One of the most irritating behaviors your Pit Bull can engage in is digging. It can be costly if he is ruining landscape, it makes a mess of your yard, and can even lead to your dog escaping. Pitties dig for a few reasons: it’s self-rewarding, they have excess energy, and they are bored. Knowing why your Pit Bull is digging is the first step. Next is solving it. Try the following four tips to getting your Pit Bull to stop digging.
#1 – Management
While you are working on solving the digging problem, which won’t happen overnight, the easiest way to stop your Pittie from doing it is to not leave him alone in the yard. This way, he won’t have a chance to practice the behavior. The more he practices it, the more he will continue to dig because it’s rewarding for him.
#2 – More Exercise
Many dogs that take up digging do so because they have a lot of energy that they need to expend in some way. Digging is a great way for them to do that – it takes a lot of energy to dig! If you provide more exercise, like a couple mile jog for example, then your Pit Bull won’t have the energy to dig.
#3 – Self-Play Toys
Boredom is another reason why your Pittie may have taken up trying to dig a tunnel. Providing self-play toys for your dog in the backyard is a great way to keep him occupied. The Wunderball is a great choice because when your dog drops it, it bounces unevenly, encouraging your dog to keep playing. Treat toys, iFetch, Tether Tug, and the like are all good options, too.
#4 – A Place To Dig
Finally, your Pit Bull digs because it’s self-rewarding. Aside from expending energy, your dog loves the feel of the dirt in his toes and smell the scents he unearths. He may even be tracking a mole or a gopher. If your dog is like this, you may find the only way to stop him from digging up your entire yard is to give him a sand or dirt box of his own. Use a kid box or build one yourself. Make sure it has a clearly marked perimeter and that the soil inside it is different from your landscaping so your dog can learn the difference. Bury toys and treats inside the box (shallow at first) to encourage your dog to dig there and not anywhere else. This is a great solution because it gives your dog exercise and keeps him from being bored while saving your landscaping. Plus, there’s no risk he will dig himself out of your yard.
