Scratchings-and-Sniffings

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Digging Dogs: Boredom or Behavior Issue? Posted: 02 Jun 2009 01:05 PM PDT The Purina Pet Health Library has offers insight on health, behavior and breeds. It includes articles and video, to help pet parents understand why Fido or Kiki do what they do. We did a post on the PurinaCareblog on Friday that I thought was worth repeating, sort of. It's about dogs and digging...and since we're in digging season, I thought the article might help you figure out why your dog digs. These articles and videos are representative of an average...they may not solve your problem but they will likely point you in the right direction. As Dr. Larry will tell you, always check with your own vet when dealing with behavior issues, or healthy problems that you can't figure out.  So, the question is: Why does my dog dig holes in my backyard (or frontyard)? And, no, the answer isn't that he's trying to annoy you, or get to China, or because he buried a bone there...although, I think the buried bone answer is relevant. Dogs do bury stuff...strange stuff, sometimes. Ah, that's another post for another day! For this post, let's look at what the "Digging Dogs" article says, "Dogs dig for pleasure, curiosity, exploration, and out of boredom. Wild canines dig for prey and to build a den, so our domestic dogs come with the same instincts. This can be a problem when Fido decides to dig up the rose bushes in your beautifully landscaped back yard. There are ways to curb this behavior but it is best to stop it early before a dog develops a frustrating and destructive habit." The article also says boredom sometimes creates the urge to dig - so I guess keeping toys in the yard, making sure you walk your dog enough to tire him or her out, and spending some quality time with your dog, can help alleviate the digging instinct. Crate training is also suggested. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you check with your vet to find out if there are "other" reasons Fido is digging up the yard. Inappropriate behavior - which means, digging for the sake of digging - needs more attention. Your vet will be able to suggest the right solution for you.

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