Shih Tzu can have a lot of the same instincts and behaviors as other dogs, including digging. We can all agree that digging is a less desirable behavior exhibited by dogs. It creates messes, gets the dogs dirty, and can allow them to escape if they dig under a fence. Not only is this behavior undesirable, it can be dangerous if your dog likes to dig near a fence.
Many dog owners prefer their dogs not to dig. Digging can be a hard habit to break for some dogs. This blog will outline a few different reasons on why your dog may be digging, and some steps you can take to help break that habit.
Why does my Shih Tzu dig?
There are many reasons that a dog can feel the urge to dig. It’s important to note that not all dogs will dig, but some may feel the urge to dig more than others. While it can be more common in some breeds, that is not always the case, any dog of any breed can dig excessively.
Dogs, even Shih Tzu may dig for a number of reasons. The most common reasons for digging in dogs are:
- Anxiety – Dogs can dig excessively due to anxiety, separation anxiety or anxiety from loud noises.
- Boredom – Bored pups can lead to excessive digging.
- Hiding Treasures or treats – Some dogs may have a compulsive need to hide or bury their treasures or treats.
- Instinct – Dogs have natural instincts, and those can include digging.
- Cooling down – when any dog gets overheated, they will often resort to digging in an effort to find cool dirt to help them regulate their body temperatures.
- Escape – some dogs end up digging in an effort to escape the confines of their yard or area.
- Prey drive – dogs are natural born hunters, and some dogs will exhibit a higher prey drive than others, which can lead to digging.
How do I stop my Shih Tzu from digging?
There are many ways that you can help prevent or stop your dog from excessive digging. The first step is trying to identify the reason your pup is digging, which will help you determine which products or training services you may need.
For dogs who dig out of anxiety, it is important to first identify what is causing the anxiety, so you can start working on the heart of the issue. There are some short term fixes for dogs with anxiety, such as the Chillax to the Max Bone from PawTree, that I highly recommend.
For dogs with a high prey drive, or strong natural instincts, training is the way to go. Dogs can be taught to ignore those instincts and their prey drive with proper training. I recommend Baxter and Bella for help with training your pup.
If your dog is digging from boredom, you may need to create a routine with regular play time, to help keep your dog stimulated, exercised and entertained. This can include outdoor playtime with toys such as Frisbee or tug-of-war, or indoor puzzle games, like the ones I recommend here.
Other ways to help keep your dog from digging can include monitoring how long they are outdoors, to ensure they don’t overheat, not allowing them to take toys and treats outside, to prevent them from burying treasures, and using safe and pet friendly methods to cut back on wildlife in your dog’s outdoor area.
Conclusion
Many dogs dig, yes even some Shih Tzu have been known to dig excessively. While all breeds are different, and some are more prone to certain behaviors, all dogs have the same instincts buried deep down. There are a number of reasons that a dog will dig, whether it is from boredom, anxiety, entertainment, hiding treats, or prey drive, many of them are preventable with the right techniques, training, supervision, and management.
