The American Beagler Forum

I have a couple of 8 month old pups that root in the yard from time to time. They dig small shallow holes after sniffing the ground a while and then munch down something after they dig a bit. Can't seem to get them to stop this habit either. They leave little holes in the ground that you'd swear and armadillo had left. I don't know if they're eating grubs or what. Any ideas?

They are eating grubs, for some reason they really like those things, usually it is a crane fly grub, but not sure in your area what type of grub it would be.

No cure for it or at least I never found a cure............

Moles. We had a black lab do that and she developed a fungus around her mouth. Cost $150 at the vet to get meds to clear it up.

They might be after moles or skinks or anything. They could also be hiding treats or bones out there and digging them up later.....

Mine do they exact same thing (rooting) but they are eating the grass roots. They love them. Drives my yard man (husband) crazy cuz they leave these darn Lil ankle breaker holes all over the yard....

I've thought about that too...the grass roots. It's amazing what those little noses are capable of sniffing. Truly mind baffling. It's not moles. The holes they make are too shallow to be going after moles and I'd know if there were moles in the yard. I keep them penned most of the time and throw them back in their kennel when I catch them in the act. The poc marks in the yard are a bit annoying.

Got a pup doing the same thing. She is eating grubs just like TC said.

Be it grubs or moles, the key to stopping it is to get rid of the grubs. Go to your local home improvement center and get some grub killer in the garden center. It usually takes 2 applications to kill them all. So it will be a 2 year process. At least that is what the lawn care guy told us in MO. Now I do it all myself learning from watching what he did and when he did it. It will save about $100 per year doing it myself. Anyway, I digress...

dogs do, what dogs do...meaning they dig

I have a hound that does it from time to time. Whe she's doing it, I put the shock collar on her and come inside and watch her on the TV screen from the outside camera. I shock her when she does it.

I discovered why she was doing it. She is digging up old pecans that have worked their way underground.

A BIG ROGER THAT,, on the ankle breaker HOLES!!!! Me and Mrs Crew Chief have stepped in many of them!!!!!!!!!!

Crew Chief

I have two 14 mo. old females that started this digging little holes this spring. Now that we have had a ton of rain in NW Indiana they just lay the sod back. I thought about grubs too. They will bring a chunk of sod in our screened in porch and chew what I think is the roots. Been thinking of putting the shock collar on them? They also will take a fist sized chunk of clay and chew on it. Weird little buggers. They know they are not suppose to do it, all I have to say is "No" and they run across the yard. Need to get them on more rabbits!!!

My canadian beagles do this too. They are usually after dead worms. Dig around, eat, roll, get stinky, wreck the grass. Gotta love those beagles. Carolyn

My yard looks like several landmines went off in it They mostly eat roots and save all the rocks they've dug up in their collection behind the bushes. They take out all the rocks methodically and drop them all in one huge pile ... but the "nicest" ones are used for games of catch me if you can ...
The worst is when the grass grows in over their holes and I step in it & go flying. I wonder if they do it just because they find it amusing when I nearly break my neck.

I'd bet they are digging for moles - mine do that.
-Pete