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Boredom - Bone burying may be one reason behind destructive digging, but often the reason is boredom and the more intelligent the dog, the bigger the problem.
Scent chasing - Dogs will dig to find the source of scent-buried bones, fertilizer, plants, flowers, and vegetables.
Burying something - Dogs may dig holes to bury their bones, toys or feces.
Cures for Boredom
Constant digging, like many other destructive behaviors, can be a sign that your dog isn't getting enough exercise. If possible, take your dog on more frequent or longer walks. Set up play dates with other dogs in your neighborhood. The amount of exercise a dog needs depends on the breed. Sporting dogs, such as retrievers, may need as much as a couple of hours of vigorous exercise a day, while dogs bred as sedentary guard dogs or lapdogs (Rottweilers or Shih Tzus) can get by on much less. Talk to your vet or dog trainer to get an idea of how much exercise is right for your dog, being careful not to overdo it with younger dogs. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog.
Go to an obedience class and set aside time to practice every day. Mental exercise is just as strenuous for a dog as physical exercise, sometimes more. Do 2-3 short (10 minute) sessions through the day. Be sure to give your dog lots of praise and reward for being compliant during the training session. Many dogs were bred for a specific purpose. If your dog is not given a job to do, he/she will get bored and redirect that energy, usually into a negative behavior.
Don't leave your dog alone in the backyard. Dogs are highly social animals and need to be with their pack. Dogs get stressed when they are left alone outside all day. They feel isolated from their pack and exhibit stress by barking, digging, chewing and general destructiveness. At the very least, bring your dog inside while you are home. By making your dog more a part of the family, the dog will be happier and less prone to these stress behaviors.
Common Cures for Digging
Fill the holes with debris, such as dead leaves, sticks or rocks, and cover it up with dirt. Dogs usually get discouraged with the debris and give up. You can also bury the dog's feces. Most dogs do not like digging in their own mess.
Some owners have achieved success by burying chicken wire in their dog's run and covering the wire with pea gravel. The pea gravel helps keep the area from getting muddy. The theory here is the dog will get frustrated and give up. Gardening magazines and some pet stores and catalogs advertise a gadget that hooks up to your garden hose and automatically sprays water when it detects movement. It was designed to discourage garden pests like raccoons, though it sometimes works successfully with dogs.
An interesting way to keep dogs from digging is by using some small, inexpensive balloons. Dig a hole where the dog normally digs. Blow up the balloons, tie them and place them in the hole, gently covering them with soil. When your dog starts to dig in the dirt, the toenails will pop the balloons, sending him scurrying off. If he's a sensitive dog, breaking two or three balloons will make an impression. Repeat until your dog shows no interest, careful to pick up the remnants of the burst balloons before your dog or other animal swallows them. You can also try this with water balloons.
File the holes with small cans filled with pennies or small pebbles that will make a lot of noise. You can use any small can, put the pennies or pebbles inside, tape the hole on top and bury them in the soil. Next time your dog goes digging, he/she will get a noisy surprise.
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