How To Stop Your Dog from Digging up Your Backyard

Your dog may be digging because he is too hot or too cold. When your dog digs a hole and lies in it, his temperature can be self-regulated. Unlike humans, dogs can't remove their clothing or add layers, so they have to come up with other ways to get relief from the weather conditions.

Dogs also dig because they are bored. A dog that is apart from his master all day can easily become bored. Dogs will find ways to amuse themselves if they are left alone. Unfortunately, this may be digging!

To stop dogs from digging, their behavior needs to be redirected towards other activities. Usually all you will need to so is provide your dog with a digging patch where he will not be punished. Some dog breeds have an instinctive tendency to dig. These breeds will require extra patience from you in order to stop their digging behavior.

For more information on how to stop your dog from digging, I recommend that you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging

The following tips should help to stop dogs from digging up your yard:

1. Put an unpleasant "present" in the hole dug by your dog. Often dogs dig for a while, then leave the hole for a period of time, and return later to continue their digging activity. Place the surprise in the hole while your dog is away. One idea is a water spray mixed with bitter apple, which may be purchased from pet stores.
2. Placing garden waste in the holes is one way to stop your dog from digging. Dogs prefer to dig in "clean" dirt. Add dead leaves, sticks, rocks, and mulch to the hole and cover it with a thin layer of soil. It is probable that your dog will stop digging when he discovers the undesirable materials in his hole. If this doesn't work, fill the hole, spraying the contents with bitter apple. Most dogs dislike the odor and will stop digging in that particular hole.
3. Your dog should be provided with a designated area where he can dig to his heart's delight. Digging is instinctive for dogs. It may take some time to train your dog to restrict his digging to that spot but it can be done. Stop dogs from digging in your flower garden by giving them an area where they are free to dig a few holes.
   
   This could be a sandbox or you could cordon off an area that is not landscaped. In order to teach your dog that he can dig in a particular spot, you should bury some treats where he can easily find them. If your dog has previously been chastized for his digging activities, he may require extra encouragement. As soon as he understands that digging in that area is permitted, he will be an overjoyed dog.
4. When your dog has been provided with his own designated spot for digging, you will still need to keep things interesting for him. Every so often, you should bury a toy or treat for him to find. As dogs get bored with digging in the same area, he may decide that another part of your backyard looks more interesting.
   
   Periodically, the dirt or sand in your dog's designated digging spot should be replaced. Dogs like fresh soil better than hard earth. Also, there will be occasions when your dog finds your flower beds more appealing than his designated digging spot. Spread animal essence, which hunters use to draw out animals, over your flower beds. Dogs may stop digging when they smell other animals.

This will stop your dog from digging anywhere other than his own digging patch. Dogs are not being mean when they dig under your fence as this is instinctive behavior for them.

To stop your dog's annoying digging behavior, make sure you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging

Right now we are giving away a free ebook titled 5 Myths of Dog Training
You can get it now while its still available.

5 Facts About Housebreaking Your Dog

Successful housebreaking is, by far, the most important element of a loving, lifelong relationship between you and your dog.

If you don’t teach your new best friend not to pee and poop in your house, he won’t be your friend for long!

Fortunately, housebreaking a puppy (or adult dog) isn’t complicated. All you have to do is prevent peeing and pooping in the house, and reward peeing and pooping outside. While putting this simple concept into practice isn’t difficult, it does require your diligence, dedication, and patience. But the rewards are definitely worth the effort!

 

Here are five facts that will guide your housebreaking training:

Fact 1: Adult dogs can be housebroken the same as puppies.

If you adopt an adult dog, you may not have to worry about housebreaking if he has already been properly trained. Dogs—even the smartest ones—do not naturally know it’s wrong to go potty indoors. They must be trained, and most adult dogs are. But you can’t assume this is the case. If he was always kept outdoors, raised in a cage at a puppy mill, or improperly trained by a previous owner, you will need to start fresh and housebreak him using the same basic techniques as you would for a puppy. Adult dogs don’t have to go as often as puppies, though, which will make the training much easier for you. (On the other hand, adult accidents will create bigger messes!)

Fact 2:  Puppies have limited bladder & bowel control.

 

A puppy younger than 20 weeks old will need to go potty once every hour when awake. A very young puppy (under 12 weeks old) will need to go more often—every 30 minutes or even more frequently.

For an older puppy, a general rule for determining the number of hours he can go without going potty is to take his age in months and add one. So a four-month-old could hold it for about five hours. Small breeds can’t hold it as long; large breeds can hold it a bit longer. Remember, this is a general rule; your puppy’s control may vary.

When sleeping, puppies can wait longer. But don’t think a puppy who can hold it for 6 hours while sleeping can hold it that long while awake. He can’t.

