DigDrum Put to the Test: What Professional Dog Trainers Really Thought
When we created DigDrum, we started with a simple idea: dogs dig because digging is a natural behaviour, so instead of always trying to stop it, what if we gave them a better place to do it?
But believing in an idea ourselves is one thing. We also wanted to know what dog professionals thought. So, we teamed up with The Dog Training School (TDTS) to have DigDrum independently tested by dog trainers and dog professionals, across a range of breeds, ages and environments.
We wanted honest feedback. The good, the bad and everything in between, and we are so thrilled the DigDrum has officially been given ‘The Dog Trainer School Recommended Product’ status!
Honest feedback from people in the dog world has been invaluable to developing the DigDrum and understanding the needs of dogs and their owners.
Want to see the full results?
We want to be transparent about how DigDrum performed, including where it worked brilliantly and where dogs needed a little more encouragement.
Read the full independent TDTS testing report
Putting DigDrum into real paws
Just to be clear, this wasn't a laboratory test. TDTS members trialled DigDrum with their own dogs and, where appropriate, their clients' dogs in real homes, training classes and professional environments.
The dogs involved ranged from small breeds such as Chihuahuas and Poodles through to Spaniels, Labradors, sighthounds and working breeds.
The trainers looked at things like how easily dogs could be introduced to DigDrum, how they engaged with it, its suitability as an outlet for digging, its practicality and durability, and whether they would recommend it to other dog owners.
And one of the most important findings was that every dog is different. Something we believe in very strongly here at DigDrum.
Some dogs understood DigDrum almost immediately. Others needed treats, toys, shaping or encouragement to help them understand what to do. And some dogs simply weren't particularly interested in digging.
That's important to know, because DigDrum isn't designed to turn every dog into a digger. It's designed to give dogs that already have that natural urge to dig somewhere appropriate to express it.
As TDTS explains in its own review, dogs with an existing motivation to dig produced some of the most encouraging results during testing.
Giving natural behaviour somewhere better to go
One of the reasons DigDrum exists is that digging isn't necessarily a behaviour we should simply tell dogs to stop doing. It's natural. The problem is where they choose to do it.
A dog digging enthusiastically into their DigDrum is one thing. The same enthusiasm directed towards a sofa, carpet or freshly planted garden would possibly be less welcome.
During the TDTS trial, there were trainers and owners who successfully redirected dogs away from unwanted digging and towards DigDrum.
One trainer reported using it to redirect a dog from digging a hole in the garden. Another described a Cockapoo beginning to use DigDrum instead of digging at furniture. There was also a particularly encouraging case involving a dog that had been digging up plants at home. After DigDrum was introduced at Doggy Day Academy and taken home at weekends, the trainer reported that within around four weeks the dog was choosing DigDrum rather than digging up the garden, which is fantastic.
Not fighting a dog's natural behaviour, but giving it somewhere more appropriate to go is exactly the principle behind DigDrum.
Does that mean DigDrum will stop every dog digging?
No, and we think it's important to say that.
Dogs dig for different reasons, and no enrichment toy can promise to completely "fix" a behaviour.
Some dogs in the TDTS trial continued digging elsewhere. Some needed encouragement to use DigDrum. And some dogs without a strong existing interest in digging showed relatively little interest in the product at all.
That's reflected in TDTS's recommendation too. They describe DigDrum as an enrichment product and alternative outlet for dogs with an existing motivation to dig, rather than something guaranteed to prevent unwanted digging.
For us, that's an important distinction. DigDrum isn't about promising a magically perfect dog. It's about working with natural behaviour and giving dogs another choice.
Built for enthusiastic paws
One area where the independent testing was particularly positive was durability.
DigDrum achieved an average durability score of 9.5/10, with testers describing it as sturdy, robust and well made. Very little wear or damage was reported during testing. That's something we're especially pleased to see.
After all, when you create a product designed to be repeatedly scratched and dug by dogs, it needs to be able to take some punishment.
One tester who had initially questioned the price said that after seeing numerous dogs with long nails using DigDrum, they were impressed by its quality and durability. Others highlighted its sturdy construction, portability and easy storage.
Some dogs needed a little help
Another useful finding from the trial was just how differently dogs responded when first introduced to DigDrum. For some, digging came naturally. For others, trainers used treats or favourite toys underneath the cover, rewarded interaction, or gradually shaped the digging behaviour.
That's why we recommend giving your dog time to discover DigDrum rather than expecting every dog to immediately know what to do.
Think of it as introducing a new enrichment activity. Your dog might dive straight in, or they might need you to make the first few sessions rewarding and fun.
And occasionally, your dog may have entirely different ideas. During testing, the DigDrum was used as a platform, something to carry around and, in the case of one Cocker Spaniel, a bed.
What the trainers said
Perhaps the best way to understand the results is through the people who actually tested it.
Totem Dogs Derbyshire described DigDrum as:
"A great safe alternative for those who love to dig!"
Kelly from Dax's Doggos saw DigDrum working particularly well for dogs already known for digging, explaining that they could be redirected towards DigDrum rather than digging where they shouldn't, and that they sometimes chose to engage with it themselves.
And Jane Burton from Doggy Day Academy summed up one of our favourite things about the idea behind DigDrum: instead of trying to stop dogs expressing a natural behaviour, it gives them an appropriate outlet for it.
The 30-day DigDrum guarantee
The independent testing also reinforced that enrichment is individual. Even if your dog loves digging, we can't promise they'll love DigDrum.
That's why every DigDrum comes with our 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Give your dog the chance to discover a better place to dig. If you're not completely happy, you can return it within 30 days.*
The guarantee was an important factor in TDTS's final recommendation because it gives owners time to introduce DigDrum properly and figure out whether it's right for their dog.
*Terms and return conditions apply.
Read the independent report
Want to dig into the results yourself? Read the full feedback from The Dog Trainer School’s independent product testing.
Officially TDTS Recommended
We're delighted that after all the independent testing, The Dog Trainer School awarded DigDrum TDTS Recommended Product status.
Their conclusion captures what we want DigDrum to be: a durable enrichment product that gives dogs with an existing motivation to dig an alternative place to express that natural behaviour.
Because dogs dig. We'd just rather they dig here, not there.
