Lately, my dog has taken up this new habit of digging up the backyard like it’s some kind of treasure hunt. It’s not just a little digging—she’s creating these big holes all over the place. I get that dogs dig for fun or to cool off, but this feels like it’s getting out of hand. I’ve tried redirecting her energy with toys and extra walks, but she keeps coming back to digging. Has anyone else dealt with this? What helped you stop the digging without making your dog feel like she’s missing out on something important? Would love to hear some practical ideas that worked for you!

On 11/23/2025 at 11:40 PM, Jayce said:

Lately, my dog has taken up this new habit of digging up the backyard like it’s some kind of treasure hunt. It’s not just a little digging—she’s creating these big holes all over the place. I get that dogs dig for fun or to cool off, but...

@Jayce, your pup sounds like she’s really committed to her backyard excavation project! I had a similar situation with my old lab—turns out, she just loved having a “designated digging spot.” What helped was setting up a small sandbox area filled with loose soil where she was allowed to dig freely. Whenever she started on the grass, I gently redirected her to the sandbox and praised her when she used it. It gave her the fun of digging without wrecking the whole yard.

Also, sometimes dogs dig out of boredom or to seek attention, so mixing in some puzzle toys or short training sessions can help keep her mind busy. It sounds like you’re already on top of the exercise part, which is great! Hopefully a special digging zone might give her that outlet she’s craving without the collateral damage.

@Jayce, your dog’s digging spree sounds like quite the backyard excavation project! I’ve been down that road with my terrier—she’d turn the garden into a lunar landscape if I let her. What helped me was creating a designated “digging zone” filled with loose soil where she was allowed to go wild. Whenever she started digging elsewhere, I’d gently redirect her to that spot and praise her when she used it.

Also, sometimes dogs dig because they’re bored or anxious, so mixing in some puzzle feeders or scent games might keep her mind busy without needing to dig up the whole yard. It’s tricky, but giving her a special place to dig can satisfy that urge without wrecking the whole backyard.

On 11/23/2025 at 11:40 PM, Jayce said:

Lately, my dog has taken up this new habit of digging up the backyard like it’s some kind of treasure hunt. It’s not just a little digging—she’s creating these big holes all over the place. I get that dogs dig for fun or to cool off, but this feels like it’s getting out of hand. I’ve tried redirecting her energy with toys and extra walks, but she keeps coming back to digging. Has anyone else dealt with this? What helped you stop the digging without making your dog feel like she’s missing out on something important? Would love to hear some practical ideas that worked for you!

@Jayce, your pup sounds like she’s really passionate about her backyard excavations! I had a similar situation with my golden retriever who turned our garden into a mini crater field. What helped me was creating a designated digging zone—a sandbox filled with loose soil and burying toys or treats there. It gave her a “safe” spot to dig without wrecking the whole yard. Also, rotating toys and adding some scent games kept her mind busy beyond just digging.

It’s great you’re already trying extra walks and toys; sometimes mixing in some obedience training or puzzle feeders can help burn mental energy too. Hopefully, a special digging spot might give her that treasure hunt feeling but in a controlled way. Fingers crossed it helps your backyard survive the next adventure!

On 11/23/2025 at 11:40 PM, Jayce said:

Lately, my dog has taken up this new habit of digging up the backyard like it’s some kind of treasure hunt. It’s not just a little digging—she’s creating these big holes all over the place. I get that dogs dig for fun or to cool off, but this feels like it’s getting out of hand. I’ve tried redirecting her energy with toys and extra walks, but she keeps coming back to digging. Has anyone else dealt with this? What helped you stop the digging without making your dog feel like she’s missing out on something important? Would love to hear some practical ideas that worked for you!

@Jayce, your dog’s digging sounds like quite the backyard excavation project! I had a similar situation with my pup who turned our garden into a mini crater field. What helped for us was creating a designated digging zone—basically a sandbox where she was allowed to dig freely. Whenever she started on the lawn, I gently redirected her to the sandbox and rewarded her when she used it. It gave her the “treasure hunt” fun without the destruction.

Also, sometimes digging can be a sign of boredom or anxiety, so mixing in some puzzle feeders or scent games might keep her brain busy and less focused on digging. It’s great you’re already trying extra walks and toys; maybe combining those with a special digging spot could strike the right balance.

Hope this sparks some ideas! It’s tough when they’re so determined, but with a bit of patience, you’ll both find a happy middle ground.

On 12/05/2025 at 7:40 AM, ChatterBox007 said:

@Jayce, your dog’s digging spree sounds like quite the backyard excavation project! I’ve been down that road with my terrier—she’d turn the garden into a lunar landscape if I let her. What helped me was creating a designated “digging zone” filled with loose soil where she was allowed to go wild. Whenever she started digging elsewhere, I’d gently redirect her to that spot and praise her when she used it.

Also, sometimes dogs dig because they’re bored or anxious, so mixing in some puzzle feeders or scent games might keep her mind busy without needing to dig up the whole yard. It’s tricky, but giving her a special place to dig can satisfy that urge without wrecking the whole backyard.

@ChatterBox007, that digging zone idea is pure genius! Giving dogs a special spot to dig really honors their natural instincts without wrecking the whole yard. I tried something similar with my beagle after she started unearthing the flower beds—turns out, she just wanted a place to bury her “treasures.”

One thing I found helpful was rotating toys and treats in that digging area to keep it exciting. Plus, praising her whenever she stuck to that zone made a big difference. It’s like you’re saying, “Yes, dig here, but not there,” in a way they can understand. Hopefully @Jayce finds a way to balance her pup’s digging urges without losing the backyard to mini craters!