I know anti-freeze will work, but is there any other way to keep dogs from digging?

[PastorMikH]

My dogs never really had an issue with digging until someone gave me a dog that I kept for a year or so that dug. Now they have all learned to love it. They don't try to dig out persay, just dig. Now that we have a fenced in yard, I'd really like to let the dogs run loose in the back yard but they both are starting to dig.

Any solutions that keep the dogs healthy while detering them from digging?

[Dartgod]

I wish I knew. My dog likes to dig up the nuts that the squirrels have buried and eats them. She's taught the new dog that trick too.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by JimNasium

Mike, I've also heard that if the digging is in a specific area that you should bury his latest poo and he won't dig in that area anymore. Wouldn't hurt to try.

I don't think that would work.

The Bird Dog would dig to get to the Stupid Spaniel's and the Stupid Spaniel would dig to get to the Bird Dogs.

[Wile_E_Coyote]

clip thier nails?

[Simply Red]

Originally Posted by JimNasium

You might also consider signage

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by Stewie

Usually they just need more exercise. Live cats in the yard work well as a distraction.

Yeah, right!


I opened the shades this morning while I was making coffee. I looked out the window and there's a puny little black cat strolling accross the yard. Both dogs are snoozing in the wife's chairs (that something else she thinks they need broke from). I hollered at them to sic'em and they just looked around. Finally I step outside holler and point, the cat looks at me, the dogs look at the cat then back at me. When they were penned up all the time they acted vicious towards the cats. I guess it's a whole different story when they can actually get in range of the cat's claws.

[NewChief]

Here are some ideas from some site I found online. Note: the balloon idea is on here, so don't act like I'm crazy.

Confine your dog when you can't supervise him. Place him in a crate or kennel run whenever you aren't around to spy on him. You'll need to do this until you have fixed the digging problem.


Blow up some balloons and bury them in the area your dog likes to dig. When he strikes a balloon, the noise of it popping startles your dog. In some cases the negative association this produces is enough to stop your dog from digging in the future.


If you are able to be around your dog for a couple of days, you could achieve some success with this method. Whenever your dog starts to dig, reprimand him and spray him with the hose. Again this method produces a negative association to your dog each time he digs. You must be perform this reprimand every time your dog starts digging holes.


If your dog has a favorite spot he likes to dig you can bury some chicken wire just under the surface of this area. When your dog starts to dig he won't like the feeling of his paws scraping along the wire. I've used this method myself and found that it worked well for my dalmation puppy.


This one doesn't sound very nice but is a very popular and effective way to stop your dog from digging. What you do is fill up the holes your dog has created, adding some of his poop (feces) to the filling. Most dogs are really put off by this and won't attempt to dig again. Some trainers advocate feeding your dog pineapple before performing this technique. Apparently the pineapple smells terrible when mixed with the poop.


Some dogs just copy what they see their owners doing. So if you're working away in the garden, suddenly your dog may be interested in doing the same! Such dogs may need to be confined while you are working in the garden.


If you've got the room a great solution for both you and your dogs is to provide them with a digging area. You can actually encourage your dog to dig in this designated area. Fill it with nice soft sand and bury some of your dogs favorite treats in it. Most dogs figure out that if they want to dig, they must go to this area.


If your dog is digging under the fence it may be worth filling in all the holes in and under the fence. This takes away the visual temptation your dog may be trying to get at.


If none of the above methods work for you and your dogs, you may wish to try a remote electronic training collar or e-collar. This method does work, although I realise many dog owners don't like the sound of using such a device. In reality it works the same way as many of the other techniques in that it provides a negative association to the act of digging.


If you take a trip down to your local Pet Shop you will find many commercial products that claim to help digging problems. They are effective for some dogs and may be worth a try.

[JBucc]

1-800-CZR-MLAN

[Megbert]

I've heard about burying their poop in the holes where they dig or mothball flakes, burying a mouse trap so when they dig it'll snap and scare them kinda like the balloon.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by NewChief

One thing I've heard:

Bury an inflated balloon where they dig. They'll try to dig up the balloon. It will pop and scare the crap out of them. They then are scared to dig. Never had to try it myself, but might be worth trying.

That's a pretty clever idea.

[JBucc]

Find a dog at the pound that has digging problems and let him hang out with your dogs until they become friends. Then when the stray starts to dig, grab him by the back and slit his throat. Make sure the other dogs see this. Might want to leave his dead body there for a few days just as a reminder. Unless the other dogs start to eat him, in which case, you should remove the dead body by throwing it into the neighbors' yard.

[seclark]

let the dog dig.
more holes = less mowing
sec

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by NewChief

If none of the above methods work for you and your dogs, you may wish to try a remote electronic training collar or e-collar. This method does work, although I realise many dog owners don't like the sound of using such a device. In reality it works the same way as many of the other techniques in that it provides a negative association to the act of digging.

This is the technique I used and it worked like a charm. The down side is that you have to devote a significant amount of time to spy on your dog in order to catch him in the act and apply the shock.

[stlchiefs]

Long time lurker, present N00b posting here.

I had a lab that dug and chewed (only trees in the backyard) when she was a pup. There is a product called Boundary available at pet stores that I used. I just spread the granules in the holes. http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...=1173383905743

I also heard of and tried putting crushed red/chili peppers in the holes, but this didn't work well for my dog.

While on the topic another good remedy that I've heard of and swear by, if you dog chews on unwanted items (such as sapling trees). Mix a spice called Alum with water to form a paste and spread on the target object. Alum is bitter and the dog will quickly avoid chewing on the object.

Congrats Pastor, you brought me out of my 3+ years of lurking. Sorry so long for a 1st post.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by stlchiefs

Long time lurker, present N00b posting here.

Congrats Pastor, you brought me out of my 3+ years of lurking. Sorry so long for a 1st post.

welcome
quality is always better than quantity.
unless we're talking money.
sec

[Redrum_69]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

My dogs never really had an issue with digging until someone gave me a dog that I kept for a year or so that dug. Now they have all learned to love it. They don't try to dig out persay, just dig. Now that we have a fenced in yard, I'd really like to let the dogs run loose in the back yard but they both are starting to dig.

Any solutions that keep the dogs healthy while detering them from digging?

SHoot the bastard