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Dog Digging Holes in the Yard? Barriers That Discourage It

Dogs dig from boredom, heat or the hunt. Meet the need, then cover the favorite spot with coated wire mesh so digging stops paying off.

By Jamilur Rahman Updated November 5, 2026 · 6 min read

Time
1-2 hours
Cost
$20-$50
Difficulty
Medium
A backyard lawn with a freshly dug bare patch, a pile of soil and a shovel leaning against the fence
In this guide
  1. Quick answer
  2. Free vs. permanent fix
  3. What you'll need
  4. Why it happens
  5. Try this first (free)
  6. When free fixes aren't enough
  7. Buy the fix
  8. Digging along the fence? Bury the barrier
  9. Digging to cool off? Offer a cooler option
  10. What to skip
  11. FAQ
  12. Related problems

Quick answer

To stop dogs from digging holes, work out why your dog digs and fix that: more exercise, shade and water, a digging spot of its own and no hunting in the lawn. For a favorite hole, lay coated wire mesh flat on the ground, secure it with ground staples and cover it with soil or mulch. Digging there becomes unpleasant, so the habit breaks.

Free fix vs. permanent fix

Free fix · A week of daily effort

Meet the need and fill the holes

  • Add a walk or play session before yard time
  • Give shade, cool water and a cool place to lie
  • Make a dig pit with loose soil or sand and bury toys in it
  • Fill old holes with rocks and soil

How long it lasts: Often enough when the cause is boredom or heat. Dogs bred to dig, or ones chasing rodents, may keep going.

Most readers choose Permanent fix
Coated wire mesh with ground staples (illustration)
Illustration

Coated wire mesh with ground staples

Dogs go back to the same loose, scented dirt. Mesh stapled flat under the surface makes that dirt unpleasant to dig, so the spot stops paying off. It protects a flower bed, a lawn patch or a fence line while you are not watching. It does not remove the urge, so keep up the exercise.

How long it lasts: Whole seasons. Laid flat and covered, it stays in place and keeps blocking the spot.

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What you'll need

  • Work gloves

    For handling the mesh and tucking the cut edges

    You have it

  • Shovel and soil or sand

    For filling holes and building a dig pit

    You have it

  • Rocks or flat stones

    A layer at the bottom of a filled hole

    Free
  • Our pick
    Coated wire mesh (illustration)
    Illustration

    Coated wire mesh

    Lay it flat over the favorite dig spot

    Check price
  • Ground staples (illustration)
    Illustration

    Ground staples

    Pin the mesh down every foot or so

    Check price

Why it happens

1

Boredom and extra energy

A dog left alone in a yard with nothing to do makes its own fun. Digging is satisfying and lasts a long time.

2

Heat

Dogs dig shallow holes to lie in cool, damp soil, especially on hot days.

3

Hunting

Moles, voles and other animals underground draw dogs in by scent. The dog is following its nose.

4

Breed instinct

Terriers, dachshunds and some other breeds were bred to dig out prey. Digging comes naturally to them.

5

Escape

Holes along the fence usually mean your dog wants to get out, or to something on the other side.

Try this first (free)

Do these in order, starting with the simplest.

  1. 1. Work out why your dog digs

    Watch when and where. Holes along the fence mean escape. Shallow bowls in the shade mean heat. Holes near mounds and plants mean hunting. Holes everywhere when you are out usually mean boredom.

  2. 2. Add exercise before yard time

    A walk or 10 minutes of fetch before your dog goes out burns energy. Add a chew or puzzle toy for yard time, and do not leave your dog out alone for long stretches.

  3. 3. Make a digging spot

    Tool used: Shovel and soil or sand

    Dig up a small patch or fill a sandbox with loose soil or sand. Bury a toy or treats and praise your dog for digging there. Calmly lead your dog back to it each time.

  4. 4. Fill the old holes

    Tool used: Rocks or flat stones

    Put a layer of rocks or flat stones in the bottom of each hole, then fill with soil. Freshly turned dirt smells like fun, so fill holes promptly.

  5. 5. Cover the favorite spot with mesh

    Tool used: Coated wire mesh

    Roll the coated mesh flat over the bare patch and trim it to size. Wear gloves and tuck any cut edges under. Push ground staples through every foot or so, then cover with soil, mulch or sod.

    Coated wire mesh (illustration)
    Illustration

    Tool for this step

    Coated wire mesh · Lay it flat over the favorite dig spot

    Check price on Amazon

When free fixes aren't enough

If your dog keeps returning to the same spot, the soil itself has become the reward. Mesh takes that reward away: coated wire laid flat just under the surface makes digging unpleasant, and it does not hurt paws when it is fully covered, the edges are tucked and the openings are small. It will not fix the urge, so keep up the exercise or your dog may start a new hole elsewhere. If the digging is along the fence, fix the escape route first. If you suspect rodents, deal with them safely and never put poison in a yard with a dog.

Buy the fix

Still stuck after the free fixes? These are the products we would look at.

Best pick
Coated wire mesh with ground staples (illustration)
Illustration

Coated wire mesh with ground staples

Fixes: a dog that keeps digging the same bed, lawn patch or fence line

Look for: Plastic- or vinyl-coated wire with small openings, about an inch or less, so paws cannot get caught; Smooth or rolled edges you can tuck under; Rust-resistant wire made for outdoor use; Ground staples or anchor pins long enough for your soil, in the pack or bought separately.

Who it's for
Owners with one or two repeat dig spots, garden beds or a fence line to protect.
Honest downside
Your dog digs in many places across the whole yard, so exercise and a dig pit come first. Skip mesh too if your dog chews wire or has hurt a paw on it.
Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices because they change, so use the button to see today's price.

How we picked: How we picked: this page is based on veterinary and dog trainer advice on digging, product instructions from fencing and mesh makers and what owners report in reviews. We do not test products by hand.

Digging along the fence? Bury the barrier

Dig a trench about 6 inches deep along the fence base. Lay the mesh in an L shape: one part up against the fence and the other flat outward on the ground. Pin it with staples, then cover it with soil or large stones. A dog that digs there hits the mesh and gives up.

Digging to cool off? Offer a cooler option

Give your dog a shaded spot, a kiddie pool with a few inches of water or a cooling mat. Dogs that dig holes in summer are often just looking for cool dirt.

What to skip

Mothballs, rodent poison and punishing after the fact

Mothballs and rodent poison are toxic to dogs and can kill them. Scolding your dog after you find a hole does not work, because your dog cannot connect it to the digging. Redirect the digging as it happens, or block the spot.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog dig holes in the yard?
The common reasons are boredom, heat, hunting prey underground, breed instinct and trying to escape. Look at where and when your dog digs to find the cause.
How do I stop dogs from digging under the fence?
Bury a strip of mesh along the base of the fence in an L shape, with the flat part laid outward on the ground, and cover it with soil or stones. When your dog digs, the mesh stops the escape. Check the fence line often.
Is wire mesh safe for dogs?
It is when the wire is coated, the openings are small, the edges are tucked and the whole thing is covered with soil or mulch. Check it after rain and mowing, and take it up if your dog is hurt or chews it.
How can I stop dogs from digging in the yard?
Find the cause first. Then add exercise, shade and water, give your dog a loose-soil dig spot with buried toys, and block the favorite holes with coated mesh pinned under soil or mulch.
Will exercise alone stop my dog from digging?
It helps with boredom digging. It will not stop digging driven by hunting or breed instinct, so pair it with a dig pit and a barrier.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure

Coated wire mesh with ground staples (illustration)
Illustration

Our pick: Coated wire mesh with ground staples

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