Pup digging up the garden!

DMC

Hi all, first time posting here, quick search attracted nothing of note....

Is there any practical way of getting a dog to stop digging holes and burying stuff in the lawn?

Our little pup is a Norwegian Elkhound, 6 months old.

I've heard of old wives tales of stick pepper down the holes, so he'll sneeze himself silly, but I don't want to do that. Any ideas?

macshadow

Don't know of any tricks to stop digging but if it's just when he/she wants to bury something like a bone or toy then don't leave any toys or bones in the garden.

michelleans

There's no fast fix.

Here's some points that will help you.

Try to keep him stimulated as best as possible, with lots of toys when you are not there, and lots of games and training when you are.

Tire him out before you leave. (Nice long fetch session, long walk/run)

Supervise him in the garden (put him indoors when you are away)

If you need to leave him outside, a dog run with a cement floor could be used for times when you are away.

To prevent the behaviour you must catch him every time he is doing it and correct it. Thus, never let him do it unless you are watching him. Correct by throwing a bottle of pebbles or something near him, when he stops praise him loads!

deman

macshadow wrote: »

don't leave any toys or bones in the garden.

michelleans wrote:

with lots of toys when you are not there

Two conflicting pieces of advice there. I have the same problem with my six month old Golden Retriever. Now that he's getting big, the holes are becoming a real problem!

Toots

Sounds painful, but I found that accompanying the puppy out to the garden for toilet etc helped. If he starts trying to dig while he's in the garden with you, scold him and then bring him straight inside. If you're letting the dog out for a wander around, keep an eye on him and scold immediately and distract him with something else if you catch him digging. Preferably dont let him out unsupervised cos he will just keep digging, there's nothing you can do!!

If the dog stays out all day, as another poster said - a concrete floored dog run is the best bet, make sure there's lots of room and put a kennell in too in case it rains etc. This is also a safer option particularly with a puppy, as it reduces the risk of them escaping when you're out.

Never heard of the thing about putting pepper down the holes. I'd be reluctant to try that in case it makes the puppy sick.

As the other poster said, the puppy is doing this because he is bored, and also wants to explore. Keep some toys in the garden like a ball or something but don't give bones or bone shaped toys as they will try to bury these. I found that a ball was the only thing in the garden safe from attempted burial for the first year we had our dog

undecided

Mine used to do this and i did what the other poster said went out with her to toilet and gave out when I saw her dig. Must have done something right as she doesnt do it anymore!

DMC

Thanks guys for the advice!

Just to add to some of the points raised, he is kept in his own kennel with its own run during night hours, but he is out in the backyard and lawn area for >12 hours a day. As for scolding him when he we see him dig, its impossible to keep a watch on him all the time. We give him the occasional bone from the butchers, but we've give him strong tennis balls, but he buries those too! He got a hold of an old 2l coke bottle once, and, strangely, he keeps this above ground and still plays with it.

Musha

Have the same problem with an 8mth old shepherd, was throwing old bread and cake out for the birds and she lifted everybit and buried each piece in a different place she is a resue dog and we think she was starved earlier in her life so she saves some for later

she has started burying things in the ditch so it not so bad on the lawn:)

karlin

The main problem is you have a very bored dog -- and bored dogs dig. Dogs are very social animals and to be left outside in a kennel all night, then alone in a garden all day, is a recipe for problems (digging, escaping, barking). There are definitely ways of managing this, but they will involve some planning, effort and possibly some expense. Keeping your dog inside will help a lot. Keeping the dog inside and having a second dog companion will also help. And/or, come home at lunch everyday, let him out of the house, and get your dog out for a run or at least a good walk and some stimulation. If you can't get home, get a neighbour and pay them to do this, or hire a walking service.

I do breed rescue and a major reason dogs of all breeds get surrendered into pounds is the behaviour problems caused by them being left alone all day by people who -- understandably!-- work all day -- but don't remember to have anything in place for the dog to do during the time they are gone. Kennels and runs are incredibly dull places for a dog to be kept -- any trainer can confirm that overkennelled dogs (and all day in a kennel while people are at work, and all night too, is definitely overkennelled) get all sorts of behaviour problems, just like zoo animals -- pacing, chewing at themselves, anxiety problems, barking, digging at corners of runs etc.

See:

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BackyardDogs.php

I know a lot of people grew up with outdoor dogs, but that was probably at a time when at least one person was home all day and in and out so the dog always had someone around. Lifestyles have changed, but dogs have not changed in their needs -- which is to have companionship and mental stimulation.

spongbob

can someone point me in the right direction for a dog run here in ireland, i have two large dogs so i am thinking around 12/13 feet long

macshadow

spongbob wrote: »

can someone point me in the right direction for a dog run here in ireland, i have two large dogs so i am thinking around 12/13 feet long

I answered your previous post, maybe you missed it. www.cilldara.ie

Zorba

Yes my black lab digs too but only when i'm not there to see her, as other posters said she's just doing it out of boredom and it's not as bad as it used to be, but what i found definitely works but it's disgusting is any hole the dog digs fill it with their own fresh ****. Dogs hate the smell of their own crap and they won't go near any hole they've dug no matter what's in it if it's filled with their crap. As i said disgusting but it works.

undecided

Zorba wrote: »

Yes my black lab digs too but only when i'm not there to see her, as other posters said she's just doing it out of boredom and it's not as bad as it used to be, but what i found definitely works but it's disgusting is any hole the dog digs fill it with their own fresh ****. Dogs hate the smell of their own crap and they won't go near any hole they've dug no matter what's in it if it's filled with their crap. As i said disgusting but it works.

Think Id rather have the holes!:(

Zorba

undecided wrote: »

Think Id rather have the holes!:(

You'll still have them just not where the crap is !!