Digging Dogs--help!

[Serenity Now!]

Hi animal lovers,

We just installed a new fence out back for our dogs (Lab and Rat Terrier.) They absolutely love running around and playing with each other. However, they have started to dig. They've dug big ole' holes. They are mostly by the posts where the fence was recently put in.

I've read some ideas on the net-- putting the dogs feces in the hole and covering it with soil. That's helped a little bit. Yesterday, I tried putting vinegar all around the fence posts. It looks like they are trying to start a new hole in the middle of the yard. I called my Vet, and he didn't have any ideas for me. I try and catch them in the action of doing it to scold them, but many times they see and hear (no matter how quietly I sneak up to that back door) that I am there watching, and they stop whatever they are doing and watch me! I have bought toys for them to play with outdoors, and that hasn't worked either.

Any one here have any tried or true solutions? I thank you in advance.

 

[sammipher]

When I had my dogs I had a bad problem with this....I had to get an electric dog fence...it is not as bad as it sounds...for like 200.00 or under just run the fence all along the edge of your regular fence on the inside..leaving a few inches in between the two...after about two times of touching it...they want do it anymore...before long you can just keep it cut off..but they want know it...I never had one get tangled up in it or anything..that was one of my worries.

 

[jeffs_girl_2004]

We had that problem too. We also put in a underground fence where they were digging the most and also put bricks or rocks in the holes after they were filled in. By putting the bricks or rocks in the holes they seem to leave that spot alone and now they have quit all together.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Yes-much of this can be remedied by placing fencing on the bottom of your containment, as a floor, and covering it with dirt. But please bear in mind that either you will need to bury the feces outside the containment afterward, or bury the fencing a foot or so underneath the ground. It will limit how far they can dig.

Blessings,
Whitehorse

 

[94SupraTT]

I have a digger too. Its my Akita mix. She only digs to get out. She doesn't dig random holes though. So I got some chicken wire fencing and layed it at the bottom of the fence. She can no longer dig her way out because she hits the wiring.

 

[uniqute]

My dog had a bit of a digging phase too, its sooo frustrating isn't it!

Anyhow, with mine someone suggested maybe he was bored - so i got him a few toys and stuff. I make sure I rotate which toys he has, and make them fun by putting treats inside a kong toy (and peanut butter) so he can spend hours trying to get them out. That's helped a lot! I also sprinked curry powder EVERYWHERE he tried to dig...he didn't like that at all