My shepherd mix is about 10 years old and is restricted to a gentle leader outdoors. It has been very very hot, and whether it is the heat, her noise phobia (thunder, guns, planes, etc) or something else is bothering her, she doesn't want to take a long walk. She has to be leashed because she has a streak of fear aggression and cannot be relied upon not to run off helter skelter after a squirrel, motor cycle, etc. even though she knows to come when called... and does except when carried away on more important matters... I know that this is my fault, though I will say that she has been difficult to train. She needs a fenced in yard with supervision. I just wondered if there was any special signifigance to the digging in the dirt (she loves to do this for fun and when she is mad) and lying in it. She also loves to just lie down in a grassy place and become immovable/roll and roll. One of her nicknames is Cinnamon Roll. She is definitely slowing down. Please be constructive.
Answers:
keeping cool in the cool dirt ; instinct; dog whisper, cesar milan, national geographic channel to assist to make puppy happier ; long fur , heat, age and the inability to sweat , I can't blame her; I would want to lie down in the dirt and keep cool myself ; an animal has it right; no pressure, no cares; what is better than lying down and looking at the world and just enjoying life, nature , no stress - we need to follow animal's lead and don't worrry just be happy at the simple pleasures in life
Trying to get to a cooler spot
she is probably digging those holes and lying in them because it is hot out. the dirt underground is cooler. thats my guess.
It means she is hot and trying to cool down.
She is probably just hot and is doing it to cool her off or just likes the feel of the dirt on her
You have the dog outside in the heat. More than likely she isn't in a covered area. Its just their natural instinct to dig and get to the cooler dirt the cool themselves off.
I have a shepherd/pit bull mix that i rescued and she digs holes in any soft soil only to lay in them also. Like your dog my has a high prey drive and cant be left off a leash. I have two trainers for my dog and they say that she is hyper active and needs more exercise. She does this because shes bored, and because they dig the dirt in order to get to the cool earth underneath and cool off that way. She lays in her hole when it is hot outside.
Good Luck.
releasing frustrations,,, or just plain fun for her. my dog does it to play/ chase moles//// and cool off...i had to put fencing up to re-inforce areas she could get hurt... and let her do it in the other part of the yard. she comes back filthy and happy.
my dog had eight puppies and they all dug a huge hole to fit all of them but only the alfa-male got to use it
sry
thats a story not an answer =)
Remember that dogs, regulates their body temperature though there stomach that's why she lies on the cool moist ground.
When the summer heat is on all dogs prefer to sleep on grass or a pit. The earth is much cooler below the surface.
She is digging to a cooler spot in the ground. Nothing more, she's hot!
Your dog is basically trying to cool off. Literally and figuratively. Most dogs do the digging thing when they're upset, it's like when we go punch a punching bag to relieve stress. It's also been a very hot summer all over so it wouldn't be surprising to see your dog lying in a ditch to cool off (the further down you dig, the cooler it is, at least in warm weather; during the winter it's the opposite effect)
She's cooling off,
and she likes the Earthly smell.
I hope you have shade for her
along with fresh water.
they dig holes and lay in it because it's cooler for them.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
My dog digs holes and sleeps in it when its winter and raining
ReplyDelete