Health24.com’s CyberVet Dr Cedric Tutt and animal behaviour expert Karen Gray-Kilfoil answer questions about animal health and behaviour.

Q My adorable puppy is turning my garden into an excavation site. I’m desperate. What can I do?

A Dogs dig for a reason. Puppies often dig one or two holes out of curiosity but soon grow out of it. But if your puppy is digging excessively he may be bored.

Make sure your dog is taken for a walk of at least 20 minutes every day. Use a long lead, take him outside your property and allow him to sniff and meet other dogs along the way. A young dog will also need to go to training at this age which will help with general obedience.

Get the dog lots of chewy toys and rotate them daily so he doesn’t become bored. Take a large plastic cooldrink bottle and put some of his pellets inside. He can then roll it around to get a pellet out every now and again.

A digging pit is a good idea. To encourage him to dig there instead of in the fl ower beds or lawn you can bury some of his chewy toys in the pit.

Remember a dog needs company, whether it’s another dog, cat or person, and a view out of your property.

For more Q and A's on animal health read Pulse magazine. Buy the latest copy, on newsstand now, for more fascinating stories in the world of health and wellness.

For more information on animal health consult the CyberVet