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A golden Retriever with a muddy muzzle sits smiling beside a large freshly dug hole in a garden bed. 16 / 31

The Golden Retriever Decided the Garden Needed a New Hole

AI imagegolden retrievergardendigging

A deep, freshly dug hole sits in the garden bed, with a mound of dark soil heaped beside it. Next to it sits a golden Retriever with mud on the nose and chin and a gentle smile on his face. His fur is warm and soft in the afternoon light, and potted plants and a wooden fence stand in the background. He looks like a gardener who has finished a large project.

Golden Retrievers are friendly, gentle and eager to please, and they are among the most popular family dogs. They also love to dig, carry things and explore, which brings them into the garden at every chance. Digging has many causes, including boredom, cooling off in warm weather, chasing a smell or burying a favorite item. A designated digging spot, like a sandbox with a few buried toys, can give a dog a legitimate outlet. Some garden products and plants are toxic to pets, so if your dog has chewed on any, call your vet right away.

Daily exercise, fetch games and enough time with the family reduce digging a lot. Filling the hole and placing a few rocks over it can discourage a repeat job.

He is happy in his work and clearly hopes it earns a little praise. The flower bed may not agree, but the smile is hard to argue with.

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