Jul 12 2009
Why Do Labradors Dig So Much?
Labs are one of the most active and social dogs that people have as pets. Because of this, these dogs have to be given activities to do in order to be happy and well behaved. Labradors really like to dig when they don’t get the stimulation that they desire. To keep this issue from happening, you have to really learn what causes the problem in the first place.
The first thing you must understand is that digging is a natural behavior for a dog. There can be multiple things that can cause Labs and any other dogs to dig. Labrador Retrievers may do some kind of bad behavior (such as digging) to gain your attention, it could be doing it to get some protection from the elements or he may just be bored and looking for something to do. The first step in making sure your dog doesn’t dig up your yard it to determine what the cause for the digging is.
The First Step
Watch your dog, if she is hiding something (food, toys, bones) then do not provide her with something to bury. Another option is to only give your Labrador food or toys inside the house.
Need more info? Click here to read more on dealing with labrador digging.
If your dog is laying in the hole it dig, it may be too hot or too cold. If this is the case, give your Lab a shady area for hot days and a nice warm place to get out of the wind and cold. A really simple fix is to buy a dog house for your pooch.
Is your dog digging under the fence to get out? If so, you have a larger problem on your hands. Being so social, Labrador Retrievers don’t do well when the are by them selves for extended periods. You dog’s digging habit may be due to this.
Here’s a couple of things to try if this is the cause of your labrador digging issue. Firstly, give your Labrador Retriever lots of exercise. Dogs love “play” exercise - throw a ball or go for a run. If you have to leave the dog alone, give him plenty of toys to play with while you’re out.
One other option is to set off a specific digging area. Whenever she digs in the designated area, give her a reward. As a last resort, bury chicken wire where your Labrador Retriever likes to dig. She wont like the feel of the wire and will probably stop digging there.
Really though, the best overall method is to just not leave your Lab alone in the yard. Try sectioning off a part of the yard to keep him in when 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. Getting mad at your digging dog won’t work. Negative reinforcement is a poor way to train a dog. Positive reinforcement is the only thing that will do any good in the long term. Give your dog a lot of play and socialization and you will have a happy dog. The biggest dog training secret is love and positive affirmation.
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