Digging to dogs is as natural as eating, walking, breathing, and every other instinctual behavior that’s part of life. Simply put, it’s in their genes. The need to dig was born from protective purposes dating back thousands of years to canines in the wild before they formed a partnership with humans. To hide pups from predators their parents dug holes in the ground to create a den, masking the smell and presence of vulnerable pups. In modern times and breeding settings, this inherent need to protect is still observed as moms will attempt to dig and then parents and pups adapt to their settings by ingesting the fecal matter when there is no place to dig. There are no predators but the primal instinct to protect the family and hide the smell of vulnerable puppies is ingrained in their DNA.
If able to fully meet the natural needs of our canines, we would set up digging zones allowing them experience and relief of that natural drive. Most of the time that would cause issues in the household and cohabitation. This provides another incentive to exercise your dog and provide a change of scenery outside the house. Given other available methods to meet physical needs, many dogs don’t develop this tendency unless tempted due to boredom. When those needs are ignored too often, dogs can revert back to primal instincts and digging in undesirable places. This result is generally a sign we need to step up our k9 leadership game as the behavior of a dog is mainly reactive to their environment and reflective of our own routines. It’s then important to evaluate why they are digging and implement a mutually beneficial new activity or routine to replace what’s turned into a dirty habit. Most of the time this can be accomplished with increased activity, mental stimulation and less time being left alone.
