If your dog has just started digging up your garden then you need to take quick action. Stop your dog from digging in the garden, by giving him an alternative activity. You see for a dog to dig is instinctive. You can’t really get it totally out of his system.

Gardens are a wonderful playground for dogs. They can’t resist digging up moles and rodents, and especially the smell of some roots drive them crazy and they will dig until they find the source of the scent.

Here are a few practical tips to keep him from digging:

1. Usually when we are working in the garden our dogs see this as a game. He will also start digging around where you work and just can’t dig fast enough to get to the prize. It’s cute to see but destructive to your plants. Have your garden hose ready with the sprinkler attached. Get up slowly and turn on the tap to full blast. The water will gush out onto him and he will stop digging. You will have to persist a few times with this. In a while he will think it is the sprinkler who is unhappy with him and not you. He should stop digging after a while.

2. If this doesn’t work, get a strong water pistol from a store. Walk around the places where he is digging and start shooting him with the water. Don’t shoot directly into his eyes as you could cause damage. He will not like it because the water is interrupting his play time and will get annoyed after a while. Do this also a few times until he gets the message. You must not say anything during this time. He must be brought to believe that it’s the water that is disciplining him and not you.

3. If he is hyperactive and seems to chew and dig indiscriminately, then he might be bored sick. You have to take him out of his surroundings. By this I mean you need to take him for long walks every day. He is telling you that he cannot being alone at home and acts up the only way he can. He will start looking forward to his walks and will gradually stop vandalizing your garden.

4. If you find that despite all your attempts you failed, then you might want to prepare a part of your garden for him. You will have to train him though to dig only in that area. Bury treasure for him to find. Leave a half buried toy in the ground and always get excited when you show him to dig it up. Here perseverance will Stop your dog from digging up your garden and it should do the trick in a few days.

About the author: Remco van Reenen is an expert on dogtraining and on his website positieve hondentraining you can find all sorts of tips. You can also get lots of accessories to help you with dog training in the section puppycursus

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