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DIGGING !

First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk  


This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Digging is normal behaviour for both cats and dogs, but sometimes it can get out of hand !

From a very early age puppies and kittens will dig at soft surfaces such as soil - this is normal behaviour and it is part of exploring their environment.  There are several circumstances in which digging is regarded as being normal behaviour, including :

  • Play
  • Exploring environment
  • Prior to going to the toilet
  • After going to the toilet - to cover up faeces/urine
  • After going to the toilet - to spread odour as part of territory marking
  • To create a hollow to rest in
  • To create a hollow as protection for the weather eg Sled dogs bury themselves in the snow
  • To dig out quarry  (eg rabbits, foxes, badgers)  - especially hunting dogs, hounds, terriers 
  • To bury food or bones
  •  
Digging is abnormal behaviour when :
  • It is associated with separation anxiety ...when the owner leaves the animal at home
  • When it is excessive, uncontrolled behaviour
  • When it destroys valuable household or garden items (carpets, shrubs) 

Treatment involves :

  • Deny access to rooms/areas of garden where the destructive behaviour is a problem
  • Increase the amount of exercise that your pet gets
  • Increase the amount of time that you play with your pet
  • Provide toys for your pet to play with

Updated October 2013