Behavior
How to Stop a Dog From Digging
Behavior · 5 min read · Updated November 12, 2026
You stop a dog from digging by giving him a better place to dig and less reason to do it. Most dogs dig because they are bored, hot, hunting for critters, or trying to get out of the yard. When you fix the reason and offer a legal digging spot, most dogs switch to it fast.
Digging is normal for dogs, and some breeds were made for it. Yelling at a hole after it is dug does not help. Your dog cannot connect your anger to something he did an hour ago. The plan below works with your dog instead of against him. Dogs who dig from stress when left alone may also need help from our separation anxiety guide.
Figure out why your dog digs
Watch where and when the digging happens. Holes near the fence often mean your dog wants out, maybe to chase a squirrel or visit a neighbor dog. Holes in the shade or in cool dirt often mean he is hot and making a cool bed. Holes all over the yard, with lots of energy behind them, usually mean boredom.
Some dogs dig to hunt. If your yard has moles, chipmunks, or bugs in the soil, your dog may dig where he smells or hears them. Knowing the reason tells you which fix to use first.
Give him a legal digging spot
Pick one corner of the yard and make it the digging zone. Loosen the soil or fill a low box with sand or soft dirt. Bury a few treats and a favorite toy just under the surface, and let your dog watch you do it. Praise him like crazy when he digs there.
Keep the spot fresh. Hide a new treat or toy in it a few times a week. If he starts a hole in the wrong place, walk him calmly to his spot and reward him for digging there. Most dogs pick their own legal spot within a week or two. The same bored brain that digs also chews, so the boredom fixes in our chewing guide help here too.
Burn energy before yard time
A tired dog digs far less. Take your dog for a real walk or play a hard game of fetch before long yard time. If walks turn into a tug of war, fix that first with our leash pulling guide. Brain games tire a dog out as well. A snuffle mat, a puzzle toy, or ten minutes of training tricks can take the edge off.
Do not leave your dog alone in the yard for hours and expect him to rest. To a dog, an empty yard is a job site. Stay out with him when you can, and bring him in when you cannot watch. Short, fun yard visits beat long, lonely ones.
Block digging at the fence line
If your dog digs to escape, fix the fence line. Bury the bottom edge of the fence a few inches into the ground, or lay strong wire mesh flat on the ground along the fence and cover it with soil. Big rocks along the base work too. A dog who cannot start a hole at the fence will often give up fast.
Never punish a dog for a finished hole. If you catch him digging in the wrong spot, call him away in a happy voice, reward him, and take him to his digging spot. And never leave a dog outside in heat. A dog who digs a cool bed on hot days needs shade, water, and time indoors.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog dig up the yard?
The top reasons are boredom, heat, hunting smells in the soil, and trying to leave the yard. Where the holes are tells you a lot. Holes by the fence mean escape. Holes in shady dirt mean your dog wants a cool place to lie down.
Does a digging pit really work?
Yes, for most dogs. Make one spot soft and fun, bury treats and toys in it, and praise your dog for digging there. Keep hiding new things in it so it stays the best digging spot in the yard.
My dog digs under the fence. What do I do?
Block the start of the hole. Bury the fence edge, lay wire mesh flat under the soil along the fence, or line the base with big rocks. Also give your dog less alone time in the yard and more exercise, so the urge to leave is lower.
Should I fill the holes with water or anything else?
No tricks are needed, and some old tricks are unkind or unsafe. Just fill holes back in, watch your dog in the yard, and guide him to his legal spot with praise and treats.
Do some breeds dig more than others?
Yes. Terriers and some working breeds were bred to dig and chase. They need the legal digging spot and more brain work than most dogs. Our [full guide list](/guides) has more boredom-busting ideas that help these breeds.
When is digging a sign of a bigger problem?
If your dog digs in a panic, hurts his paws, or tries to escape no matter what you change, talk to your vet and a kind, certified trainer. Panic digging often goes with strong fear of being alone or of loud sounds.