Foundation Camp
A 21-day board-and-train that builds solid obedience and manners, the right fit for milder issues.
Dog Behavior Solutions
Keep the Yard Usable and Your Dog Safe
Digging can ruin landscaping, undermine a fence, or signal that a dog is hot, bored, hunting, or trying to escape. Partners Dogs helps match the plan to the reason.
Behavior severity
MildWhat you may be seeing
Common signs
- Holes near cool soil, plants, irrigation, or shaded areas
- Repeated digging along fences or where wildlife travels
- Digging after long periods alone in the yard
- Burying toys, food, or chews
- Returning to the same repaired spots
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- Tunnels under a fence or any successful escape
- Torn nails, bleeding paws, heat distress, or contact with wildlife
- Digging near electrical lines, irrigation equipment, or toxic plants
- Sudden compulsive digging or another abrupt behavior change
Mild is a starting point for planning, not a diagnosis. Escape, injury, or heat illness requires immediate management and appropriate veterinary care.
Understanding the behavior
What is digging?
Dogs dig for different rewards. They may follow scent, bury items, create a cool resting place, release energy, or work at a boundary. In Arizona, heat and wildlife can be important contributors. A dog digging for cool soil needs a different response from one following rodents along a wall.
Management prevents rehearsal while the underlying need is addressed. That may mean supervised yard time, shade and water, a safe digging area, pest control, better fence protection, or more purposeful activity.
The goal is not to remove every natural digging impulse. It is to protect the yard, prevent escape, and give the dog an acceptable outlet. Results depend on correctly identifying the cause and maintaining the environmental changes.
Partners Dogs has trained Arizona dogs through every kind of digging case since 1997, at our Scottsdale and Cave Creek facilities. Lifetime trainer support is included with every board-and-train program.
The transformation
Before and after training
Drag the slider to see the change our programs make for a dog with digging. Same dog, same home, real outcome.
Watch
How we work on digging
Short walkthroughs from our trainers on the exact techniques we use to resolve digging. See how the work actually looks, then choose the path that fits your dog.
70,000+Dogs Trained
28+Years Experience
4.8★Average Rating
2Arizona Campuses
Recommended path · Mild severity
The right program for digging
Based on how digging typically presents, here is where we would start. Not sure which fits? Take the PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation.
Group Classes
Weekly Pet Parenting classes with our trainers, practice in a structured social environment.
The process
How it works
Assessment and check-in
- We verify vaccination records and complete pre-check-in forms.
- Your dog receives a full behavioral assessment.
- We set goals and build a personalized training plan.
- You meet the primary trainer and tour the facility.
Training and progress reports
- Multiple active training sessions every day.
- Controlled exposure and desensitization to triggers.
- Immersive socialization in a managed environment.
- Regular progress reports with photos and video.
Transition and follow-up
- Private lessons that transfer the training to you.
- Pet Parenting group classes for ongoing support.
- Access to our full Pet Parent Guide.
- Weeks of follow-up so the change lasts at home.
Not sure which program
Get a recommendation in minutes
Take our quick PD360 assessment for a personalized recommendation, or talk to a trainer who has seen digging many times before.
What our clients say
“"We have a beautiful desert landscape in our Cave Creek yard. Had. Our Husky mix turned it into the surface of the moon over one summer. I didn't understand that she was digging to cool down until the Partners team explained it. Foundation Camp plus some environmental changes, a kiddie pool, better shade coverage, a proper designated digging spot, and the random destruction stopped. I just needed to understand what she was actually doing."”
“"Bowie had undermined our back fence in three places. I'd fill the holes and he'd dig them again. I was convinced he was a lost cause in the yard. DaySchool changed the equation, he comes home too satisfied to feel the need to spend his afternoon remodeling the property. Between DaySchool days and the training we did through Foundation Camp, we've had a hole-free yard for eight months."”
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can digging be improved?
In most cases, yes. With a structured plan and steady follow-through, digging usually improves and becomes much more manageable. How far and how fast depends on the dog and the household, and severe cases start with an in-person assessment.
How long does it take to see change?
Many dogs show early progress in the first weeks of a program, though the timeline varies with the behavior and the dog. The lasting value is in the follow-up: private lessons and group classes help the change hold at home over time.
What if my dog has more than one issue?
That is very common. During the assessment we identify every area of concern and build one plan that works on them together, rather than treating each in isolation.
Is professional training worth the cost?
It is an investment in daily life for you and your dog. Our board-and-train programs include weeks of follow-up, private lessons, and group classes so the results last, and financing is available up to 36 months.
When can we get started?
Right away. Schedule a call or take the PD360 assessment online and we will find the best time to begin, starting with a clear look at your dog's digging.
Related behaviors
Dogs with digging often show these patterns too. Explore the behaviors below. We treat them all.
Ready for the next step
Talk to a trainer now
Every dog and household is different. Get a real conversation with a Partners Dogs trainer who has treated digging for more than 28 years. No pressure, just guidance on your dog's best path forward.