Two of the most common dog behavior problems are digging, and stealing food from the trash. The following article will look at these more in depth and provide solutions around how to combat these.
Firstly let’s get to the bottom of Digging. Dogs dig for a number of reasons, they might find it fun, they may be bored or frustrated, they may be able to smell something interesting such as a rat or any other kind of garden rodent, or they may in fact be trying to escape.
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 issue that bothers dog owners is dogs breaking open the trash bags to get to food inside. This is a dog’s natural instinct. Whenever a chance to eat arises dogs are programmed to take it (this comes from living in the wild when they never knew when their next meal would be).
There are a few different ways you can deal with this common problem. The first and easiest solution is to put the trash in a place the dog can’t get to. The garage and tool shed are common options. If this isn’t a possibility for you, you might want to train your dog that it’s not allowed to break into the trash. You can do this by catching you dog in the act and disciplining your dog immediately (physical discipline isn’t required).
Another way you can teach your dog not to go through the trash is to booby trap the trash. Balance a few empty cans or nuts and bolts on top of the trash. When your dog tries to rip the bag open these will fall on the floor and hopefully make such a noise that it will be turned off returning any time soon.
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.
These suggestions should help you to overcome these problems if you’ve got them. For plenty more tips and tricks for training your dog and dealing with every possible behavioral problem imaginable, visit the links listed below.
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