Chewing, digging, jumping
How do I stop my dog digging holes to lie in?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
This is usually about comfort rather than boredom, since a shallow dug out hollow feels cooler and more supportive than flat ground. Offering a shaded, raised bed outdoors or a cooling mat often satisfies the same need without the garden taking the damage.
Comfort, not mischief
A dog that repeatedly scoops out a shallow dip and settles into it is usually solving a real problem, hard or hot ground, rather than acting out. The behavior tends to cluster around the warmest parts of the day or the sunniest spots in the garden.
Offering a better resting spot
A raised outdoor bed with airflow underneath, placed in partial shade, gives a genuinely cooler and more comfortable resting spot than bare earth. Some dogs switch over within days once they discover it stays cool without any digging required.
If the habit continues
Let a shallow dug hollow in an out of the way corner become the accepted spot, and discourage new ones elsewhere by covering them and offering the established resting spot as an alternative each time.
Key takeaways
- Dug out hollows are usually about comfort and temperature, not boredom or mischief.
- A raised, shaded outdoor bed often meets the same need without garden damage.
- Accepting one out of the way dug spot while covering others tends to settle the habit.