Labradors have and always will be intelligent dogs that just can’t stand to sit still. Because of this, these dogs have to be given activities to do in order to be happy and well behaved. Many owners don’t realize that a common source of digging is that the dog isn’t getting the attention and interaction that it needs. In this article, you will gain some insight on the reason behind why Labs love to dig holes and what you can do about it.

The first thing you must understand is that digging is a natural behavior for a dog. There can be multiple things that can cause Labradors and any other dogs to dig. Labrador Retrievers may do some kind of bad behavior (such as digging) to gain your attention, it could be doing it to get some protection from the elements or he may just be bored and looking for some kind of entertainment. If you want to stop your Labrador Retriever from digging, you need to watch him and determine what is causing her to dig.

The First Step

Watch your dog, if she is burying something (toys, bones, food, etc.) then do not provide her with something to bury. On the other hand, you could allow your dog to have her 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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A pup that is in hot or cold weather may have dig a hole to cool off/warm up. If this is the case, give your Lab a shady area for hot days and a nice warm place to get out of the wind and cold. One of the easiest ways to give your dog shelter is to buy a dog house for him.

Watch to see if your dog is digging to escape. If so, you have a larger problem on your hands. Labrador Retrievers love to be around other people and animals so they have a tough time being isolated. Your dog may be digging because he is lonely.

If you suspect that this is the cause of your Labrador digging, you have a few options. Firstly, give your Lab lots of exercise. The exercise can be done by jogging, walking or playing fetch with your dog. If you have to leave the dog alone, give her plenty of toys to play with while you’re out.

One other option is to set off a specific digging area. Whenever he digs in the designated area, give her a reward. You may also try to bury chicken wire in the areas that are most often dug up. He wont like the feel of the wire and will probably stop digging there.

Really though, the best overall method is to just not leave your Labrador alone in the yard. Set up a kennel to put him in while you are out. At least any damage from digging will be in one area

Digging is preventable. It is simply a matter of determining the cause of the problem and fixing it. Getting mad at your digging dog won’t work. This will only serve to hinder the problem. The best way is to provide a good alternative. Lots of love and exercise goes a long way to a happy, healthy Labrador Retriever. Giving your dog a lot of love and positiveness will make you a great dog trainer.