Most dogs love to dig. It’s an instinctive behaviour. So, what do you do when you dig your dog, but aren’t so fond of his digging habit? To discourage your dog from digging holes in your lawn, excavating your flower bed, and tunneling through your tomatoes, consider creating a space in your yard designed specifically for digging. You’re much more likely to meet with success if you provide your dog with a dedicated digging spot rather than try and discourage the behaviour altogether.

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A shaded sandbox or sand pit is a great idea, particularly as many dogs love to dig out a cool space to lie in during the warmer months. Situate it at the base of a tree or surround it by low shrubs and consider adding a layer of wood chips. “A lot of animals like [wood chips] because they keep everything quite fluffy and light up top and it’s easier for them to dig and bury than solid earth,” says Stephen Westcott-Gratton, dog lover and former senior horticultural editor at Canadian Gardening. Giving your dog a place to indulge his digging hobby may save your yard and ensure that you harvest spuds from your potato patch and not a basketful of buried chew toys.

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No Cocoa Bean Mulch

Just like chocolate, cocoa bean mulch contains theobromine and caffeine. These chemicals are poisonous to dogs. Dogs who consume cocoa bean mulch could have vomiting, diarrhea, a very fast heart rate, tremors, and seizures.

This article originally appeared in the award-winning Modern Dog magazine. Subscribe today!

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