How to Stop a Newfoundland Dog or Puppy Digging

Some dogs just naturally love to dig and get a great deal of enjoyment from this instinctual and completely normal behavior. But, as you probably already know, digging can be rather destructive and it won’t take much time at all for a dog as large as a Newfoundland to do some serious damage to the backyard flower beds or garden.

In the wild, dogs usually hid bones and bits of food for later from others by burying it in the ground and then digging it up later to consume in private. Although our domesticated dogs no longer need to do this, this natural behavior can be difficult to curb, but definitely not impossible with patience and persistence on your part.

Some dogs actually dig to cool themselves off as the cooler, moist dirt that’s overturned feels good on their paws and legs. All dogs, and especially Newfoundlands who have quite a lot of fur, should have access to a cool, shady area when outside as well as having plenty of cold water to drink. Never keep your dog outside for hours at a time or when you aren’t home.

Newfoundlands with their specially webbed feet are natural born swimmers and love to frolic in the water. If you have the available space you may want to consider giving your dog a small child’s or shallow wading pool to play in and keep cool in, not to mention for keeping them entertained and from digging in the yard.

Many dogs dig out of boredom so be sure that your Newfoundland dog or puppy is getting enough attention and enough exercise, both physical and mental. A brisk walk in the morning and another in the evening may be enough to do the trick, but be sure that your Newfoundland puppy isn’t walking too much or running or jumping as their bones are growing rapidly and they are susceptible to injury and painful conditions such as hip dysplasia.

If your Newfoundland is digging in a specific area, such as the flower garden, try scattering some gravel or small rocks throughout the area to deter their behavior. Some people find that ordinary ground pepper sprinkled on the dirt is enough to keep their pooch from digging as the smell is rather offensive to dogs.

If you have an area outside that your dog will simply not leave alone, you can put down chicken wire or encase shrubbery or flowers within the chicken wire to keep your pup out. Obviously you should try to supervise your Newfoundland as closely as possible when they are outside and able to dig, but if that’s not feasible, restricting their area with a fence of some type may be a viable option to consider.

Provide your Newfoundland with plenty of chew toys, ropes, and balls to occupy their time and to keep them from resorting to digging. You may also want to ask a neighbor or friend to check in on your dog if you’re away from the house for long hours to keep your dog from becoming bored.

Never physically punish your Newfoundland dog or puppy because they are digging and never reprimand them after the fact as this will merely confuse their canine mind. Dogs have absolutely no sense of time so unless you catch them in the act, attempting to correct this unwanted behavior will be futile.