Bridget asked…

“our jack russell digs holes all over the yard he sniffs and sniffs then jumps up and down like he’s trying to break the ground to break through it. we first thought it was because he smelled the moles underground but he is just tearing up our yard. is there
anything we can spray or put on the lawn that won’t be harmful to him? –Bridget”

Our answer:

Digging is a natural instinct for terrier type dogs - especially Jack Russells (I can speak from experience, as I have had six over the years! - you can read my JRT article here.) There are products that use pepper dust or a citrus scent to deter dogs, but if you have room, have you thought of building him his own digging pit? It only needs to be a few feet square and about 14 inches deep, filled with a mixture of soil and sand so it is easier to clean him off. You could use a clicker or command when he is digging in the right place so if you catch him digging where he shouldn’t, he will know where to go to satisfy his natural instincts.

Not particularly methods I like to use, but if a digging pit is not an option and his digging is causing you a lot of stress, you could use something to make a noise in order to startle him whenever he starts to dig (dried beans in a tin - give them a shake and it can make quite a din), or use a remote controlled spray collar each time you see him digging. Both of these methods will help to modify his behavior