How To Stop A Great Dane Digging
Great Danes do not dig any more than other breeds of dog. However, when a Great Dane digs in your garden, you tend to notice it more than if it were dug by a smaller breed. It is extremely impressive as to the size of the hole that a Great Dane can dig in only a couple of minutes. Digging is normal Great Dane behavior. However, do not despair. Understanding why your Great Dane is digging will help you to identify the appropriate strategy to correct the problem.
It is important to establish whether your Great Dane is digging because he is bored or anxious, or whether he is digging for comfort. Comfort means that your Great Dane may be digging in order to create a comfortable bed. A hole is much cooler for a Great Dane on a hot day.
However, there are things that can be done to correct and control this behavior. If your dog is digging because of anxiety or boredom, it is important to remove the cause of anxiety and provide him with plenty of exercise and toys to play with.
Providing your Great Dane with a sand box is a very beneficial way to stop him from digging your yard or garden. When doing this you can rest assured that he will leave the surrounding area well alone, as he will enjoy digging in his soft sand box. The key to any Great Dane training is consistency and dealing with a digging behavior is no exception.
If you do not correct your Great Dane for digging in inappropriate places whilst he is in the act, your chances of rectifying the problem are minimal.
It is important to give constant supervision. Stay by your door when he is in the garden and watch. The moment that unacceptable digging begins, issue an immediate correction. It is important that your Great Dane understands this difference between right and wrong. You must then call him over to you and make him sit. When he does as you command you should give him praise. He will see that he is given praise for complying with your instruction to sit and this will help your Great Dane to refocus away from digging.
As with all dog training, repetition and consistency is the key. Digging issues can be corrected.
It has been said that burying dog stools just below the surface of where they dig is successful because when they find the hidden item, they are discouraged. However, it is more appropriate to undertake this method when your dog is digging in only one particular place. Perhaps you do not want dog stools in various places of your garden!
Providing your Great Dane with one place to dog and burying bones in that place will encourage him to only dig in that particular location. The reason for this is that he will associate that certain spot with finding bones and other treats. This will redirect the digging behavior very quickly, usually within one week.
Great Danes will dig as it is natural behavior for them. However, if you are willing to learn the reasons for this behavior it can be corrected without hesitation and own a Great Dane that behaves himself in the garden.