How To Stop A Basset Hound Digging
Dogs love to dig and Basset Hounds are no exception. They dig to relieve boredom, stress and loneliness. Digging is also part of a dog’s natural denning instinct. Some dogs dig dens to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Certain breeds, such as hunting dogs, have evolved to use digging as an essential part of their hunting repertoire.
Dogs will very often dog with an instinctive expression of self-care, such as hiding bones and surplus food. Dogs do this to keep their living areas cleanand prevent interference from scavengers.
However, after saying that, the last thing you want to do is discover that your Basset Hound has been digging in your flower beds again. Because Basset Hounds can be very stubborn, they will dig if they are bored in order to receive attention. However, stopping your dog from digging is not an impossible task, it is just one that will take a little time and effort.
The first and most important thing to do to prevent your Basset Hound from digging is to ensure that he is provided with a sufficient amount of daily exercise. A dog that is well stimulated will be much less likely to dig. Therefore, it is important to allow them to burn off excess energy.
Using a collar and leash to train your dog is much simpler than trying to train an unrestrained dog. Once the dog is on his leash, you should walk him past each hole that he has dug and give him the command for no digging. The command can be very simple such as “no dig”. As long as the same command is used every time you show him one of the holes, he will eventually come to learn that his behavior is not acceptable.
Observing the dog is extremely beneficial. When he begins to dig, tell him the command “no dig” and offer him a toy to keep him busy. When he plays with the toy rather than digging you should give him immediate praise.
Placing a large rock in each hole that your dog has dug and then filling it in with dirt will make it almost impossible for your dog to re-dig the same hole.
Small, short training sessions are better suited to Basset Hounds; therefore, it is better to work him little and often to achieve the best results.
It is imperative that you always give your dog praise for a job well done. It can be difficult to train your dog new behaviors, but he will learn quickly when praise is given.
No dog owner should ever physically punish their dogs. Positive reinforcement works much better than physical punishment when it comes to training Basset Hounds.