As your pet grows up, you will notice that he has developed some new and interesting habits. However, although they might be fun for your pup, they could also leave your house or backyard in chaos. The habit I’m aiming at is digging.
Your corgi is certainly not the only one that does this to your freshly planted flowers. Although digging is a common habit, it can result from various reasons.
Have you ever wondered – why do corgis dig? Is this something they do since they have been puppies, or is there something that triggers them to do it?
Take some time to read this article and find out where your corgi’s digging habit comes from, is it always a sign of bad behavior and mischief, as well as a lot more handy information.
How Serious Is Corgi Digging?
Luckily, professionals who deal with dog behavior have been able to determine the reasons behind many dog habits – digging included. Suppose you have a corgi who loves to make holes in your backyard, but you can’t determine exactly what makes him do this.
What Are Some Concrete Reasons Behind Corgi Digging?
Here is why you have been running into numerous holes in your backyard.
SEEKING COMFORT
It is not unusual at all that your corgi seeks comfort by digging holes now and then. Like all dogs, they tend to create a “home environment”, and they can do that by exploring the ground and sniffing every corner. So, if you live in a house with a big garden, keep your eye open – you will surely come across some “research expeditions”.
OUT OF PURE BOREDOM
Bear in mind that you are dealing with a very playful breed. Your corgi must be entertained and involved in some activity throughout the entire day. So, when you are out doing some business, and you haven’t spent a long time with your pet, there’s a big chance you’ll be coming home to some severe mess – digging included.
When you’re not with your corgi, he will have no other choice but to find some way of having fun. In some cases, it’s just digging random holes in the ground.
HUNTING INSTINCTS
Corgis are born herding dogs, and their hunting instincts will sometimes naturally drive them to dig holes in the ground. Like any other trained hunting dog, they will do this when they smell an animal or want to bury something of their own.
SEPARATION ANXIETY
Not all coping mechanisms are healthy, but your corgi has to deal with stress somehow, right? Well, some corgis find it calming if they dig up holes in your garden. Although this is not the best solution, it keeps them occupied for a while there.
Digging Companions
To comfort you, your corgi is not the only passionate digger out there. He shares his love for digging with many other breeds, and we are here to name them,
The top 10 dog breeds that have a digging habit are:
- The Dachshund
- Bedlington Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Beagle
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Siberian Husky
- Malamute
- Australian Shepherd
- Border Collie
From this list, you can see that a dog’s habit and need to dig some holes in your backyard doesn’t have anything to do with size. It is connected to the breed, and every one of these is unique.
For example, Beagles dig in order to relax and cool off. On the other hand, Siberian Huskies dig because they have spent quite some time clearing up the snow that is in their way.
How To Deal With Corgis Digging?
Since digging can become a problem, here are some useful ways on how to deal with it:
| Management | One way of dealing with uncontrollable digging is by correcting your corgi’s behavior. Bear in mind that this will only work if you start while he is young. An older corgi will find it hard to give up this habit. |
| Smart dog toys | Sometimes, getting rid of one distraction means turning to a new one – a more efficient one this time. You can stop your corgi from making a dozen holes in your yard by buying him some smart dog toys. Soon, all his attention will be drawn to this, and you will be without a problem. |
| Sandbox | Some owners managed to get their corgis to stop digging deep in the backyard by buying them a sandbox and filling it with soil and dirt. This can also get messy, but the damage is smaller. |
| More Exercise | Of course, if you want your corgi to stop developing such destructive habits, you should give him more attention. That means that you should expand the time of your regular daily exercise and even add something. |
| Bad smell | If your dog has a specific area where he likes to dig, you can cover it with some bad scent. This will surely discourage him from coming to that spot again. |
| Blocking access | Nobody likes to do this, but if the digging has gotten out of control and you are out of ideas, you are left with blocking your dog access and putting him in a cage. |
| Water blast | Some owners claim that a good training method is spraying your dog with water after he does something terrible. This includes a quick water blast from your gardening hose. |
| A different ground | Owners have figured that if you can’t stop them from digging, you can change the ground. And that’s precisely what they did. They have planted a solid ground covered in tiny rocks. This will make it hard for your corgi to continue digging. |
| Pointy plants | You can try planting pointy plants such as cactuses in the places where your dog usually digs. After it has grown a bit, your dog won’t dream of coming closer. |
Annoying Habbits
Many owners are afraid of their dogs developing annoying habits that might affect their everyday life. No pet is perfect, and there will always be some bit that will get on your nerves, but this shouldn’t affect your love towards them.
Corgis might be tiny, but they have a lot to offer. Let’s go mention some habits you might find annoying.
1. The Barking Never Stops
Barking is on the top of our list for annoying corgi habits. If you have ever researched this breed, you must have come across that they are very loud barkers. And when we say very loud, we mean it.
They will bark at literally anything – clouds, objects, other dogs.
There are two main reasons why these dogs “raise their voice“, and that’s for the purpose of communication and herding.
Let’s make this more clear.
Like any other dog, your corgi will live in the belief that you speak “dog” and that when he starts barking, you will understand everything he says. Unfortunately, this is not the case, but it doesn’t make them stop.
It can be annoying when you’re in the park or at your home talking to somebody. This loud sound can get in the way.
The only problem might be that it is sometimes hard to make out the bark’s message: is it a sign of discomfort, anger, pain, or happiness?
Guess we’ll never know.
