If your dog has just started digging up your garden then you need to take quick action. Stop your dog from digging in the garden, by giving him an alternative activity. You see for a dog to dig is instinctive. You can’t really get it totally out of his system.

You see dogs dig instinctively. They bury their bones in the sand only to dig them up later. It’s like a huge sandpit to play in. The smell of manure attracts them to explore and search for the source. Roots of certain plants and shrubs also smell good to dogs and they can’t resist to dig them up.

Follow these guidelines to a better behaved dog:

1. Usually when we are working in the garden our dogs see this as a game. He will also start digging around where you work and just can’t dig fast enough to get to the prize. It’s cute to see but destructive to your plants. Have your garden hose ready with the sprinkler attached. Get up slowly and turn on the tap to full blast. The water will gush out onto him and he will stop digging. You will have to persist a few times with this. In a while he will think it is the sprinkler who is unhappy with him and not you. He should stop digging after a while.

2. If this doesn’t work, get a strong water pistol from a store. Walk around the places where he is digging and start shooting him with the water. Don’t shoot directly into his eyes as you could cause damage. He will not like it because the water is interrupting his play time and will get annoyed after a while. Do this also a few times until he gets the message. You must not say anything during this time. He must be brought to believe that it’s the water that is disciplining him and not you.

3. Does your dog seem hyperactive or does he chew destructively? He could be bored and then he could be digging without really chasing anything. You need to take him out of his surroundings for a least an hour to two hours a day. Dogs need change of sights and smells to stimulate them mentally. Try to build up a sense of expectation in your dog for his long walks with you. He will tend to rather wait to get out than dig up your flowers.

4. Lastly, try giving him his own patch of garden to dig and play in. Make it attractive for him by burying treasures like toys and bones in his area. Get excited when you show him how to dig them up. This will become a really nice way to Stop your dog from digging in the garden, as he will discover his own playground is much better fun than yours.

About the author: Remco van Reenen helps people to train their dog and on his website hondentraining.nu you can find all sorts of tips. You can also get lots of accessories to make training your dog easy in the section puppycursus