Sarah’s helpful hints to keep pets happy! Does your dog have a DIGGING PROBLEM? Digging holes in the garden is great fun for dogs, but not so much fun for their owners when prized flowers or plants are found scattered all over the lawn! Here are a few tips to keep both dog and owner happy: Go out and buy a kids paddling pool (the best type are made of hard plastic shaped like a clam/shell) and fill it with sand. Next, find some chunky treats and a few of your dog’s favourite toys, bury them in the new sandpit and sprinkle some treats on top. Now here’s the fun bit - see what your dog thinks! This will help to keep your garden hole-free because your dog will be much happier digging for treat rewards and toys – just don’t forget to cover the sandpit at night so that it doesn’t turn into the neighbourhood kitty litter tray! When a dog buries a bone in the garden, it means he is not hungry and is saving the bone for later. To prevent this, reduce his main meal by a handful on days he has a bone to chew, that way he will be hungry enough to eat the whole bone and won’t need to store it in your flowerbed. Try using a sprinkle of chilli powder or pepper as a repellent in small garden beds you want to keep off-limits to your pooch – the strong smell of these spices usually deters digging doggies. If your dog has dug an escape route under the fence, fill the gap with a few bricks or large pebbles and cover these with chicken wire, making sure there are no sharp bits that could injure your dog. Next time he goes to dig, he will not like the feel of the chicken wire on his paws and will most likely give up on escaping - keeping your fluffy Houdini at home! Always ensure your dog gets walked regularly to allow him to explore the world outside of the back yard, and offer chew toys to keep him occupied when you are not at home. Digging and escaping is usually due to boredom, so regular exercise is important to keep both you and your pooch happy and healthy!