digging up the yard

[Monika Lisak]

hello,
i recently got new pup from a friend who could not keep her she is a 6mth old lab/husky mix.

I have 2 other dogs and have not encountered this problem before and would like to find a solution, she has been digging up holes in my backyard one was so deep she could almost lie in it, she has done this a few times to bury her bones and toys but yesterday she had no bones or toys and was jsut digging like crazy so i would bring her and cover up the hole but as soon as i would put her back out she would be right back to digging again, i was thinking since it was raining she was after the worms, but today the worms are gone and she's doing it again, i even bought some patio stones to put on top og the holes but she finds new places to dig!

any ideas as to why??

[Melissa Brunoehler]

HI Monika~

Digging is a normal dog behavior. Dogs typically dig because they're bored. So make sure she is getting a lot of mental & physical exercise. You can also make her her own digging area. You can use a mixture of dirt & sand, put some toys & treats in it. Some people use a childs sand box others section off a small part of the yard. Encourage her to dig in it. If she digs elsewhere, lead her to the appropriate digging area.
hello,
i recently got new pup from a friend who could not keep her she is a 6mth old lab/husky mix.

I have 2 other dogs and have not encountered this problem before and would like to find a solution, she has been digging up holes in my backyard one was so deep she could almost lie in it, she has done this a few times to bury her bones and toys but yesterday she had no bones or toys and was jsut digging like crazy so i would bring her and cover up the hole but as soon as i would put her back out she would be right back to digging again, i was thinking since it was raining she was after the worms, but today the worms are gone and she's doing it again, i even bought some patio stones to put on top og the holes but she finds new places to dig!

any ideas as to why??

[Eric Vecc]

I was about to post a new thread but figure I'll just add my problem to this one. I know exactly what you are going through, only our holes are not guite as big and bailey does not seem quite as determined.


As the weather begins to turn warmer here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we begin leaving Bailey outside more and more. (he is a 55 # Lab/Shepherd mix-with very high energy). We will come home for lunch and place him outside in our fenced in backyard for the rest of the day (until 5). This works very well because he is tired when we get home. We have learned several things like not leave shoes our anything else he can destroy on the porch.

So now the problem...we have about 3 dead spots in our yard where his urine has burnt the grass away. These are starting to come back with the warmer weather and grass cutting (which adds nutrients). However, Bailey has begun to dig small holes in these spots. Only about 4 inches deep and not really to bury things but because we think he has a touch of seperation anxiety.

SO MY QUESTION...how do we get him to stop digging in those spots? I can't cover them because they need the sun to promote growth. I can't put up a gate around them because, well, he'll just push it over and play with the gate. Any suggestions on how to solve this while I am not home???

Thanks.

[Sherri]

Baxter is in basic training right now and this same question came up last night in our class. What our trainer had said is to try some interactive toys, like a molecuball (http://www.petsmart.com/global/prod...=111452300195 5), place stuffed kongs in the yard, hide treats/toys in the yard. Give your dog one specific area for digging and hide treats in there. These were a few of the suggestions made last night.

Hopefully something will work. Let us know.
Sherri

[Jennifer Carr]

I'm only passing on what someone else tried, and it was successful. As gross sounding as this is it makes sense.

Try putting the dog's poop on the spots where he/she usually digs. Turns them right off that spot.

That's part one....problem not solved if the dog just goes to find another spot.