by Sara W.

Created on: June 24, 2010   Last Updated: July 19, 2010

There's nothing like taking a stroll through your back yard, inhaling a nice, deep breath of fresh air, only to have the peaceful moment interrupted by stepping into an unseen hole and spraining your ankle. Now's not the time to discipline your poor pooch, being in a horrible mood and all. The best approach to unwanted and unsightly doggy digging is a preventive one. Nip it in the bud, and you, your pooch, and your ankles will be much happier. Here are a few tips to maintain your level turf.

Prevention Tactic One: Don't Sleep (or dig) Where You Poop

Nearly all dogs have this innate instinct to avoid their own poop. In fact, you may have long ago noticed that your pup will gladly litter the perimeter, or a certain side of the yard, with his droppings. Younger dogs may not have necessarily developed this habit yet, but as your dog matures, he will most likely fall into a routine of designating only a certain portion of the yard for his mine field. And until you pick up on his preferred location, (of which he wasn't respectful enough to warn you in advance), you'll inevitably experience the frustration of squishing one of the smelly mines right onto the sole of your shoe.

Luckily for you, your dog most likely feels the same way about his own poo as you do. So, before you set to the pointless task of refilling that hole for the umpteenth time, relocate a nice, fresh specimen of his dung to the bottom of the hole. Repeat this process for all of the partially dug holes throughout your yard. Each time your dog begins a new hole, be quick to fill it with the stinky stuff.

Now, this tactic is especially handy if your dog has a habit of digging as an escape method, rather than just digging random holes. The poop tactic won't only save your ankles, but might save your dog from escaping, or worse, being run over by a vehicle.

Unfortunately, there are a few dogs who aren't phased by this plan of action. When this is the case, an alternate plan is in order.

Prevention Tactic Two: Chloe, Send Me The New Landscape Schematic!

Obviously your new landscape plan won't be as dramatic as a scene from 24, but the mission is just as critical. For the doggy escape artists (terriers tend to fall into this lot!), a new landscape plan might be all you need to thwart your little devil's tactics. Plant some decorative, yet very hardy, shrubs along a fence row under which your dog loves to dig.

Barberries are an excellent choice, as these plants are not only super hardy, but they also have

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