Dogs have a lot of natural behaviours that we humans sometimes find inconvenient.
They sniff. They roll in things we would rather they didn’t. They chase. They carry things around. They investigate every interesting smell they can find.
And some dogs really, really like to dig.
For those dogs, digging isn’t necessarily a sign that they are bored or badly behaved. It can simply be something they enjoy doing. Digging allows them to explore, investigate smells and textures, and engage in a behaviour that comes naturally to them.
At Run Free, we think dogs should have opportunities to do the things that make them happy. That’s why we have introduced dedicated digging areas at four of our fields.
Digging is natural
Some dogs will walk straight past a patch of freshly turned earth without giving it a second thought. Others will spot it from fifty metres away. Digging can be incredibly rewarding for some dogs. They can use their paws, follow interesting scents beneath the surface and investigate what might be hiding underneath. And, of course, sometimes they just dig because digging is fun. We don’t want to take that away from them.
But there is a problem when dogs dig throughout a field. Once one hole has been created, it can quickly become a bigger hole. When we fill it in, another dog may discover the freshly disturbed ground and start digging again. Before long, we can find ourselves repeatedly repairing the same areas.
So rather than simply saying “don’t dig”, we wanted to find a better solution.
A place where digging is encouraged
We’ve built four new dedicated sandpits, giving dogs who love to dig somewhere they can really get stuck in. The sandpits are approximately 6 ft × 6 ft, with a 12 inch surround to help contain the sand and keep the digging area clearly defined. They’re now available at:
Philipstoun, Run Free Winchburgh
Lawmuir, Run Free Bearsden
Newton, Run Free South Queensferry
Activity, Run Free Kirkliston
So if your dog sees a sandpit and immediately starts digging, they can go for it!
It’s about giving dogs choices
A big part of providing a good environment for dogs is giving them opportunities to make choices and express normal behaviours. One dog might spend their whole visit running. Another might be more interested in sniffing every inch of the field. One might want to chase a ball, while another would rather wander around investigating every interesting smell they can find. And for some dogs, the highlight of the whole visit might be ten minutes spent enthusiastically digging a hole.
There isn’t one right way for a dog to enjoy being outside. That’s one of the reasons we love our secure fields. They give dogs the freedom and space to explore, sniff, run, play and generally be themselves. The digging areas are simply another way of giving them that choice.
A place for dogs to digÂ
Of course, we still need everyone to help us look after the fields. That’s why we’ve created these dedicated sandpits especially for dogs who love to dig. Please don’t allow your dogs to dig anywhere else in any of our fields.
If your dog loves digging, they’re very welcome to enjoy the sandpits where they can sniff, scratch, dig and investigate to their heart’s content. This gives them somewhere they can enjoy this completely natural behaviour, while helping us keep the rest of the field in good condition for everyone.
And if your dog has absolutely no interest in digging, that’s fine too. They can run, sniff, explore, play or simply enjoy having a bit of space to themselves. Because ultimately, that’s what we want our fields to provide: somewhere dogs can be dogs.
Ready to let your dog enjoy the freedom to run?
Book a Run Free Field:Â www.run-free.link/book
Looking for more tips and advice?
Read Our Other Blogs:Â www.run-free.link/blog
