Need some help with my dog! - The Hull Truth

Hydro · 10-17-2005, 07:00 PM

Over the years, i've noticed a lot of folks here have dogs and i 'm hoping maybe some of you might be able to help with a dog-related problem. I've got a ~2 year old mix breed - looks like a cross between a golden retriever and a keeshond. She's a rescue dog and usually quite shy.

Here's the problem. She LOVES to dig holes in the backyard. The backyard looks like a lunar landscape. There is a dog door that allows her access to the backyard, so she's pretty much got free range. I've been putting her poop in the holes when i can and that seems to slow her down a bit, but it doesn't stop her. Its gotten a little worse now that its cooler and she likes to spend more time outside.

I've even tried "doggy Prozac" (Climicalm), but i didn't like the change in her personality or the $50/month cost. Besides, i'm not too keen on giving any animal any kind of drugs unless its absolutely necessary.

I'm at my whit's end with this. This is a wonderful dog other than her digging habit. Any help or suggestions on how to deal with this would be appreciated.

Shag · 10-17-2005, 07:07 PM

Hydro, we have had 5 Goldens over the years and they dug but not as bad as you are describing. We do the same thing we do when potty training. You gotta be there and when they start to poop (dig) give em a firm "NO!". Drag em away if you have to (no hitting). The key is you have to be right on em. I'd suggest this plus divert her attention to a tennis ball or something right away. We have two now and they will occasionally dig in the flower bed but again, the "NO!" stops em right away. Hope this helps.

bigrockhunter · 10-17-2005, 07:17 PM

I have two Siberian Huskies and they love to dig. My suggestion is give them an area to dig and teach them that is the acceptable place to dig. They probably enjoy digging, or it may be because they are bored. We have learned to just live with ours digging. As they get older they dig less.

twentynine · 10-17-2005, 07:48 PM

Sounds to me like you have a young healthy, vigorous, intelligent dog. You need to give her a job! I am not joking give her a task, that will require effort, both mental and physical to solve.

Chew toy suspended by bungee cord, just out of reach, not totally out of reach, but where it requires some work to get to it and hold on to it. Treats hidden in the yard, obviously not burried.

Can't remember the name of the thing, but I saw it at Petsmart. It's a hollow ball, kinda elastic, with a hole through the middle. You put a treat that is slightly larger than the hole inside the ball, give it to the dog. The dog then spends most of the day trying to get the treat out.

HOTSPOT · 10-17-2005, 08:09 PM

We had a dog that used to dig as well. I firm "NO" and a blast with the water hose broke him quickly.

Mist-Rest · 10-17-2005, 09:56 PM

The dog sounds bored. It may need more attention than it's getting. When does it dig? While everyone is away? Surround it with dog toys and be glad it's not chewing the living or dining room sets.

A firm NO with a slight hand works for me. Read this as NOT a beating.

My dog drinks from the hose

The dope would think that it was time for a drink.

welder · 10-17-2005, 10:16 PM

1] Fill the hole with water.

2] hold dogs head under water till bubbles come out nose

3] pull dogs head out of water and let him run

4] may have to repeat one more time

5] dog will not dig holes anymore

6] this will not kill your dog

tinmarine · 10-17-2005, 10:34 PM

I've heard that if you bury a balloon in one of their favorite holes, and they dig it up, when it pops from the scratching that should take care of it. Or, put chicken wire or some sort of wire mesh in the hole, cover it, the sensation of the nails raking over it will irritate them enough to make them stop. If my dog starts digging, I just take her for a nice 5 mile walk, that'll usually do it. Sometimes the regular 2 miles just don't do it for her.

Jim

tidester · 10-18-2005, 05:30 AM

Mine digs holes to keep cool, so I set him up with a way to tunnel under my shed. That way, the holes are covered.

At my previous house, I'd scoop his poop and put it in the hole, then cover it back up with dirt. Dog's dont like crap on their paws and he would move on. After a couple weeks of this, he finally got the message and stopped digging. He was content to hang out under the porch to keep cool.

Hydro · 10-18-2005, 07:18 AM

Thanks for the responses guys. I've never been able to catch her "in the act", so the only thing i've been able to do is to scold her after the fact, which is not nearly as effective. I think boredom is part of the problem, but she has TONS of dog toys to play with, even one of those plastic treat dispensers like twentynine mentioned. I give her plenty of attention, but i can't be around all the time. She gets nice long walks on a leash, but mostly just on the weekends.

I'm pretty sure that she knows that its BAD to dig holes in the backyard - its almost like she just can't help it. Kind of like me and that LAST beer..............

Frank007 · 10-18-2005, 01:17 PM

Get her another dog to play with and occupy her time. That may stop the digging and double your pleasure.

Haifischjager · 10-18-2005, 01:23 PM

I know that hitting a dog is wrong especially above the tail head (on the dog's butt). I saw another dog owner actually bite is giant schnauzer (sp?) on the snout when the dog lunged at me in a park. I guess the dog knew that a bite is bad. The owner spoke the dog's language.

RI Builder · 10-18-2005, 01:26 PM

It sounds to me as if the dog is digging because it is bored and wants attention. My Weimeraner will dig in the yard when no one is outside playing with her. Give her the attention, and the digging stops.

dneal · 10-18-2005, 03:22 PM

For my border collie I put small mouse traps ,loaded with out bait in some of her holes that she had dug, she just chewed up the traps.
I now give Molly one of those rawhide chewy things and she grew out of the digging stage,I think she was bored as a young pup.
As a young pup she would carry stuff all over the back yard. One day I came home and found Molly setting in the middle of the dock and would not move. I found that she had been playingwith a BBQ burger fliper and had gotten it stuck on her collar and had been draging it around all day.
She does not touch a thing now that is not hers.

Dave

BW23 · 10-18-2005, 03:29 PM

Shock collars are great training devices ......but you must be present. Lady friend is a Veterinarian and we loan our collar on a regular basis.

kingair · 10-18-2005, 06:19 PM

It sounds like you need the "Dog Whisperer" to come and pay a visit.

t5killer · 10-18-2005, 09:20 PM

I have 2 lab-mixes that used to dig. I would fill the holes with some of their dog poop and cover the holes back with dirt. They won't dig in the same place again, but they will start a new hole in a new location. Just keep fill the holes with poop and mud and they will learn. It took about 3 weeks for mine to stop digging.

Sully · 10-19-2005, 08:04 AM

I've been training gun dogs since 1959, and here's one to try. Fill the last hole he dug almost to the top, break "tack strip" boards into pieces about 6" long , lay them in the shallow hole and cover with sand. Tack strips are used to hold carpet down. They will also keep cats out of your garden/flower beds.

farmerjane · 10-19-2005, 10:56 AM

Great advise from all of the above.

Here's mine ~

1. YOU poop in the holes. That oughta redirect her ~

2. Quit your job and play with her all day.

3. Try all of the above mentioned posts and ignore mine.

autobaun70 · 10-19-2005, 01:06 PM

I'll second the shock colar idea, harmless to the dog, and really get's the point across, perhaps the best training aid I've seen as long as they are used sparingly.