Fact 3: Dogs like to sleep in a clean area.

If given a choice, dogs, like people, will never sleep in an area that is soiled with pee or poop. In the wild, “dogs” (wolves, coyotes, foxes, etc.) sleep in a den and go outside to relieve themselves. Their pups learn to do the same.

Because dogs will try their best not to soil their sleeping area, your puppy is less likely to pee or poop in a small “den.” Confining him to that “den” whenever you can’t watch him will guarantee he doesn’t get a chance to begin the bad habit of going anywhere else in your house.

Fact 4: Dogs do best when kept to a routine schedule.

Feeding your dog on a set schedule will help him to go potty on a regular schedule. If you let your dog eat and drink whenever he wants, you’ll be less able to predict when he’ll need to go out. Take him out on a regular schedule, too!

Fact 5: Punishing a dog after he has an accident in the house is pointless, and may do more harm than good.

Your dog will not understand that you are upset about something that happened in the past—even if it was just a minute or two ago. He will think he’s in trouble for what he’s doing at the instant you discover the mess and go ballistic… whether he’s happily coming up to greet you or sitting quietly. This, obviously, is the wrong message to give your dog.

Roger

 

Learn The Secrets To Dog Training In This Great Course.

 

Right now we are giving away a free ebook titled 5 Myths of Dog Training
You can get it now while its still available.

Secrets of Dog Training, Pre-Training Basics for Puppies

If you have a young puppy, it is recommended that you wait until he's at least 8 weeks old to begin formal dog training.

Before you begin the formal training lessons with a dog of any age, please plan to follow these keys to success:

1. Be patient. Each dog is unique, and can only learn at his own pace. Some dogs learn quickly; others take more time. Patience is indeed a virtue when it comes to effective dog training!
2. Be kind. This goes hand-in-paw with "Be patient." Don't lose your temper if your dog doesn't "get it" right away, or appears to be ignoring you. Please do not punish your dog for not learning quickly enough. As a matter of fact, don't punish your dog at all. (We'll be teaching you effective ways to stop or prevent inappropriate behavior—without punishment.)
3. Be flexible. If your dog is struggling to learn, be willing to change your training routine. The location may be too distracting. The time of day may be too close (or far from) feeding time. The length of your training session may be too long (or too short). The training exercises may need to be broken down into smaller, simpler steps. Remember, each dog is unique. Be flexible and willing to do whatever you can to help your dog succeed.
4. Be generous. Be generous with your rewards and your time. Always reward your dog's correct responses generously. Don't be stingy with the treats—he's worked hard and deserves a generous reward! And commit ample time to your training lessons. We're all busy these days, but this is "quality time" for you and your dog. You'll both enjoy and benefit from the lessons, so make sure your schedule is adjusted accordingly!

Right now we are giving away a free ebook titled 5 Myths of Dog Training
You can get it now while its still available.

The Basics of Dog Training

A dog plays a special role in a home. He is almost like a part of the family and just like we train and teach our kids, we should train and teach our dog too. It is a proud feeling to have a dog that is well mannered and obedient, especially if he is trained properly and taught to be obedient. It does not come naturally for them to obey. Hence, they need to be shown, of course through firmness and kindness, but never through physical pain. Never ever hit or smack a dog as it will only make them more nervous or aggressive. Instead you need to have a lot of patience and perseverance too.

Perseverance, why? Because when you decide to train your dog yourself with the guidance of someone or a handbook, please remember the most important thing - Any type of act or trick has to be done again and again! It is only when it is repeated that he will get the hang of it. Since we also are forgetful, dogs are too. They need to be reminded and instructions need to be repeated again and again. But once he is trained, he will hardly need any instruction as he will be well behaved and with a good temperament also. An asset to the home and even in public! Everyone loves a dog that follows its master's commands and is well behaved. They do not mind him coming into their store, as they are convinced that he will not create a ruckus or dirty the place.

Also when you train him, make him understand who is boss. He should know who is boss. Because dogs have tendency to take over and be the boss, if they realize that the owner is not taking the initiative. Training together also brings you both together and strengthens your relationship. There are many good schools in case you want to send him elsewhere to be trained. It is this training that will save his or your life a tragic situation. It is when a trained dog knows what to do, that he will salvage a situation. All the training comes handy as they know what to do and mostly listen to your commands. This is very crucial. It is also every important to understand his speed and ability of learning as all dogs are different. And if you want him to train, then understanding his feelings and taking them into consideration is a big part of this package. Go ahead and don't waste any time in basic training like to heel or fetch.

Right now we are giving away a free ebook titled 5 Myths of Dog Training
You can get it now while its still available.
I will post more and more dog training tips here in the coming days.
           Thanks,
              Roger