Do German Shepherds Dig? Why They Do It and 6 Ways to Stop It

I came home last Tuesday to what looked like a crime scene in my backyard. Three holes, each about a foot deep, dirt sprayed across the patio, and my German Shepherd lying in the freshest crater looking genuinely pleased with herself.

If you're a GSD owner, you've probably lived some version of this. Do German Shepherds dig? Oh, absolutely they do. And once they start, stopping them takes more than just yelling "no" from the back door.

After years of having my flower beds demolished and my fence line undermined, I've figured out what actually works. But first, you need to understand why they're digging - because the reason dictates the solution.

Why German Shepherds Dig

Not all digging is the same. Your GSD isn't digging to spite you (even if it feels that way). There's always a reason, and identifying it is the first step toward fixing it.

Boredom - The #1 Cause

This is the reason behind roughly 80% of GSD digging I've seen. The AKC confirms boredom as the top cause of destructive digging in dogs. German Shepherds are working dogs with enormous mental and physical needs. When those needs aren't met, they create their own entertainment.

And digging? It's incredibly satisfying for a bored dog. It engages their nose (buried smells), their body (physical exertion), and their brain (problem-solving). It's basically a full enrichment activity that conveniently destroys your yard.

Signs your GSD is digging from boredom:

• The digging happens when they're left alone in the yard
• There are multiple holes with no clear pattern
• The dog seems energetic, not distressed
• Other boredom behaviors are present (chewing, barking at nothing, pacing)

Temperature Regulation

German Shepherds have thick double coats, and in summer, they can overheat quickly. Digging exposes cooler soil beneath the sun-baked surface. If your GSD digs mostly in hot weather and then lies in the holes they've created, they're trying to cool down.

I noticed my GSD doing this every July without fail. She'd dig a shallow pit near the fence line where there was afternoon shade, then curl up in the cool dirt. Once I added a kiddie pool and covered the worst mud patches and moved her outdoor rest area to a shaded spot, the digging stopped within a week.

Hunting Instinct

German Shepherds have a strong prey drive, and if there are critters underground - moles, voles, grubs, ground squirrels - your GSD will dig to get them. This kind of digging looks different:

• Holes are concentrated in one area
• Your dog sniffs intensely before digging
• They dig frantically, almost obsessively
• The digging is focused, not random

Escape Attempts

If the digging is concentrated along your fence line, your German Shepherd may be trying to get out. Common motivations:

• A female dog in heat nearby
• Separation anxiety (trying to reach you)
• Noise phobia (thunderstorms, fireworks)
• General curiosity about what's on the other side

Warning: Fence-line digging is a safety issue, not just a nuisance. A German Shepherd who digs under a fence can get loose near traffic, get into confrontations with other animals, or end up lost. Address fence-line digging immediately with buried chicken wire or an L-footer.

Hiding Treasures

Some GSDs bury things - bones, toys, treats, occasionally your shoes. This is instinctive behavior inherited from their wild ancestors who cached food for later. It's not a problem behavior so much as a quirk, but it still results in holes.

6 Proven Ways to Stop Your German Shepherd From Digging

I've tried everything from commercial deterrents to screaming into the void. Here's what actually works.

1. Increase Exercise and Mental Stimulation

I'm putting this first because it solves about 70% of digging problems without any other intervention.

A German Shepherd who gets 2+ hours of daily exercise and regular mental challenges simply has less motivation to dig. Frozen Kong recipes and lick mat activities are great for keeping them mentally satisfied before yard time. Their needs are being met, so they don't need to create their own entertainment in your backyard.

What worked for me:

• Morning: 45-minute walk or jog
• Midday: 15 minutes of nose work or puzzle feeder
• Afternoon: 30 minutes of fetch or tug
• Evening: Training session (10-15 minutes of new tricks)

When I stuck to this schedule, the digging dropped from daily to almost never. When I slacked off, the holes came back within days.

2. Put Chicken Wire Under the Soil

This is the most effective physical deterrent I've found, especially for fence-line diggers. Here's the method:

1. Dig a shallow trench along the fence line or in the problem area (about 2-3 inches deep)
2. Lay flat chicken wire across the area
3. Cover it with a thin layer of soil

When your GSD starts to dig, they hit the wire almost immediately. It's not sharp enough to hurt them, but it's uncomfortable and weird-feeling enough that they abandon the spot. Every dog I've used this with stopped digging in that area within 2-3 attempts.

Important: Use flat chicken wire, not the rolled cylindrical kind. Flatten it completely and secure the edges so there are no poking wires. Safety first.

3. Create a Designated Digging Zone

This one sounds counterintuitive, but it's brilliant: let your German Shepherd dig - just control where.

Pick a corner of your yard and create a digging sandbox:

• Section off a 4x4 foot area
• Fill it with loose, soft soil or sand
• Bury treats and toys just beneath the surface
• Redirect your GSD to this spot whenever they start digging elsewhere

German Shepherds are smart enough to learn "dig here, not there" within a few weeks. You get a clean yard; they get to fulfill their instinct. Everybody wins.

4. Remove Underground Prey Attractants

If your GSD is digging for critters, the best solution is removing what's attracting them:

• Treat your lawn for grubs (ask your local garden center for dog-safe options)
• Address mole or vole infestations with humane deterrents
• Remove food sources that attract rodents (fallen fruit, open compost)

Once the underground prey is gone, the obsessive digging usually stops on its own. Your German Shepherd isn't interested in empty dirt.

5. Provide Shade and Cooling Options

If your GSD digs primarily in hot weather, the fix is temperature management:

• Add a shaded rest area with a raised cooling bed
• Provide a kiddie pool or sprinkler
• Bring your dog inside during the hottest hours (11 AM - 3 PM)
• Ensure fresh, cold water is always available outside

My digging problem in summer disappeared completely after I set up a $15 kiddie pool and a canvas shade sail over their outdoor area.

6. Address Anxiety if It's the Root Cause

If your German Shepherd digs specifically when you leave home or during stressful events (storms, fireworks), the solution isn't about the digging at all - it's about the anxiety.

For separation anxiety:

• Practice graduated departures (leave for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 5, etc.)
• Provide high-value distraction items when leaving (frozen Kong, bully stick)
• Consider crate training for safety when unsupervised
• Talk to your vet about anxiety management if behavior is severe

For noise phobia:

• Create a safe indoor space during storms/fireworks
• Don't leave your GSD outside during predictable noise events
• Consider calming supplements or anxiety wraps

What DOESN'T Work

Save yourself the frustration - I've tried these, and they don't solve GSD digging:

• Filling holes with poop - Internet myth. Some dogs don't care and dig right through it.
• Spraying cayenne pepper - Works for a day, washes away in rain, and can irritate your dog's nose.
• Yelling or punishment after the fact - Your GSD has no idea why you're angry. Dogs can't connect punishment to something they did 20 minutes ago.
• Putting rocks in the holes - They just dig next to the rocks.

Bottom line: Punishment doesn't work for digging because your dog isn't doing it to defy you. They're fulfilling a need. Find the need, fill it differently, and the digging stops on its own.