Spring is almost here and, even though we’re still bundled up in snowy conditions, gardeners in some places may have done some preemptive planting to welcome warmer weather; Unless their pet’s digging habit has other plans.
If your pet’s a digger, it can be a frustrating and unsightly occurrence for you as an owner. While destructive, digging is a natural way for animals to burn energy and quench a bit of their curiosity, making it a tough habit to break. A compromise would be to provide a designated area for your pet to dig – whether you build a sandbox or fence in an area, this at least allows you to confine the area your dog demolishes. It may even make you smile to see them having the time of their life in their designated dig den.
If that isn’t an option, the next suggestion would be to exercise your pet more. Whether it’s in their breed to do so or not, the main reason they’re digging is that they are bored and burning off extra energy. So if you help them burn it in other ways – like walks, runs, or hikes – chances are they’ll be too pooped to pry into your planters.
A few other quick tips to deter unwanted digging:
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- Do your best to rid your backyard of rodents, as your dog may be seeing them going in and out of the ground which would justify their reaction of digging to reach them.
- Bury large flat rocks in areas your pet likes to dig.
- Invest in motion sensor sprinklers.
- Citrus peel, cayenne pepper, or vinegar in the soil may be off putting enough to deter them.
- Consider bordering trouble areas with rose bushes or other thorny shrubs.
What are some ways you’ve stopped unwanted digging? Tell us more on Twitter @StewartPet!
