How to Stop a Chihuahua Digging
When you decided to bring a new dog into your home, you probably thought about all of the rational stuff like purchasing a dog bed, feeding bowls, getting him to a vet and maybe even purchasing him some dog toys. What you may not have thought about was that your dog might be one that will love to dig up your yard. You probably did not think about it until it became a problem.
You certainly do not want to restrict your dog from being allowed to play in the yard but you certainly do not want him digging up all of your garden and nice green grass. There are some things you can do though to make sure that your dog is allowed to dig, without messing up your yard.
Stopping your dog from digging all together is something easier said than done. And you most certainly do not want to stop your dog from enjoying something that comes very natural to him, especially since the list of hobbies he can take up are going to be very limited.
The first thing you need to do is to decide whether you will allow your little dog to have a small section of earth in your yard that he can call his own for digging purposes or whether you would like to create a digging location for him that would not affect the land. If you want to allow him to dig the grass and soil, you might want to look for a corner of the backyard that no one really pays any attention to.
If you would prefer to go another route, you could always build or purchase a sandbox. Fill the box with non-toxic sand or fill it with soil. You could even plant grass there so that your dog will feel as though he is digging in a regular spot in the yard, but you will be all the wiser.
For those who want to get a little more creative, you can bury a bone or some of your pet’s favorite toys in there so that he has something he can go after. Make sure that you are carefully watching your puppy when he goes out into the yard. You have to be there so that you can direct him to the proper digging location if he starts to dig in an undesirable location.
Make sure that you are using the “NO” command but that you are not hitting or striking the dog in any manner. When your dog begins to dig in the special spot that you have selected for him, make sure that you are praising him. The praise will help ensure that your dog will repeat the pattern of digging in the desired location. After all, your dog wants more than anything to have your approval.