Is your little Shiba Inu digging you into insanity? If so, then you are not alone.
One of the many frustrations amongst Shiba Inu owners is that they can’t seem to stop their Shiba Inu digging up their garden.
Sometimes the pups are content to just dig holes in the yard, and sometimes these little guys will want to wreak havoc on your kitchen linoleum.
3 Reasons for Shiba Inu Digging
In order to figure out the reason your Shiba Inu is digging, the first thing to do is figure out why. There are usually three possible reasons your pup is tearing up the yard.
- Boredom
- Restlessness
- The other dogs are doing it
Treating Boredom
If Boredom is the cause of your problems, then in order to stop Shiba Inu digging from tearing up your garden you need to keep your dog entertained.
Puppies, much like toddlers, have a very short attention span and they need constant entertainment. One of the best ways to keep your dog entertained is to invest in puppy toys.
Some Great Dog Toys
Getting him a Kong toy will be a big help to control his digging urges. The Kong toy is a cylindrical rubber chew toy with a hole in the center to put treats in that your Shiba Inu has to dig out.
Dog biscuits fit inside them nicely, as do pieces of Beggin’ Strips or Doggie Jerkey.
Stop Shiba Inu Digging from Restlessness
While you may not realize it, Shiba Inus get restless just like we do. Simply letting your dog outside to play and then closing the door on him is not going to give your puppy the proper exercise needed to exhaust himself.
You may not realize this, but many times in order to stop Shiba Inu digging, simply spending more time exercising your dog will do the trick.
This is especially true if your dog is digging inside. Taking your dog for a jog and playing fetch or Frisbee are a couple of excellent ways to get your puppy worn out.
But, Mom, All the Other Dogs Are Doing It
One of the most frustrating reasons a puppy won’t stop digging is because he sees another dog digging and, quite frankly, it looks like a lot of fun.
Whether you have other dogs in your home that dig or your little pup sees the neighbor’s dog digging on the other side of the chain link fence, you need to find a way to control the chaos.
How to Stop Shiba Inu Digging
The first thing you need to do is to train your Shiba Inu in the basic dog training commands. You’ve got to teach your Shiba Inu to Sit, Stay, Heel, “No”, “Wait.” Once you learn how to train your dog in the basics, you can implore more advanced techniques to stop digging.
In addition, you can fill the holes with cement. It’s effective, but only temporarily.
Another method, which is much easier on the wallet, is to bring your puppy inside whenever he starts digging. A firm “No!” and a march back indoors will take a little while to work, but puppies are smart and yours will eventually catch on.
A good dog obedience training book is always an excellent way to stop Shiba Inu digging. Read my honest, in-depth review of the best dog training books online and learn how to train your dog yourself.