Digging

[bromhund]

Hi All
I am hoping someone on the forum might have some ideas for me to try with my 2 dogs to stop them DIGGING UP MY LAWN!!

Now by the way they are not puppies Brock is 7 years old and the main digger and Cusack is now 4 years old. This is not a every day thing only occasionally.

I have tried EVERTHING putting there doos in the wholes which works but then in a few weeks time they then dig another whole in another spot.

any ideas i would appreicate.. ;D

Thanks
Suzanne

[Wetdog]

YUP--tough problem. I've done the putting the poop in the holes but like you point out it takes a long time and a LOT of poop filled holes to really help much.

I think it is getting to be hot weather time down where you are. Have you tried putting a childrens plastic wading pool with water in it out in the yard for them---a lot of times dogs will dig holes to get down to cooler earth to lay in.

You could also try an electronic shock collar and give him a shock when you see him digging, but that will require watching him constantly so you can be sure to get the corrections timed right---incorrectly timed corrections do far more damage than good. You can make dogs extremely aggressive or shy with poorly timed ecollar corrections---especially if they have other dogs around when you are using it, they think the shocks are coming from the other dogs and will attack them even when the collar is off.

The other alternative is complete avoidance which can be somewhat extreme, but sometimes the only answer if the problem is so bad that the dog will be destroyed unless it is corrected. There are many dogs that are euthanized because of digging when it comes to a problem with neighbors or spouses.

[Cheryl]

They just need something else to do. Slade aka Bub paces and snuffles the trash can when he wants attention. They are either bored or have learned they get attention when they dig (positive versus negative attention). Dogs and children act up when they want something, mostly attention and its up to us to find positive actions to keep them happy and out of trouble:)

Will they play games w/you? Would you have something they'd like to track, like a piece of some liverwurst you could "lay a trail" for them to discover a prize or treat (even an old sock rubbed with the liverwurst) at the end of the "game?" Use one word, such as "find" or "search" and lots of encouragement at the end of the game...

[Cheryl]

Suzanne, I'm not insinuating you don't do anything with yours, but they are so fit and smart, you have to tease them to keep ahead of them mentally and keep it fun...not "work" like hunting or being shown, but some silly game(s). Cheryl

[Cheryl]

Another idea, I should have shared...and no, its not goofy, but give them an area that they can dig all they want, encourage the digging, and teach them the off limits area where they cannot dig.

You could put down different landscaping if you really wanted to make a statement:) Rocks for no digging areas, or sand for digging...and hose it down...etc:)

My son's golden/springer is the only digger and its out of frustration if he isn't out in the field enough. When I see he's dug, I ask if he's found those pretty China girls yet, and take him on an outing when my son falls off the routine, no more digging:)

As a child we had a saying, Dig a hole all the way to China, in your part of the world, where would you dig to??? I can imagine Cusack w/his blankie, like his picture, at my house ;D

[indy]

Do they have to be alone in the yard? if you are not there, do thay have to be there?
Are they getting all the activity they need when they do this? Have they been out for long walks and had some work to do (tracking, obidience, searching etc.)?
Do they have other things to do in the yard? (activityballs etc)

But whatever you do, do NOT use an electric shock collar for a problem as small as this!
In fact, don't use such a collar at all... :-)

[janetuk]

snowydiamonds said:

Another idea, I should have shared...and no, its not goofy, but give them an area that they can dig all they want, encourage the digging, and teach them the off limits area where they cannot dig

I read something along these lines in an APDT training book, it suggested letting the dog see you burying a few treats in your selected area, to encourage it to dig that spot.

Merlin likes to dig, but only does it in the park, poor park keeper, lucky me

[Rachel]

My dogs will dig huge holes in the fields but it is usually because they can smell a mouse or mole. Are they digging up areas just because they want too or is their some prey at the end of the hole ?

I forget now but is it cats or dogs that hate orange peel? If dogs hate orange peel put something like this in the hole. I would never dare put poo in a hole as my dogs would dig it up all the more to eat it. It has to be something dogs do not like. I wont say tabasco sauce either as I had a bitch once that loved the stuff. Ahh bitter apple spray, why not squirt some of this in to the hole. ? Or just get used to having a Holy Garden he he he.
Rachel

[tasha]

sopmeone did suggest that having a sand pit or an area that they can dig was a good thing... that or getting them to do the weeding...

[wardjoc]

advice in behavioural book by Stanley Coren has worked for us. our weim began to dig and chew up reticulation around the time she turned 1. Not every time we went out but once a week or so she'd have a great time doing this! We tried all usual remedies but no good so we figured nothing to lose in trying this unusual method. key is - don't tell the dog off at all. Go ballistic instead at the reticulation/shoe/dug hole - whatever is the site of doggy destruction - and make sure the dog watches you as you do this. We would stamp on the ground and yell 'bad polly pipe bad polly pipe" and got some very strange looks from our girl. We did this 4-5 times and the effect was that she aligned herself with our 'stance' and simply didn't want to touch the stuff - or dig. Hasn't done anything like this for at least 12 months.

[Wetdog]

Welcome to the board Wardjoc--nice tp have you join us. How about telling us a little about yourself in Introductions? We'd like to meet you.

That sure is a different method alright!!! LMAO---mine would probably just join me in the attack. It's worth a try though---with a hard problem like this you cann't ever have too many ideas to try---sooner or later something has to work.

I"m glad it worked for you. LOL, sorry, the mental picture of you going ballistic and your dog sitting watching you with a confused look like you've gone completely insane is just TOO funny.