Uhoh we have a digger

[Sirrahsim]

I left Ginger unattended for all of five minutes this afternoon while I cleaned up the dinner dishes... When I went to check on her I discovered that she had managed to uproot the fence anchors and climb under the fence She was over there romping around with the neighbors (intact!) bulldog At 10 weeks ish she is too young to get pregnant, right??? From now until further notice she will be tied out and supervised everytime she is outside.
Any suggestions on how to keep her from escaping? The long metal stake type fence anchors didn't even slow my little girl down

[k9krazee]

Yes, at 10 weeks she is too young to get pregnant. She'd have to go through heat first, and that usually happens around 6 months. And if you get her spayed before her first heat cycle it will greatly reduce her chance of cancer in the future.

To keep her from escaping/digging I'd only put her out loose in the backyard when you can watch her. In fact with a 10 week old puppy I'd never leave them out unsupervised. And if you're out there with her you can make sure to correct her if she does start to dig. Bored dogs dig, entertained dogs do not.

[shais_mom]

welcome to the world of Golden puppies!
I remember sitting down crying one day sobbing saying if I can't handle you I can't handle Kids....
But one of my friends who has 2 kids got a golden puppy - she had a golden but he was at least 3 before they got him- told me that KIDS WERE EASIER!!
One thing to do it blow up some balloons and put them where she digs - bury them and when she goes to dig - they pop - scaring her - HOPEFULLY deterring her.
If you are out watching her and she digs - spray her with the hose or a water bottle.
GOOD LUCK!

[emc]

I also agree that a puppy shouldn't be left outside without supervision. It's not safe for the little puppy, even if she's from a larger breed.

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Paws In Art

[Giselle]

Oh dear! Ginger, stop digging!

However, does your fence extend below underground? For persistent dogs of certain breeds, it's probably best if you extend your fence underground so that there will still be a barrier when they dig. And how tall is it? I saw pictures of it in your pictures and it looks like 4 feet. If Ginger turns out to be a hopper as well as a digger, I might rethink the height of the fence.

Puppies. Gotta love em

[Sirrahsim]

We are not allowed to bury anything in the ground or get a taller fence. We just have to figure out a way to work with what we have. I would love to be able to supervise Ginger consantly but with two small children it is a miracle that I can see to her needs as well as I do. I don't need to be made to feel guilty for trying to grab 5 minutes of peace (as peaceful as it can be with 2 kids under the age of 3). I thought that letting her play outside for a few minutes would be more humane than locking her in her crate but I guess I was wrong

[Sirrahsim]

welcome to the world of Golden puppies!
I remember sitting down crying one day sobbing saying if I can't handle you I can't handle Kids....
But one of my friends who has 2 kids got a golden puppy - she had a golden but he was at least 3 before they got him- told me that KIDS WERE EASIER!!
One thing to do it blow up some balloons and put them where she digs - bury them and when she goes to dig - they pop - scaring her - HOPEFULLY deterring her.
If you are out watching her and she digs - spray her with the hose or a water bottle.
GOOD LUCK!

I have two kids under the age of 3 and I definately agree that the kids are MUCH easier
I will try the balloon trick

[sabies]

I don't know how you do it with your little ones. I so far think dogs are easier but that's just it - my dog was very young, but still an adult when I got her so I never went thru the puppy stage and as for the baby well she is just kicking my butt.

[crazyboutanimals]

One thing to do it blow up some balloons and put them where she digs - bury them and when she goes to dig - they pop - scaring her - HOPEFULLY deterring her.
If you are out watching her and she digs - spray her with the hose or a water bottle.
GOOD LUCK!

i would be afraid that once the balloon popped and the initial scare was over, they would go investigate and maybe eat the balloon ...

i know the OP problem, i have a GSD/Lab mix and the snow is melting and the ground is getting softer... and my little cinni and thunder love to see what is on the other side.. i talked to my dad and he suggested that chicken wire be placed around the fence area about 6 inches or so, that way when they start to dig the hit the chicken wire and then, hopefully stop...

if not, i will only prewrite notes to all my surrounding neighbors, ( all of which have dogs as well) that if in fact they see my "children" to send them back on home .. lucky for us, we all have fenced yards, so, they could not get very far