Different breeds of dogs dig for different reasons. Terriers, originally bred to dig for varmints that burrow into the ground, might dig fast and furiously in the dirt — or bed linens — to work through their hereditary instinct. They’re figuratively engaging in the so-called appetitive phase of preda-
tory behavior.
A northern breed like a Siberian husky, on the other hand, might dig to simulate what he does in the harsh terrain of the Arctic region — making a depression in the snow to shield himself from ice-cold wind blowing at 70 miles an hour. And on a very hot day, a dog might dig in the ground and lie in the cool soil to shield himself from the sun. That is, digging might be part and parcel of thermoregulatory behavior.
Bottom line: Your dog’s not being weird if he’s digging. He has his reasons.
