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Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is the love of digging. From burying bones to making cool dens for shelter, dogs in yards will inevitably turn to this favorite past time.

This natural behavior can wreak havoc on your yard and garden if it goes unchecked. What is the best way to curb the digging impulse?

The first step in stopping your dog from digging is to determine why he is doing it in the first place. Some dogs just love it.

There are reasons why your dog may dig in your yard: he may need more exercise and stimulation. He may be hoarding food or trying to cool off or stay warm in the ground. He may be trying to investigate the smell of fertilizer or fresh dirt.

Knowing the reason behind the digging can help you stop the behavior. For instance, if it is due to boredom or lack of attention, you can start to offer your dog more play time with you. Dog obedience training can go a long way in deterring the behaviour. Become knowledgeable, sit stay fetch to earn more satisfactory outcomes.

If the problem persists, try one of the following:

1. Bury inflated balloons in places where your dog likes to dig. One popped balloon can be a great deterrent.

2. Along the same lines, you can mix in his feces when you refill a hole he's dug. Dogs will often return to the same spots, and when he discovers the feces, he'll be turned off digging.

3. Chicken wire is another thing you can bury in your yard to deter your dog from digging. He'll hate the feeling of his claws against the wire and will be prompted to stop.

4. When you catch your dog digging, give him a spray from a water bottle or hose. They hate this (but it is not harmful). They will learn to associate the punishment with the crime. Only do this when you catch him digging or he will not connect the behavior with the consequence.

Digging doesn’t have to be a part of your dog’s normal routine. With a little work and training, you can get past this behavior and have a hole-free yard. Just like with puppy potty training, naughty habits can be corrected. For more beneficial outcomes test puppy training biting to aid your dog training efforts.

Another Great Way to Modify Your Dogs Behaviour - Training With Clickers

You want to teach your dog acceptable behavior in a gentle, humane way. Many people have found success with the clicker method.

Operant conditioning is the repetition of a behavior when a reward is given. This is the premise behind clicker training. How does it work?

You hold a small plastic box in your hand. It has a metal strip which produces a clicking sound when pressed.

Ask your dog to perform a command, such as sit, stay, heel, etc. When he does, click right away and give your dog a treat. You are pairing the clicking sound with the treat.

The dog learns to associate the click with the behavior and the click with the treat, which makes it more likely that he’ll repeat it. Soon, just the click will be enough, and eventually, it can be phased out altogether.

You can often train dogs with clickers faster and more effectively than with other means. Clicking is immediate, so your dog quickly learns that his behavior is producing the treat. This encourages repetition of the desired behaviors.

Trying the clicker method can lead to more effective, quicker training. It works with your dog’s natural urge to please you and earn a reward. Read puppy potty training for more dependable dog training.

The Havanese is a Bichon Group breed, that includes Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Coton de Tulear, Lowchen and Maltese The Havanese is a lively small dog, toy dog that were bred to be good companions, so are good with children. They love to have attention and will do many things to attract it. This requirement for attention means they are not the choice for a working couple. They love following owners around the apartment, however they are not possessive of their “ family”, so are great with other dogs, pets and other animals. This seeking for attention often shows when eating, as they like someone present, so if you leave the room, they will often follow, eating as they go, which can be messy. They are a “real dog”, playing games such as tug of war with gusto. Not the greatest walkers in the world, often liking breaks with games or just watching the world go by. Professional dog trainers such as London Dog Training love them, as they are so responsive to positive reinforcement.

For dog care they are straightforward. They do not shed much, so whilst not strictly non-allegenic, they may be suitable for a family with an allergic member.

The Havanese has a slight wavy double coat, which is soft and light, with a denser undercoat.

The Havanese should be groomed daily, as they have the tendency for their fur to mat. If you are not showing the dog, you can trim the coat. Whilst they have fur, they do suffer in extreme cold, so in some areas you may need to buy sweaters for them.

When you bath them, dry with a towel and allow them to dry off naturally inside, as they are susceptible to skin problems if dried with a hair drier. It is a breed that the kennel clubs, prefer and dictate a natural look, avoiding the bows and preferring the hair over the eyes, that protected their eyes from the Cuban sun.

They now come in many different colours and patterns, but were originally white.
Whilst the Havanese is a toy dog, it is solid and sturdy. The Havanese weight ranges from 4-6 Kgs ( roughly twelve lbs). Its height measured at the withers is around 250mm( roughly 10). It is an unusual dog in that the rump is higher than the withers.

The Havanese move with an agile springy gait. Whilst they are relatively good swimmers, they generally shire away from water, but careful when near water if there is something for them to chase.

The Havanese have almond eyes, with medium sized ears that are well covered and hang down. They are disposed to ear infections, so regularly inspect their ears and clean them. Sometimes they may require their inner hairs to be plucked by hand or tweezers. The tail sweeps over the back and is also well covered. The Havanese have a great sense of smell and are trained in some countries for search. The Havanese are easily trainable so are often used in circus shows, tracking, hearing assistance dogs, mould, termite and drug search.

The Havanese routinely live roughly fifteen years. They being breed from a limited gene pool suffer from some genetic diseases. These include liver disease, heart disease, cataracts and retinal dysplasia ( blots on the retina). It is advisable only to buy Havanese from parent dogs who have clear eye certificates. Havanese sometimes develop brown tear stains, which is especially noticeable on those with white or light coats.

The dog originated from the now extent Bichon Tenerife and was taken to Cuba by original settlers and traders. Being popular in Havana in Cuba. Globally the Havanese is a relatively recent breed, taking off in the 1970s from only 10 dogs in the states. Though they were common prior to the Cuban Revolution, they, like many trappings of aristocracy were culled. It is now one of the fastest growing registrations in most country kennel clubs. For this reason it may be difficult to acquire one, so the best of luck on finding one.

A great family dog that is well worth considering.