Stop Dog Digging in Charlotte, NC (and Nearby)

Sick of new craters in the yard every few days? Watching your dog head for the flower bed, knowing exactly what happens next?

Dog Owner’s Academy has been helping Charlotte, Matthews, and Huntersville families with digging since 2008. After training 5,000+ dogs, we know this: dog owners who try to stop digging without identifying the cause usually end up in a cycle of filling holes and watching new ones appear.

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Shaggy tan dog with a muddy face, a common sign of a dog that digs in the yard

We come to you. Anywhere in Charlotte and nearby cities.

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5,000+ Charlotte dogs trained · Nearly 20 years of experience

Your Dog Isn’t Destroying Your Yard. They’re Solving a Problem.

The hole in the flower bed. The trench along the fence line. Then, there’s the crater under the deck. It looks like destruction, but every dog that digs is doing it for a reason. That reason matters, because the fix is completely different depending on what’s driving it. The dog isn’t being defiant. They’re responding to something, and until you address it, the digging continues.

One Charlotte client told us her backyard had gotten “pretty unmanageable” before her consultation: new holes every few days, a ruined flower bed, and a dog she’d assumed was just being stubborn. It wasn’t stubbornness. Once we identified what was actually driving it, the change held. Slowly but surely, the yard settled down.

Why Dogs Dig: The Three Root Causes

Digging isn’t one behavior problem. It’s three, and they look identical from the outside.

Instinct and Breed Drive

Dogs are wired to dig. Wild canines dig to stash food, build dens, cool off in summer heat, and get at prey underground. Domestic dogs didn’t lose that wiring. They just lost the context that made it useful. Terriers, dachshunds, huskies, malamutes, and several sporting breeds carry an especially strong digging drive.

For these dogs, digging isn’t stress or boredom. It’s a natural drive looking for an outlet. The fix isn’t punishment. It’s redirection to an appropriate spot.

Boredom and Frustration

Dogs that aren’t getting enough exercise or mental engagement will find an outlet, and digging is one of the most satisfying ones available. It’s physical, stimulating, produces a visible result, and is available in most backyards. A dog who digs out of boredom isn’t being bad. They’re using what’s available for entertainment.

The fix here isn’t correction. It’s changing the conditions that are producing the behavior.

Anxiety and Stress

Dogs dealing with separation distress, fear, or frustrated confinement may dig to burn off nervous energy or to try to escape. A dog digging along the fence line or at the base of a door is telling you something specific about how they feel.

Anxiety-driven digging can look the same as boredom digging from the outside. Inside, it’s very different, and treating it like boredom doesn’t help. In some cases, it makes things worse.

How We Address It

We come to your home in Charlotte, Matthews, Pineville, Fort Mill, or Huntersville (and other nearby cities) to see where and when your dog digs. We also look at what else is going on in the environment, then figure out which of the three causes is at work, or what combination. From there, we build a plan around what’s really happening.

For instinct-driven diggers, our trainers redirect the drive to an appropriate outlet. Boredom and frustration cases call for the right exercise and engagement routine, and we help you build it. When anxiety is behind the digging, we address the emotional root, and if separation anxiety is part of it, we work that specifically.

Everyone in the household gets the same information and the same approach, so nothing gets accidentally reinforced in the gaps.

Our Training Programs:

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Two calm dogs relaxing on a backyard lawn at sunset, one in a red bow tie and one with a curly black and white coat after a training session to stop digging

Want the full breakdown about digging and the location clues that can lead you to the root cause? Read our complete guide: Why Does My Dog Keep Digging (And How to Stop It)

Book Your Free In-Home Consultation

Or call (844) 864-3647

Frequently Asked Questions

Is digging ever normal?

Yes, it’s a natural canine behavior. The better question is whether the conditions in your dog’s life are producing it in a way you can’t manage, and what to do about it.

My dog only digs when I’m not home. What does that mean?

That’s a significant detail. Digging that happens only when you’re away often points to separation-related distress rather than boredom or breed drive. It’s worth taking seriously, and it changes the approach entirely.

Will certain breeds ever stop digging?

Breed-driven diggers can absolutely be managed. The drive doesn’t disappear, but you can redirect it to an appropriate outlet, like a designated digging area or activities that satisfy the same urge, so your yard stays intact.

My dog digs at the same spot repeatedly. Why?

Repeated digging in one spot usually means something about that spot is still motivating: a scent, an animal that’s been there, cool soil, or a successful escape attempt that got reinforced. We’ll identify what the draw is and address it directly.

How quickly can digging be resolved?

