Everyone who has a dog will tell you how much they love their companion, but it’s often followed up with describing that one thing they do that drives their owner crazy. That “one thing” is often digging up the yard.
Most dog owners understand that the dog isn’t doing this out of spite, and that it’s most likely done out of instinct. But no matter the reason, most of the time a dog owner will really just want to know how to prevent their dog from digging under their fence in Carlsbad, NM.
Below we will present some solutions to the problem of your dog digging under the fence, as well as what you should definitely avoid doing in your attempts to fix the problem. But first, let’s get into why your dog may be compelled to dig in the first place.
Why dogs dig
Understanding why your dog digs is an important part of learning how to prevent your dog from digging under your fence in Carlsbad, NM. Here are some reasons why your dog may be digging:
- Entertainment: For many dogs, digging is just plain fun. The reason your dog digs may be as simple as your pet being bored, and this is how they are entertaining themselves.
- Hunting prey: If your dog likes to hunt or chase animals, this may be a reason they are digging up your yard. If there are burrowing animals like gophers in the yard, they may be trying to hunt them down by digging for them.
- Escape: Your dog may be digging to try to get away from something, or just to get somewhere outside of the yard. This is especially plausible if you notice the dog digging under or along a fence.
What not to do
Here’s a list of actions to avoid when trying to prevent your dog from digging under the fence:
- Do not use poisons: Using poisons will not deter the dog from digging, and it may lead to permanent harm for the dog and other wildlife in the area.
- Do not punish them after the fact: A dog will typically not understand why you are upset with them if it’s been hours, or even minutes, since they were digging.
- Do not give attention for bad behavior: Sometimes all a dog is seeking is attention, and even negative attention will fill this need. Don’t reinforce this behavior by filling this need for attention.
What to do
Here are some suggestions that can help stop your dog from digging:
- Make a digging zone: You can redirect the digging behavior by making a designated space for digging in the yard. Try making an area full of loose sand or dirt, like a sandbox in a playground, and directing your dog to this area if you catch them digging in the yard.
- Bury chicken wire under the fence: If your dog is digging near a fence, you can bury some chicken wire deep in the ground along the fence to deter this action.
For more options to help prevent your dog from digging under your fence in Carlsbad, NM, contact the pros at Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC today to find the best solution for your situation.