[tange]

Hi everyone, I need help with puppy digging. I read that dogs tend to dig because it is rewarding and because they are likely bored. I work 8 hours full time Mon - Fri but I have spent as much time as I can to exercise him properly before and after work (2 hrs in morning and 4 hrs after work). This includes 2 walks with a game of fetch in different parks. I use this time to train him using different commands. Then we do extra tricks, obedience and mental stimulation games. He gets a raw bone to chew on after I leave plus new toys and other chew stuff like deer hooves. I've tried kongs but he refuses to eat them. My mum takes him for a walk at noon time too.

She told me that he tends to dig or have heaps of left over energy mid morning but then settles down around 11am.

Aren't I providing enough physical and mental stimulation? I've been consistent with keeping up with his training everyday for 45 min (5 min sessions and he is doing perfectly) but why is he still slightly destructive? He is 7/8 months old now.
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[kmes]

I have a digger. In his case (terrier w/high prey drive) it's just fun and/or he is digging chipmonk holes.

Easiest solution is often just supervision/management. Watch when he is outside. If he starts to dig, then calmly interrupt him (upbeat ''hey puppy!'' or something like that), and then redirect his attention to a different activity that you approve of.
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[ChessaQ]

I have a beagle mix that digs. Not small holes but massive craters. It has nothing to do with boredom, she's a hunting dog and loves to go after all the underground critters. In cases like that I think you just have to learn to live with it unless you're willing to watch them all the time.

I've gotten used to it, when my yard starts looking like the surface of the moon I just fill them in. If its boredom, then more games and training will help.
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[Sabina88]

If its feesable/possible to do you could set up a little sand box/pit for him to productively dig. You could even use it as part of your play/training by hiding/burying things for him to find since he enjoys it.
I know it doesn't work for all dogs but it might be a option.

Good luck