Question

Does anyone else have a dog that's a digger? Any recommendations on how to make the digging stop? Our back yard is a hot mess, and now he's trying to dig up a buried cable. He gets plenty of exercise, has a "job", has lots of toys, and isn't too hot. He just loves to dig. Has anyone tried a doggie sandbox? I'd really like to save my yard. Thanks!  

Answer 1

Someone told me to put their poop or some water in hole. his own poop worked for my pup.  

Comments

@fromma interesting! Did he not try to dig in other areas to avoid the poop holes?  

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@phototube he did but stayed out side with him and did the loud firm "ah ah" thing. lol. followed it up with a piece of poop and "covered" up and it calmed down.  

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@fromma unfortunately, water in the hole only makes my dog want to dig the holes more. He looooves water so it’s an incentive for him ‍♀️

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@articulator I could see that! Some pups love water!  

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@articulator same! My dog will drink water any time any where. He's even got sick from drinking stagnant water. ‍♀️

Answer 2

Same! Our previous dogs were not diggers but our current one year old lab is. Hope someone has advice! . Thanks for posting.  

Comments

@tollefson5878 is this a lab thing? Our 3 month old puppy is a husky/lab mix and he likes to dig.  

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@tollefson5878 our guy is a year old too. Maybe it's an age thing that they will outgrow? Haha here's to hoping!  

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@celestina4402 we don't know what ours is. Definitely husky something though (possibly mastiff). Doesn't seem to have lab in him.  

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@celestina4402 I’m not sure! This is my third lab; the others did not dig. ‍♀️. They were yellow and our current is chocolate. I’ve heard that chocolates can be more mischievous! . They are super smart dogs and love to have “tasks” to accomplish (which is why they are hood hunters/retrievers) so I think that’s where it might stem from?  

Answer 3

We use a PetGentle ultrasonic trainer to correct other behavior. it emits a high pitched tone specifically targeted for a dog’s hearing range. I think we will try that! It's been very effective for other issues.  

Comments

@tollefson5878 do you have a link to that by chance?  

Answer 4

Can you tell about this having a job?  

Comments

He's a working breed so he needs a job. We have a wood pile, and he thinks it's his job to move the pile. So we stack up all the wood, then be goes out and moves it all somewhere else. It keeps him occupied. When he's done we put it all back and he does it again lol

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One of my Border Collies definitely needs a job and has one. My other one would laugh at me if I tried to get him to do anything productive.  

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Ooooh, maybe my pup needs a job. HE NEVER SITS DOWN. Ever. Lol.  

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@hunt4 what’s the job? I think my puppy needs to go to work!  

Answer 5

There’s a group called Naperville Dog Parents that you might like. I read somewhere that you might try giving them their own digging area? A sandbox or a dirt pile in the corner? I’m not sure how you keep them focused on only digging there.  

Answer 6

We have a 95lbs doodle who loves to dig. We have done what someone mentioned and put his poop in holes he digs. It stops him from digging in that hole. We put it in the holes he tries to dig in the yard. Now we digs in the mulch so not really want to put poop in mulch. He usually digs to bury something, so no bones of any kind outside.  

Answer 7

I wish i could help you and I don't mean to laugh but i dis because we have a differ and no, there is no stopping it. He has been a digger since he was a puppy and he loves it. He digs especially when its hot out and then lays in the cool dirt underneath. He also tries digging inside our house in our couches and beds when his anxiety flares up for his various weird issues , so our house gets doggy proofed everytime we leave. We kind of just stopped trying to stop him because it makes him so damn happy to dig a hole lol. And by the grace of God he hasn't figured out he could dig a hole to under the fence and leave us so I would say we are still the winners lol

Answer 8

Hi Lexi. I’m the owner of Cloud K9 Academy in Naperville. Digging is typical one of two things. It’s either a boredom behavior (yes I know he has a job) or an anxiety/OCD behavior (not typical in labs but possible). My guess is it’s more of a boredom behavior. There are certainly ways to train the dog not to do this but it does take time/work. If you interested in working through this, let me know and I can give you more details.  

Answer 9

I have a 1 yr old Goldendoodle who was digging a giant hole in my backyard. A friend recommended that I sprinkle cayenne pepper in the hole. Worked perfectly! She started to dig another hole and sprinkled some in there and she finally lost interest.  

Comments

@toothed thank you! I'll try that!  

Answer 10

We have a 11 year old dog who sometimes (once every few months) just very gingerly digs in my flower garden. we set up one space she can dig, I refill the dirt and then let her do it again! I know from a training perspective it’s probably not ideal! But she is 11 we let things go. and it saves the rest of my yard! I call it helping me garden at this point!  

Answer 11

My "hunter breeds" all dig. My backyard is trashed.! I've tried the poop, everything. nothing really helps unfortunately.  

Comments

@impatient my guy has got to have some sort of hunter or tracker in him. He has to smell everything nonstop, and then dig and smell and dig and smell alllll day.