Why Is My Dog Digging Up the Garden?

You step outside to admire your garden... and instead find a freshly dug crater where your flowers used to be.

Sound familiar?

Digging can be one of the most frustrating behaviors our dogs do. But the truth is, it’s not mischief or defiance. It's communication. It's instinct. And it's absolutely something you can work with, not against.

If you’re a dog mom who wants to do right by your pup while also saving your lawn, keep reading.

Why Dogs Dig (It's Not About "Being Naughty")

Before we get into the how-to, let’s talk about the why. Dogs dig for lots of reasons:

Instinct: Digging is hardwired into many dogs. Their wild ancestors dug for shelter, food, and safety. Some breeds (hello, terriers!) have even stronger urges than others.

Exploration: The earth is full of scents and textures. For your dog, it’s like opening a mystery box every time they dig.
Comfort: On hot days, dogs may dig to create a cool patch of dirt to lie in.
Boredom or loneliness: If your dog is left alone for long stretches, digging becomes a way to pass the time.
Attention-seeking: Even a “No!” or a chase around the yard can reinforce digging. Because to your dog, attention is attention.

Understand the Why Behind the Digging

If you want to stop your dog from digging, the very first step is to pause and observe.

Ask yourself:

When is my dog digging? After being left alone? When they’re full of energy?
Where is it happening? Near the fence? Around the same garden bed?
Has it become a game? (Some dogs learn that digging = attention + a fun game of chase.)

Understanding the cause of the digging will help you choose the right solution.

What You Can Do: Kind and Effective Solutions

Let’s look at ways you can work with your dog’s instincts—while also protecting your backyard oasis.

1. Provide an Appropriate Digging Area

If your dog is a digger, don’t fight it. Redirect it. Give them a spot where they can dig.

Set up a digging pit with soft soil or sand.
Use a children’s shell pool or a corner of the garden.
Bury treats, toys, or chews to encourage digging there.
Let your dog watch you hide something in that particular area. And then let them have some fun finding whatever you have buried there.

This is enrichment at its best: natural behavior, fulfilled in a way that makes everyone happy.

2. Increase Physical and Mental Exercise

A tired dog, tired in the sense it has been mentally and physically fulfilled, is a happy dog. And a less destructive one.

Take them for a sniffari walk where they can use their nose.
Play games that mentally challenge them, like "find it" or food puzzles.
Rotate toys to keep things interesting.

When your dog’s needs are being met, there’s less urge to dig for entertainment.

3. Add Mental Stimulation

Mental engagement is just as important as physical exercise.

Try puzzle toys, treat-dispensing balls, or snuffle mats.
Set up a sensory garden or sniffing path in your yard.
Change the environment regularly to spark curiosity.

Dogs thrive in enriched environments. And digging often fades when their mind is satisfied.

4. Supervise and Redirect

It’s important to be present when your dog is outside, especially while you’re teaching new rules.

Watch for signs they’re about to dig.
Use the attention sound to interrupt and redirect their behaviour
Calmly walk to the digging area and guide them there.
Praise them when they start digging in the right place.

Dogs aren’t born knowing your garden layout, they need your guidance.

5. Use Positive Reinforcement

Whenever your dog chooses the designated digging area over your veggie patch—celebrate!

Give treats, praise, or belly rubs.
Make the digging zone feel rewarding.
Ignore or redirect your dog if he starts digging in unwanted areas.

Dogs do what works. Help them learn what you want to work.

6. Modify the Environment

Manage the environment. Sometimes a bit of prevention goes a long way:

Fence off the areas you want to protect.
If you have a dog who digs under fences, see if you can reinforce the area under the fence to prevent him from digging through and escaping.
Cover soft soil with gravel or something similar to discourage digging. Perhaps something that doesn’t taste good, but is of course safe for your dog.

Your Garden Can Be a Playground and a Peaceful Space

Digging doesn’t have to be a battle. It’s simply communication. A signal from your dog that they need more stimulation, freedom, or connection.

Remember: Digging is natural. Your dog needs your guidance. Your dog needs to learn from you what they can and cannot do, it’s not obvious to them. Everything they do is instinct or learned behaviour.

So next time you see those muddy paws, take a breath. You’ve got this. Guide your dog. Help your dog. And never punish him. Rather use redirection, enrichment, and kindness instead.

With some patience and creativity, you can help your dog meet their needs, without sacrificing your garden in the process.