Digging and Stealing food from the trash are two of the most common dog behavior problems that dog owners face. This article will look at ways to overcome these two problems.
We will start by delving more into digging. Dogs dig for a range of reasons, some do it through boredom, others may be trying to escape, others frustrated, and others just because the love digging.
Dogs that are digging because they are bored just need some fun and mind stimulation. If you train your dog for 15 minutes a day, you may notice the digging disappears totally. Try to exercise your dog so that it can use some of the energy that is building up inside. Spark some new interest in your dog’s life by introducing him to some new toys, or swap around the toys he currently uses for new one, then swap them back a week later. Add some interest to your dog’s daily life.
If your dog is digging because he loves to dig, you might find it useful to allocate a portion of your yard for digging purposes. Train your dog to dig there by burying treats and toys and praising him when he digs in that area.
If all else fails, spray some dog digging deterrent around your yard. Dogs hate the stuff and it’ll almost definitely put an end to the digging (at least temporarily). Dog digging deterrents can be purchased online for around $7 or at your local vet shop.
Another common dog problem is when dogs break open the trash bags to get at food inside. This is very tempting for dogs as its what their instincts tell them to do. Taking food when its on offer is one of the ways they’ve thrived over the past few thousand years.
The easiest way to solve this problem is to put the trash where your dog can’t get at it. Leave it in the garage overnight or in some other garden shed. If you have absolutely nowhere you can leave the trash, try to catch your dog opening the bag and instantly discipline him.
Another trick you can use to train your dog not to tamper with the trash is to booby trap it. Balance some heavy objects on top of the trash that would make a loud bang when they hit the floor. The bang should (at least) scare your dog off for a while!
Lastly, another option is to use some form of smell deterrent such as bitter apple spray or something similar. Sprinkling cayenne pepper or chilli powder on the trash bags also works well as most dogs dislike the smell and flavor of these.
The training tips mentioned above have worked well for many people dealing with these particular problems. To find our more information about these problems and other dog behaviour problems, visit the links listed below.
