How to Stop Your Dog Digging Up Your Garden in 4 Easy Steps

A lot of puppies and dogs love to dig — it’s in their blood and often their favourite pastime! This is especially true for sporting breeds, terriers, and Nordic dogs.

I knew this only too well, having had two terriers myself. They’re now in doggy heaven, but back in the day, they were absolute diggers!

In the early days, there were holes everywhere in our garden. While I didn’t want to stop them from doing something natural, I also didn’t want a garden that looked like an assault course.

The answer? Teach them to dig in a safe spot that worked for both of us. I’m delighted to say I found a win–win solution — and if your dog is digging up your garden, here’s exactly what to do.

Step 1: Create a Safe Digging Zone

🐶 Find an area where your dog can dig to their heart’s content without damaging your garden or hurting themselves.

I couldn’t find the right area in my garden, so I bought a shell-shaped paddling pool (the kind usually used for children) and filled one half with sand. Perfect!

Step 2: Make Digging Fun

🐶 Bury a few of your dog’s favourite toys under the sand.

🐶 Get down with them and play the game of digging together.

🐶 As you do this, introduce a digging command such as “Go dig!” so they learn this is the right place to dig.

It was so much fun to watch my terriers dig alongside me in search of hidden treasure.

Step 3: Practice Every Day

🐶 Visit your dog’s digging zone daily.

🐶 Repeat your digging command and encourage them to dig.

Very quickly, your dog will begin clawing at the dirt or sand in anticipation and will see this as the place for digging fun.

Step 4: Redirect When Needed

🐶 If you see your dog digging anywhere else in the garden, give a firm, confident “NO!” and then guide them back to their special digging spot.

🐶 Use their digging command as you redirect them.

Over time, your dog will go straight to their digging zone whenever the urge hits.

My Terriers’ Sandpit Story

Back when my terriers were still with me, they sometimes tried to sneak in a dig elsewhere. I’d call their name, say “Go dig!”, and they would race to their sandpit with sheer excitement, happily digging away.

In time, they never even considered digging anywhere else. In the summer, I’d fill the other side of the paddling pool with water so they could splash around and cool down. They even used their sandpit as a sunbathing spot.

They may be in doggy heaven now, but those memories still make me smile. It really was a dog’s life 🙂