Can You Dig It?

Dear Mr. Smart T. Pants,

Yesterday I saw my humans digging big holes in the garden, placing plants in the holes and covering them up. it looked like such fun that this morning I decided to try it. I took out one of my favorite toys, dug a big hole, put the toy in the hole and then began to cover it up. And instead of being proud of me for doing this or joining in the fun, my humans said I was a bad dog! What is up with that? Why can they do it and I can’t?

Confused in Carolina

Dear Confused,

Humans are strange aren’t they? What they do not understand is that digging for some breeds is just pure instinct. It is what they are bred to do. For others digging can provide a fun activity filled with great smells, the sensation of soft dirt beneath your paws, the thrill of throwing dirt behind you and the end result of a cool place to nap or an interesting item to play with.

If humans want their dogs to participate in “organized digging” it is going to take time and patience. Select an appropriate location where they can dig. Entice them by digging a hole yourself and putting something of value in it. Then encourage them when they dig in that spot. Humans are going to have to supervise this technique for quite a while before it actually catches on.

Communication between pets and their owners can be confusing. But trying to understand one another is worth all the time and effort.

Mr. Smart T. Pants