It depends on the cause. Boredom digging can shift quickly when the conditions change. Breed-driven cases take consistent redirection over time. Anxiety-driven digging may take longer, especially when separation anxiety is involved. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the free consultation.

Happy brindle dog on a leash standing on a rock in a Charlotte neighborhood after in-home dog training for digging

Real Owners. Real Dogs. Changes That Last.

See what’s possible when digging gets the right training.

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   Sue Shaw 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Good lesson tailored to my situation.
  
 
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   Emily Hamilton 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dominic is the best! Dog Owners Academy is the way to go
  
 
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   Sara D 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been working with Dog Owner’s academy and Amaya for two months now and I can already see the benefits in my dog. The confidence he’s built has really excelled him in training. I’m so grateful for Amaya’s help in making my dog a better family dog.
  
 
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   Isaiah Robinson 
 37 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Amya is amazing with our dog Luna. The results are remarkable and life changing for us and our dog.
  
 
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   Joseph Starr 
 60 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Awesome training for my doodle.  He loved his trainer. Amya is great and she really focused on what was needed to get him ready to hangout at the stores and parks.
  
 
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   Kristin Auerbach 
 61 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Dominic has been absolutely wonderful to work with. He is currently training both of my dogs—a four-month-old puppy and my two-year-old dog—and the difference has been remarkable. What I appreciate most is that he doesn’t just train the dogs; he teaches us how to communicate with them in a way they understand. He is patient, knowledgeable, and explains the “why” behind everything he does, which has given us so much more confidence at home. He has been fantastic at adapting his approach to each dog’s personality and stage of development. Our puppy is learning great habits from the beginning, while our older dog has made tremendous progress as well. The training is practical, positive, and easy to continue between sessions. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about your dogs and wants to set both you and your pets up for long-term success, I can’t recommend Dominic highly enough. We are so grateful for everything he has done and look forward to continuing to work with him.
  
 
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   Latrisha Whitehead 
 64 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amya is great with Riggs.  He’s improved so much since working with her.  She firm but so patient.  We’ve grown as well it’s been a bit of a learning experience for us to practice consistency and patience.  Thank you Amya
  
 
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   Diana Bass 
 72 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amya has been a great asset in my training for Fender.  She came and made a customized plan and spent a lot of time working on exactly what we need.  She is very knowledgeable and friendly.  Thanks so much!
  
 
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   Wyatt 
 85 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +1
Amya, Dominic and Turk are all amazing with my puppy Suki and have helped elevate her obedience to a whole new level that I thought would take much longer to achieve with the methods I knew. Amya has been such a blessing during private and group lessons, even with her being an adolescent puppy, they have helped me with how to set boundaries with her and having her follow through with her obedience even in a high distraction environment. Amya has helped prove to me multiple times that she is a very intelligent obedient dog, especially when I have started to doubt if all of my work I've put into training with her is paying off.
  
 
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   Kay Moore 
 103 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +5
Today our lesson Consisted of working with Cass at McDowell Park. I wanted to work on some off leash work. The issue with The off leash is me!!  I get such anxiety when I drop the leash. today was about working on me and Cass Did great!  He came when called. he slowed down when I tapped the Remote he even came back to me when I had to stop and take a break. Dominic is so calm and Patient with me. Cass is a really well trained dog now I just need to let him be a dog a little more. Thanks Dog Owners Academy! 06/09/26 So the above post was a few months ago. Today I met Dominic at Mcdowell park again. We were working in a few things this session. Recall and ad a sit. we hen more off leash with another dog distractions. Cass did wonderful. I am getting more secure with letting him go ahead of me in the trail and he is starting to check back in with me every 30-60 seconds. (without any correction) !  One of my biggest fears is loosing my dog. him just taking off and going. My other Fear was him taking off if I fell. Well today I tripped and fell and Cass was right there! He didn’t run after the other dog but that was a little further down the trail. He was right there to pick me up.  (we will work on the getting me up at home ) Thanks Dom for helping me up!  I am so Very Proud of Cass and So Happy to have amazing dog trainers!  Dog Owners Academy is one of the best !

Ready to Stop Filling in Those Frustrating Backyard Holes?

Charlotte, Matthews, and Huntersville families have been calling us about dogs digging up their backyards since 2008. Let’s address the root cause and build a training plan together — because giving your dog another bath is the last thing you want to do when you get home from work.

Three easy steps. No commitment. Just expert guidance and a clear plan.

Use the online calendar below to book your free in-home consultation in a few clicks.

We come to you to meet your dog, check out your yard, and discuss your goals and program pricing.

Get a realistic training plan that works and put that shovel away for good.

Want the company story first? Visit our About Us page. Other questions? Email hello@dogownersacademy.com or call 844-864-3647.