So how do you get your dog to respect your yard? For many people, dog obedience digging is a big problem. Many people believe that you shouldn’t even consider owning a dog unless you have a fenced in yard. While a backyard does make it easier to own a dog, this opinion might be a bit extreme. Housetraining can begin outdoors from the start and space is readily accessible for exercise and exploration - even before leash manners are taught.
In fact, the backyard is so handy, some dog owners even use it in place of proper dog training, although this is not a very wise move. Many people find it easier to put the dog in the yard when friends come over to avoid jumping and over excited greetings. Many people choose to add a pet door so they don’t have to take the time to let the dog out. This may be convenient, but it is not a smart thing to do.
Your Dog’s Backyard
A lack of supervision of your dog could lead to a dog who doesn’t care about pleasing you and does what they want. You will definitely wind up with bad dog obedience digging problems.
Since dogs tend to be social animals, they consider their human family to be part of their pack, while other dogs might be additions. When dogs are left alone in the backyard, it makes them lonely and bored. They entertain themselves by digging holes, tearing out plants and shrubbery, and escaping under or over the fence in search of companionship. Some bark their butts off in an attempt to call their clan together or exchange vocalizations with other yard-bound dogs.
Social isolation isn’t the only reason dogs begin bad behavior, by digging, barking and destroying the backyard, but it plays a major role. Dogs who are supervised tend not to act up because owners will distract it and keep it behaving well. You can either play with your dog or have it follow some easy dog obedience training. When a dog displays good dog behavior, the owner can offer rewards of play or treats and this will keep him being good over and over again.
An Isolated Dog Cannot Learn
Imagine that your yard is your dog’s playground. It’s a great place for exercise and stress reduction, but not meant to be the dog’s exclusive home 24/7. When your dog is outside all the time, it doesn’t learn how to behave in the house and it cannot do the job of protecting the home or build strong relationships with the members of its pack. A dog digging problem will develop when a dog is left to its own devices.
If your adolescent dog is too rambunctious to leave home all day then either hire a dog walker, drop it off at a doggie daycare, or install a dog door in the utility room so your dog has access to the yard and one or two well dog-proofed areas of the home. Keep in mind that dogs who are bored tend to get themselves into trouble and display bad dog behavior. It is not the dog’s problem it is being naughty, give it some attention and see how your dog will improve and you won’t have a dog obedience digging or barking problem anymore.