Hey {{first_name}} Dog Parents 💌,
You step outside and see it.
A crater in the yard.
Snow tossed in every direction.
Your dog, nose-deep, tail up, fully committed.
And for a split second you think,
Why would you do this?
Here’s the quiet truth.
Your dog isn’t being stubborn.
They’re not bored.
They’re not “acting out.”
They’re doing something ancient.
Snow digging isn’t random. It’s instinct. And for certain breeds, winter doesn’t just invite digging, it activates something deep in their bones.
Let’s talk about the dogs who don’t just tolerate snow.
They work in it.
🐾 Read on, then grab the Gentle Carrot Crunch recipe below before you go. Your pup will thank you.
🧠 Why Snow Triggers the Digging Instinct
Digging is one of the oldest canine behaviors.
Long before plush beds and heated homes, digging meant:
Warmth
Shelter
Safety
Storage
Snow, surprisingly, makes digging easier.
It’s softer than frozen dirt.
It holds scent longer.
It insulates heat when packed correctly.
To a dog wired for burrowing, snow isn’t an obstacle.
It’s an opportunity.
🐕 Breeds Born to Dig, Even in Winter
Some dogs dig because they’re curious.
Others dig because it’s written into their job description.
Here are the snow diggers who feel right at home beneath the surface.
🐾 Terriers: The Original Underground Experts
Terriers were bred to go into things.
Fox terriers. Jack Russells. Border terriers.
Their purpose was to chase prey into dens and burrows, often in cold, damp conditions.
Snow doesn’t stop them.
It mimics what they were designed to do.
When a terrier digs in snow, they’re not misbehaving.
They’re practicing a skill perfected over generations.
🐾 Dachshunds: Small Body, Serious Mission
Dachshunds were bred to dig into tunnels and confront animals underground.
Snow digging lets them:
Follow scent trails
Practice burrowing
Feel enclosed and secure
That little body was built to go where others couldn’t.
Snow just happens to cooperate.
🐾 Read on, then grab the Gentle Carrot Crunch recipe below before you go. Your pup will thank you.
🐾 Nordic Breeds: Snow Is Home
Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds.
These dogs were bred to survive in extreme cold, often sleeping outdoors in snow-packed dens that trapped warmth.
Snow digging for them is:
Temperature regulation
Comfort-seeking
Instinctual nesting
If your northern breed curls into a snow hole like it’s the best bed they’ve ever had, that’s not rebellion.
That’s biology.
🐾 Spitz-Type Dogs: Built for Burrows
Shiba Inus, Akitas, Finnish Spitz.
These breeds often display:
Nesting behavior
Digging to create protected spaces
Strong environmental awareness
Snow provides a temporary, moldable environment they can shape to their liking.
It’s enrichment they don’t have to ask for. Progress often happens so subtly you don’t notice it until you look back.
🧠 TRIVIA CORNER
Question: Why do some dogs sleep in snow burrows instead of avoiding the cold?
❄️ What Snow Digging Actually Does for Dogs
Digging isn’t just physical.
It’s deeply regulating.
Snow digging allows dogs to:
Burn mental energy
Engage problem-solving instincts
Follow and interpret scent
Feel in control of their environment
For high-drive or independent breeds, this kind of activity can be more satisfying than a walk.
It’s not chaos.
It’s focus.
🛑 When Digging Becomes a Problem (And When It Doesn’t)
Not all digging needs correction.
But context matters.
Digging is healthy when:
Your dog can stop when called
It happens in safe areas
Paws aren’t at risk of injury
It needs redirection when:
Ice is sharp or salted
Digging turns obsessive
Your dog ignores signals to stop
The goal isn’t to eliminate instinct.
It’s to guide it safely.
🥣 Gentle Carrot Crunch, Easy Homemade Dog Treats
Some dogs love big flavors.
Others just want something simple, crunchy, and easy on the tummy.
That’s exactly why we created Gentle Carrot Crunch.
These bright orange treats are lightly crunchy, naturally sweet, and made with just a handful of real ingredients. No heaviness. No weird stuff. Just a satisfying crunch that works beautifully for sensitive stomachs, senior pups, and everyday snack moments.
They’re one of those “why didn’t I do this sooner?” recipes. The kind that makes your dog sit a little closer while they cool on the counter.
We’re sharing this recipe with you for free.
Bake them thinner for extra crunch, or keep them a little thicker for a softer bite. Either way, you’ll end up with about 25 happy little treats and one very appreciative pup.
🧠 Why Snow Holds So Much Information
Here’s something fascinating.
Snow preserves scent longer than warm ground.
That means:
Trails are clearer
Layers of smell are easier to read
Digging reveals “old news” dogs find fascinating
To your dog, snow is like a layered book.
Digging lets them read deeper chapters.
🐾 How to Support Healthy Snow Digging
You don’t have to fight it.
You can work with it.
Try:
Designating a “dig zone” in the yard
Using snow piles for supervised digging
Pairing digging time with recall practice
Ending sessions before paws get cold
When dogs feel understood, behavior naturally improves.
“Instinct doesn’t disappear. It waits for the right moment to reappear.”
🤍 What Snow Diggers Teach Us
Dogs don’t dig snow to annoy us.
They dig because:
It feels right
It meets a need
It connects them to who they are
Winter strips away modern distractions.
And suddenly, instinct has room to breathe.
🏷️ A Gentle Safety Reminder
Dogs who dig tend to explore.
And explorers sometimes wander farther than planned.
That’s why visible identification matters even more in winter, when snowbanks hide boundaries and visibility drops.
A personalized dog name tag helps ensure that if curiosity carries your dog a little too far, getting home is easier and faster.
Prepared doesn’t mean fearful. It means thoughtful.
Know a dog parent who’d love this? Share our newsletter with them and as a thank-you, you’ll get a free homemade dog recipe to treat your pup. Sharing care always comes back around.
🐾 Share the website. Get your free recipe. Make a dog’s day.
🌱 One Last Thought Before You Go
If your dog digs into snow like they’ve uncovered buried treasure, pause before correcting.
You might be watching instinct come alive.
Snow digging isn’t destruction.
It’s memory.
It’s purpose.
It’s your dog remembering who they are.
And sometimes, the best thing we can do in winter…
Is let them be exactly that.
Wags & gratitude,
Mark
USA Dog Owners Association
Because every dog deserves to feel their best. And so do you. 🐾
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