Toys for dogs that dig
Most digging is not a dog misbehaving, it is a dog doing something that comes naturally, with nothing better on offer at that moment. The fix is rarely to stop the digging outright: it is to give the same instinct somewhere better to go, using enrichment and chew toys that satisfy the urge to search, scratch and work at something with their paws and nose.
Why dogs actually dig
Digging shows up for several different reasons, and which one applies to your dog changes what actually helps. Terriers and other breeds bred to go after things underground dig because it is genuinely what they were built for, not because they are being difficult. A bored dog with an empty afternoon and a garden will often dig simply because it is something to do with the time and energy they have spare.
Heat, scent and anxiety explain a lot of the rest. Dogs dig shallow pits to lie in cooler earth on a warm day, they dig where another animal has been because the smell is interesting, and some dig at doors, bedding or the base of a fence specifically when they are stressed or trying to get somewhere. Knowing which one you are dealing with is worth five minutes of watching before reaching for a toy.
What actually helps
Redirecting the instinct works far better than trying to suppress it. A snuffle mat or a puzzle feeder gives a dog the same searching, foraging behaviour that digging satisfies, just aimed at something you have put there on purpose rather than the lawn. Scattering part of a meal in the garden for a dog to sniff out does the same job for free.
For a dog who digs from boredom rather than instinct, more physical and mental exercise before the digging usually happens tends to matter more than any single product. A tired dog with a chew or a puzzle toy to settle onto afterwards has far less reason to start excavating the flower bed.
Toys and chews worth trying
A tough chew gives a digger something to work at with their mouth instead of their paws, which covers a surprising amount of the same urge, especially in terrier types. Rotating a couple of different textures and shapes keeps it interesting rather than something a persistent chewer works out and loses interest in within a week.
Puzzle toys that dispense treats as a dog noses and paws at them are the closest thing to digging you can put indoors, and they are genuinely useful on a wet day when the garden is not an option. For a dog who digs specifically to bury things, a tug toy or a food-dispensing toy they can carry around and settle with often quietly solves the underlying urge to stash and guard something.
If it is genuinely a fence or escape problem
Not all digging is about enrichment. A dog digging in one specific spot along a boundary, repeatedly, is usually trying to get out or get to something on the other side, and no toy fixes that on its own. That needs the actual gap addressed first, alongside anything you are doing to keep them occupied elsewhere in the garden.
If digging has appeared suddenly in an older dog who has never done it before, or comes with other new behaviour, it is worth mentioning to your vet rather than assuming it is simply a phase — a sudden change is more informative than the digging itself.
Built for dogs that do this
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs with Pump
A large inflatable herding ball with pump that taps into your dog's chase instinct.
From£19.99
Remote-Controlled Jumping Ball Dog Toy
A self-rolling, light-up ball that jumps and rolls to keep dogs entertained. A paw-shaped remote sets three activity gears, so both small and large dogs can chase and play. Rechargeable and tough against chewing.
From£19.99
Inflatable Herding Ball for Dogs
A large inflatable ball too big for a dog to pick up, with a bite-resistant double-layer shell that slow-deflates if punctured, for high-drive chasing and nudging.
£23.99
Inflatable Herding Ball with Handles for Dogs
A large, tough inflatable herding ball that taps into your dog's natural chase-and-nudge instinct. Reinforced bite-resistant fabric and grab handles make it great for active outdoor play with medium and large breeds.
£29.99
Durables Toy Crocodile
The crocodile from Red Dingo's Durables line: solid hardware, hard-wearing materials and a five-year manufacturer guarantee, which is rare enough to be the reason to buy.
£20.49
Plush Strawberry Snuffle Mat
An interactive foraging mat with removable plush strawberries that hide treats and kibble. Encourages natural snuffling and slows feeding, providing mental enrichment for dogs, rabbits and guinea pigs alike.
From£13.99
Tuffy Junior Zoo Hippo
A junior-sized Tuffy hippo built in bonded layers with webbed, multi-row stitched seams, light enough for smaller dogs and puppies, that floats and is machine washable.
£18.99
No-Stuffing Crinkle Plush Dog Toy
A cuddly stuffing-free plush lion with built-in crinkle and dual squeakers to keep small and medium dogs entertained. Less mess if chewed open, and the soft body is machine washable for easy cleaning.
£10.99
Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw
Meet the Tuffy No Stuff Ultimate Ring Red Paw — one of the toughest dog toys we stock. Tuffy build their toys in multiple bonded layers with several rows of stitching and protective webbing on the seams, so they stand up to serious chewers far better than an ordinary plush. They float, and they’re machine washable (air dry).
£13.99
Chase Buddy Boredom Busting Dog Toy
A sturdy chase toy for dogs left alone for short spells, redirecting the energy that turns into barking, pacing and chewed skirting boards into active play.
£23.99
Common questions
- Why does my dog dig holes in the garden?
- Most garden digging comes down to instinct, boredom, temperature or scent — some breeds are simply built to dig, others do it because there is nothing more interesting on offer, and some are chasing a smell or trying to lie somewhere cooler. Watching when it happens usually tells you which one you are dealing with.
- How do I stop my dog digging under the fence?
- Toys and enrichment help with boredom digging, but a dog digging repeatedly in one spot along a boundary is usually trying to get out or reach something beyond it, and that needs the physical gap sorted first. Keeping them occupied elsewhere in the garden helps once the escape route itself is no longer an option.
- Are digging toys and snuffle mats actually effective?
- For dogs digging out of boredom or a foraging instinct, yes — a snuffle mat or puzzle feeder gives the same searching behaviour somewhere useful to go. They work less well for a dog digging specifically to escape or cool down, where the underlying cause needs addressing directly.
- Is my dog digging because they're bored?
- It is one of the most common reasons, particularly in dogs left in the garden with little else going on. More exercise and mental stimulation before the digging usually happens, plus a chew or puzzle toy to settle onto afterwards, often reduces it noticeably within a couple of weeks.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.