Why Do Male Dogs Dig Holes?

Reviewed By Kyoko •  Updated: 09/12/22 •  4 min read
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Why Do Male Dogs Dig Holes?

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Dog excavators can be a real problem! What do we mean? Well, it seems that some male dogs love to dig holes. It seems to be their main function in life to dig as many holes as they can, everywhere they have an opportunity to dig! But why do male dogs dig holes?

Have you wondered why your male dog has a penchant for digging holes? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We understand this can be a very challenging behavior in your dog.

We’ve put together some information about what causes a male dog to dig holes and how you can help your dog stop digging holes. Let’s get started!

Why Do Male Dogs Dig Holes?

There are several reasons a male dog may dig holes. For instance, if a dog is out in the yard and it’s hot outside, he may dig a hole in a cool, shady place. This way, he has a place to cool off. Or your dog could be looking for a comfortable place to lay in the yard. The hard ground isn’t usually comfortable, so your dog may dig a hole molded to his body. That makes a very comfortable bed for him.

Another reason that male dogs may dig holes is that they hear or smell something under the ground. It could be there’s a small critter burrowing or running through tunnels. Maybe your dog hears or even smells an insect in the ground. No matter what, if he’s curious, a dog may dig in the ground to find what that something is!

Dogs may also dig holes when they’re bored. When a dog is out in the yard alone all day, there’s nothing for them to do and no one to play with. So, the dog cooks up his own “fun” and starts digging. Digging holes helps distract him from being bored and provides an outlet for his pent-up energy. When you come home, you’re dismayed to find a moonscape of craters in the backyard. But you can’t blame your dog. He was lonely and bored.

A male (or female) dog may also try to dig a hole under the fence to escape the yard. They may do this from boredom or because they saw another dog running free. Or perhaps the dog has seen a rabbit hopping by, and he wanted to chase it!

How to Stop Your Dog from Digging Holes

The first consideration is whether your dog is bored and lonely. Does he sit outside alone most of the time? If so, bringing him inside with the family can help. In addition, spend time playing with your fur baby outside, too. This can go a long way to help relieve his boredom and loneliness. And no dog should ever be left alone in the yard all the time. It’s not good for them at all.

For dogs that are looking for a comfortable place to lay in the yard, you may want to consider creating a dog bed for your canine companion to use when he’s outside. And when it’s hot out, be sure to bring your dog into the house. Dogs can easily become sick or even die of heatstroke.

Finally, if your dog is an escape artist, you may want to consider investing in a dog-proof fence that does into the ground several feet. These are much harder for a dog to dig out of!

So, there you have it. This is a short article on why a male dog digs holes. But you get the idea. If you can determine the underlying cause of his digging, you can find a solution that may work to get your canine companion to stop creating a moonscape in the backyard!

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Kyoko

Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!