How to Stop a Pomeranian Digging
Out of all of the little quirky behaviors a puppy may show, digging is not one that many people are a fan of and for good reason. You have probably worked very hard to maintain a decent looking backyard and the last thing you want is to have your new puppy come in and destroy everything. Of course, digging is a part of their nature, at least for the majority of puppies and dogs, so you do not really want to stop them from digging all together, but you do want to stop them from digging up your precious flowers or shrubs.
To do this, you simply need to look around your outside space and decide whether or not there is an area that would be okay for the puppy to dig. A place that is out of sight and away from your flowers is a good spot. This could be along the backside of your house or behind an old garage or shed. There are probably a few places in your yard that you would not mind your little furry friend having fun with. Of course, the hard part is getting your Pomeranian to understand where he can dig and that everywhere else is off limits.
First, you have to create the digging place. Either allow the puppy to dig the ground or place a sandbox down. It can be filled with sand or dirt. Dig a shallow hole for some of your puppy’s favorite toys and chews so that he can pick up on their scent and want to dig them out. As soon as you notice your puppy digging in the right location, you will want to give him lots of praises. Teach him that his behavior is acceptable to you and that you are proud of him.
You have to make sure that you are always out in the yard with your puppy until he is fully trained on digging. As soon as you see him make a mistake and start to dig in the wrong spot, which he will, give the deep “no” command and redirect him to the area that is okay to dig in. Again, when he starts digging in the correct spot, you will want to praise him. The “no” command is to simply get him to stop the current action so that you have a chance to redirect him. It is the positive reinforcement that is the actual training part. It cannot be stressed enough that you cannot forget about the positive reinforcement.
It may be a little stressful at first for you, especially if this is your first time training a puppy, but it is something that you will be able to get through. Just keep pushing through the process and stay consistent. Before you know it, your puppy will always dig in the right spots and you will not have to be your puppy’s daily reminder of where to dig.