Unlike the moles that will decorate your garden with small mounds, since you adopted your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, your garden has become a golf course! Indeed, you have noticed holes all over your grass and the responsible person is none other than your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. So what can you do to stop him? Punish your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje? Stop him from going into the garden? First of all, you will have to find out why your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is digging. So you can find a solution to stop or limit the disaster… This post will help you to better understand and give you some tips to stop your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje from digging in your garden.
Your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje digs from time to time
Your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje digs because he’s a dog. And yes, whatever the breed, a dog digs naturally to have fun, to look for smells, to protect itself from heat or to hide a bone. There is no need to scold your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje if he sometimes makes a hole from time to time to bury one of his treasures in it. He would not understand what he has done wrong and the reprimand will not help. If this phenomenon is moderate, it will have to be accepted because it is instinctive and natural.
Your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje digs very often
However, if your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje gets into the practice of digging very often and everywhere, it may be because it is bored. Indeed a dog needs exercises and if your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje lacks activity, it will try to fill this gap by digging.
Your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is digging too much – what to do?
Making a Nederlandse Kooikerhondje stop digging – Get some physical exercise
First of all, you will need to adopt the habit of walking him for at least 30 minutes a day, running him and playing with him. Indeed, if he has been physically active enough, your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will not want to dig. He will think about resting quietly and you will find that there will be fewer holes in your garden.
Making a Nederlandse Kooikerhondje stop digging – Make him distracted
To avoid boredom when you leave, another solution is to give him toys when he is alone outside. I recommend the famous Kong with its candy that can distract him for hours. With his attention so busy, your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will think less about digging your land….
Indeed, loneliness and boredom will anguish or stress your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. This is what drives him to unwanted behaviour such as digging, barking or destroying objects… But if you give him a well-stocked KONG of candy when he stays outside alone, it can distract him for hours. His attention thus occupied, he will not be bored and your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will think less about digging your ground….
Best toy for Nederlandse Kooikerhondje – The Kong
Making a Nederlandse Kooikerhondje stop digging – Educate him
If, despite everything, your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje continues to dig everywhere, you will have to train your dog. You can teach him to dig only in a limited area.
You will need to define a place on your property where your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will be allowed to dig (by surrounding it with stones or making a sandbox). It will be necessary to hide food or toys from him precisely at this place and make him understand that he has the right to dig there.
However, use the NO and STOP with a strong and authoritative tone when you catch him digging outside the defined area. It will be necessary to be firm and always show him the place that is authorized (intended). By repeating these renunciation orders, your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will gradually understand that he can only dig in his own area. So, your Nederlandse Kooikerhondje will continue to dig as his instinct demands but your garden will be preserved!
