Dog digging big holes!!

[Jungfraujoch]

How can I stop him? For example he’s exposed the concrete around the fence post in one place and I’m fed up of having to sweep up dirt all over the path.

Or would it be cruel to stop his natural instinct?

Some dogs can be distracted with a sandpit. But I have a dedicated digger who scoffs at anywhere provided for digging

Think he would turn his nose up at a sandpit - we live near the coast and he’s not a big sand/sea lover 🙄

If not a sandpit - an earth pit so he has a defined area where he can dig and you have a garden that isn't totally destroyed? You could bury some toys and treats in it to make it super exciting. Praise when he uses it, redirect him from inappropriate areas when he goes digging elsewhere (much like teaching a puppy to chew toys not furniture)

I have no practical advice but I can show you the route of all tree roots through our lawn thanks to our wonderful pupster

My terrier is a great digger, it's a terrier thing. She tends to dig around our fence, so we put some dog-friendly meshing around the bits we didn't want disturbed. Sometimes the digging can be boredom, I noticed it was a bit full on if her walk had been short or it'd been raining for a while - she hates going out in rain. So sometimes brought her in and provided kongs and activity toys as a decent redirect. Avocados ideas sound good, wish I'd thought of them before.

How old is he? Mine went through a digging stage when young but he mostly grew out of it. We just kept trying to stop him from doing it so put things on top of the holes or cordened off areas that he had started to dig.
Even now he occasionally starts to dig in the gravel beds and gets a firm no which he understands and wanders off in a sulk

Yes, mine was a terrible digger when she was a puppy. She also grew out of it.

Also funnily enough, like Bitey's dog, the only place she tends to dig is in the gravelly bits round the edge of the garden. But she does like to have a little chew on stones and I used to give her a treat to drop them so I imagine she's doing it in the hope of treats.

He’ll be 4 this year. Am going to try and fill in the holes and then cover with something!

My terrier digs whenever he gets the chance and he’s 7 so unlikely to grow out of it . A digging pit had no effect so we fenced off the patio for his own safety and he only goes on the garden / grass when supervised . If we are out and stop to chat to someone near any grass / dirt he even starts digging then , he’s obsessed .

My dog used to do it as a puppy but he sort of just grew out of it. Every now and then if he's particularly entranced by a patch of grass and begins to dig we'll distract him with a game of football/fetch.