09/09/2025
We hope you've had a wonderful summer and as things wind down for fall, we wanted to help you better understand the reason your dogs choose behaviors that we, as humans, often disapprove of.
Ever wonder why your dog acts like an archaeologist digging hole after hole in your pristine yard you've worked so hard on?
The primary reason for digging can often be attributed to one of three categories:
1. Thermoregulation & Comfort: During hot weather, dogs seeking relief will instinctively dig to create a cool, damp space to lay in the cooler sub-surface soil. On the other hand, some dogs will dig to create a shallow den for shelter during cold or windy conditions.
2. Predatory & Foraging Drive: For many breeds (especially terriers and hounds), digging is a hardwired component of their predatory sequence.
3. Boredom & Anxiety: In environments with insufficient mental or physical enrichment, digging can become a coping mechanism. The act of digging is physically demanding and mentally stimulating. For a bored dog, it provides a release for pent-up energy. For an anxious dog, the repetitive motion can be a self-soothing behavior, similar to a human fidgeting.
By accurately diagnosing the root cause, we can implement targeted solutions, whether that's providing a designated digging pit, increasing their daily mental stimulation, or simply providing a cooler place for your pup to rest.