Are there ways to manage this? Yes, and they include simple methods. You can just practice the “quiet command” with your corgi. It would be best if you did this while they are still a puppy. The other method is to train them to bark on command, but you should know that this is extremely hard to achieve, especially with this stubborn breed.
2. They Are Always Chasing Something
By the time your corgi passes one year, you will realize what kind of energy you are dealing with. So when we say that corgis possess an outstanding amount of energy, we are not kidding.
These little guys are capable of running all day long. If they get tired, they will take a 5-minute break and get right back to chasing a cat, ball, or stick.
Sometimes, this can get out of control, and you might end up chasing your corgi down the street and back. Chasing is in their nature, so don’t expect him to be calm.
This can also have to do with their history of herding. They used to chase cattle from one end to the other in order to keep them going straight.
If you fear that chasing might be a problem in the future, teach your corgi the importance of the command “stay put”. It will save you a lot of energy and running around.
3. Nipping Your Shoes
Although this may sound crazy to you, corgis carry along an old habit with them. It dates back to their herding days. Back then, they would nip the heels of the cattle to warn and keep them on the right track.
Don’t be surprised if you find your corgi nipping on your shoe if you’re not going in the direction he wants. Yes, this doesn’t look good, but you can make it stop. Train your corgi that nipping and nibbling on other’s personal belongings are not allowed and that bad behavior will not be tolerated.
The problem becomes serious when your corgi starts doing this to someone else’s shoe. So, before it becomes serious and your corgi bites someone’s shoelace, establish some training methods.
Out of all three, this one is the easiest to manage. The other two, not so much.
Dog Digging Repellent
Desperate times call for desperate measures. If your corgi’s digging is getting worse by the minute, and your property is beginning to look worse and worse, you must act immediately.
This calls for a dog digging repellent. And what is this?
This is a bottled substance that prevents your dog from digging holes in your garden. Many owners have claimed that it helped them very much and that their dog has completely given up this habit.
When using this repellent, it is essential to mention that it should be reapplied in the event of rain.
Now, the types of repellents. There are store-bought and homemade. The effectiveness depends mainly on the breed. They all react differently – while some are repulsed right away, others don’t mind it at all.
First, let’s go through the store-bought choices. There are liquid repellents, water sprinkler repellents, and ultrasonic repellents. Here’s a better look at them:
Store-bought Dog Digging Repellents
| Liquid repellents | Liquid dog digging repellents are bottled substances that can be sprayed on your lawn at any time. A majority of these repellents are biodegradable so they won’t damage your property, and they can last up to 30 days. These repellents also prevent insect damage. The spray must dry completely before letting your dog out. |
| Water sprinkler repellents | Water sprinkler repellents are completely different from the liquid ones, and they include just water and nothing else. These automatic devices are placed near the digging place. They can sense movement from 35 feet, and they activate right away. |
| Ultrasonic repellents | Although customers do not praise this type of digging repellent, you can still find them in stores. Ultrasonic dog repellents work by flashing LED lights and scaring off the dog. This radiation could seriously damage your dog’s health. |
Some owners like to stick to homemade versions of dog digging repellents, and they can include vinegar, essential oils, chili powder, ammonia, or even citrus juice.
Let’s see how these repellents prevent your dog from digging more holes.
Homemade Dog Digging Repellents
| Vinegar | Vinegar is perfect for breeds who have sensitive noses because they will find it very hard to resist the smell of vinegar. Be careful not to pour it directly on the plants. |
| Essential oils | You can mix essential oils like eucalyptus or sour apple with water and spraying them on your lawn. |
| Chili powder | Chili powder has proven to be very effective when it comes to digging. Sprinkle some chili powder over your lawn, and it will surely irritate your dog’s nose. |
| Ammonia | Ammonia is a powerful dog repellent, and even the smallest amount can do wonders. This is a very strong substance, so you should be very careful. |
| Citrus juice | Some owners use citrus juice as a dog digging repellent. For example, the sour taste of lemon or orange juice can easily drag your dog away from digging holes. |
Learn More: Do Corgis Have Sensitive Feet?
Conclusion
You will witness your dog develop many habits as he grows up. Some will be cute, and some will start to get on your nerves. For example, digging holes on your lawn is a common habit among all breeds. If you have a corgi, you will be seeing a lot of this.
You can say that corgis enjoy digging and that there are actually a couple of reasons for this. Your corgi can start digging holes in your garden because he feels bored, he is seeking comfort or having some health issues. Since we are talking about hunting dogs, digging is in their blood, and it can easily turn into a habit.
Corgis digging up your lawn doesn’t always have to be serious, but it can leave you with not such a nice view. Luckily, there are ways in which you can manage this habit. You can teach your dog the command “stay put” when you see that he is preparing to dig a hole. You can buy your dog some smart toys to distract him or fill a sandbox with dirt and let him dig that.
Don’t worry. Corgis are not the only ones who have this habit. There are many other breeds that can make your lawn look like a war zone, like beagles, huskies, or even dachshunds.
Digging can be an annoying habit for some, but it is certainly not the only one. If you are a corgi owner, you will have to get used to some loud barking, chasing, and even nipping someone else’s shoelace. Be patient, and this can all be fixed by good training.
Some owners and vets recommend using a dog digging repellent to prevent your dog from creating more damage. There are two types of digging repellents – the store-bought and homemade ones. Their effectiveness largely depends on the breed itself, so you might end up experimenting with a few before you get to the right one.
