Why Do Labradors Dig So Much?

Labradors are known to be very friendly dogs that love to be active. This is why Labs need physical and mental stimulation in order to live long and healthy lives. When a dog doesn’t get the interaction that it needs, it will find a way to entertain itself. Labs often do this by digging. To keep this problem from happening, you have to really understand what causes the issue in the first place.

First off, you need to know that digging is an instinctive behavior for a dog. Dogs dig for one of several reasons. They may do it to cool off from the heat or warm up from the cold, a dog could be digging to hide its food, or it could just be doing it to gain attention. Before you can do anything else, you need to look and see why your beloved pup is digging to China.

How to Deal With a Digging Labrador

Is your dog digging a hole to bury a bone or some type of food? Then stop giving your dog these types of things. On the other hand, you could allow your dog to have his favorite toys and foods, just don’t let them go out the door. Keep them in the house where there isn’t an opportunity to bury them.

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If your dog is laying in the hole it dig, it may be too hot or too cold. A cool place for your dog in the summer or a warm place in the winter can easily solve some digging issues. A really simple fix is to build a dog house for your pooch.

Is your dog digging to get to something on the other side of the fence? This problem can be a little more difficult to deal with. Being so social, Labs don’t do well when the are by them selves for extended periods. If you have a digging dog that is left outside for extended periods, this may be the cause.

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. Try going for a long walk with your Lab. This is great exercise for your dog. Leaving plenty of toys out can do wonders if you are going to be away from the house for a while.

One other option is to set off a specific digging area. Give him a special treat then they dig in their special area. As a last resort, bury chicken wire where your Labrador Retriever likes to dig. He wont like the feel of the wire and will probably stop digging there.

Overall, not giving your dog free range while you are away is the best option. Set up a kennel to put him in while you are out. This limits the overall damage that could be done otherwise.

Digging by your Labrador can be stopped. It is as simple as figuring out why your dog is digging removing that cause. Always remember that discliplining your dog for digging won’t help. This will only serve to hinder the problem. The best way is to provide a good alternative. Give your Labrador lots of attention, interaction and exercise and you’ll find that you have much fewer problems. The secret to any dog training is lots of love and positive reinforcement.