Dealing With a Digging Lab
Sponsored linksLabrador Retrievers are one of the most active and social dogs that people have as pets. To be happy, Labradors need do be around people and other dogs often. Otherwise, they can get bored. Many owners don’t realize that a common source of digging is that the dog isn’t getting the attention and interaction that it needs. In this article, you will learn the reason behind why Labs love to dig holes and what you can do about it.
The first thing you must understand is that digging is a natural behavior for a dog. There can be multiple things that can cause Labrador Retrievers and any other dogs to dig. In the wild, a dog may dig a hole to hide its dinner, get away from the elements or just for entertainment. If you want to stop your Labrador Retriever from digging, you need to watch him and find out what is causing him to dig.
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If bones or food is being buried, then do not give him the opportunity to bury these by not giving them to your dog at all. Another option is to only give your Lab food or toys inside the house.
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A pup that is in hot or cold weather may have dig a hole to cool off/warm up. If this is the case, give your Lab a shady area for warm days and a nice warm place to get out of the wind and cold. A really simple fix is to build a dog house for your pooch.
Is your dog digging to get to something on the other side of the fence? This problem can be a little more difficult to deal with. Labradors love to be around other people and animals so they have a tough time being isolated. Your dog may be digging because she is lonely.
Here’s a couple of things to try if this is the cause of your labrador digging issue. Begin with plenty of exercise for your dog. Try going for a long walk with your Lab. This is great exercise for your dog. Leaving plenty of toys out can do wonders if you are going to be away from the house for a while.
Something else you can try is to train your Lab to only dig in one area. Train him to dig there using treats as a reward. You may also try to bury chicken wire in the areas that are most often dug up. The chicken wire is uncomfortable on his paws and should stop the digging.
Really though, the best overall method is to just not leave your Lab alone in the yard. Set up a kennel to put him in while you are out. This limits the overall damage that could be done otherwise.
Digging is preventable. It is as simple as figuring out why your dog is digging removing that cause. It doesn’t help to yell at your dog for digging. This will only serve to hinder the problem. The best way is to provide a good alternative. Lots of love and exercise goes a long way to a happy, healthy Lab. Giving your dog a lot of love and positiveness will make you a great dog trainer.
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