Why Do Dogs Dig Holes
Dogs have many undesirable behaviors - digging holes is one of them. An owner has to live with this destructive behavior because digging, like chewing and barking is a natural behavior of dogs. All dogs dig - a lot. Dogs are lovable and at times exasperating pets because unknowing that digging is an unacceptable behavior, the holes it has made on the garden would be presented to the master with a happily wagging tail.
Dogs are affectionate pets that have the desire of pleasing the master and digging holes can be its way of repaying the master for all the love and the care it has received. Although dogs are well loved pets, the owner can’t help but be upset if the dog has the habit of destroying the garden. This problem can be prevented by keeping the dog on a leash but as it is customary for dog owners to want the dog around this would not be a very good option. Would knowing the reasons behind the dog’s unacceptable behavior help? Dealing with the reasons why the dog digs can be a better solution to modify the destructive behavior.
Boredom, as always would be on top of the list why dogs dig. Most of the undesirable behaviors of dogs were developed because of boredom. Dogs, apart from being energetic are social animals as well. Digging holes is only one of the destructive behaviors dogs will develop if not given the opportunity to expend excess energies or the chance to interact with the human family.
Dogs would always want to receive attention from the family but because of tight schedules, pet owners may not have the time to bond with the pet thus the destructive digging behavior will be developed. In the eyes of the dog, the reprimands of an angry master would be more acceptable than being ignored. A dog would dig holes to escape confinement. Dogs love to roam. Dogs are curious animals thus the sounds and scents on the other side of the fence will be very interesting. To get to the other side, the dog will dig tunnels.
Digging is fun for the dog. Digging holes would be a pleasant activity for dogs especially if the temperature is hot. Lying on a newly dug hole will cool the dog’s heated body. In the wild dogs have another purpose for digging holes - to store food. The dog would dig holes to be used for storage purposes not unlike the way we store food in refrigerators. Dogs will dig holes to bury and store bones and other foods that will be dug again during the rainy days.
More about why dogs dig holes and first aid for dogs at Sarah’s Dogs.
