Like us, they just want attention, entertainment, comfort, escape or protection. Here’s some quick tips to keep your dog from digging.
- Keep them distracted (even while you’re away) with toys. Try rotating them so your little fur friend always has something new to play with.
- Exercise! Make sure they’re getting plenty of run time outside the yard. This will help dispel all of that pent up energy. They’ll be less likely to do zoomies around your yard if they’re as puffed as we are after a solid run.
- Training – establish some good doggy boundaries with some training to try and prevent the digging and scratching.
- If they just love to dig, allocate a spot in your yard that you’re okay turning into a puppy playground. Try burying some treats here to keep them coming back for more.
It’s not just holes – my lawn is dying!
Is your dog urinating and defecating on your lawn? This is the likely cause of your lawn dying in patches. Dead spots occur after your dog has been doing its business in the same location over time. Nitrogen, found in the faeces and urine affects the growth of the grass – hence the dead patches.
What you can do:
- If you notice the dead patches starting to form, spray some water over the patches to help neutralise the nitrogen.
- Clean up after your dog as consistently as you can. This avoids the faeces burning through your lawn.
So there you have it. It’s likely your little fur friend is just bored, lonely or full of energy and therefore, taking it out on your lawn. Try these tips and tricks and say goodbye to your doggy digging days!
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