My dog keeps eating worms

johnharvard

I have an 8 year old Miniature Shnauzer with a large fenced in back yard for him to play in. He spent quite a while finding the weaknesses in the fence and digging holes under it in order to escape and roam the neighborhood. We finally got all the holes plugged and now we have a new problem. He constantly paws the ground, digs up worms and eats them. Consequently, we now have almost no grass left. Unlike the holes he dug under the fence he doesn't dig deep, just enough to expose the dirt and the worms so he can suck them up.

How can I make him stop doing this? I feed him twice a day so I know he's not hungry. I am home all day and take him for walks daily and try to give him a lot of attention so if he's just bored I don't know what else I can do for him.

Any ideas?
(I also posted this question in dog behavior)

dawnben58

That big back yard is the problem. People with small back yards or no back yard take their dogs out to walk and run. That dog needs exercise and mental stimulation. Start walking or biking to run the energy out of him, and maybe get a flirt pole to use in the back yard. Bored dogs are destructive, get him out to play and your lawn will grow back
The Flirt Pole: Dog Toy or Life Changer? | notes from a dog walker

johnharvard

I think you're right about needing exercise and stimulation. He seems very needy. He follows me around the house all day and watches me - like he wants to be involved in everything. I do take him for a daily walk but maybe he needs more. Unlike some breeds he has no interest in fetching sticks or balls. When I try to play fetch with him he just looks confused. It makes me wonder if the flirt pole will work but I'm going to give that a try.

NinaHalina

^ What about some training sessions too, in addition to an extra walk? There are scads of interesting and even useful things you can train your dog to do - and in the meantime provide some "thinking time" too I'm sure he'll love it.