Uhoh we have a digger

**Giselle** · 02-25-2008, 09:34 PM

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** · 02-25-2008, 09:51 PM

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

**Cinder & Smoke** · 02-25-2008, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sirrahsim

I thought that letting her play outside for a few minutes would be more humane
than locking her in her crate ...

Try "relaxing" in a chair by a window that gives you a view of the fenced area.
Let the Pup out AND keep a "relaxed eye" on her!

If she strays out of sight or

*digs* - a sharp "rap" or two on the window
should be enough to distract her and bring her closer to you.

**Sirrahsim** · 02-25-2008, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cinder & Smoke

Try "relaxing" in a chair by a window that gives you a view of the fenced area.
Let the Pup out AND keep a "relaxed eye" on her!

If she strays out of sight or

*digs* - a sharp "rap" or two on the window
should be enough to distract her and bring her closer to you.

I wish that I had time to sit in a chair by the window and relax... Maybe when the kids go off to school..

**caseysmom** · 02-25-2008, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Sirrahsim

I wish that I had time to sit in a chair by the window and relax... Maybe when the kids go off to school..

Yeah I had two kids under three I know what you are going through. Try gettng a little playpen for her, for dogs. I had that for bubba, yes he is smaller but it saved him and my house when I had to cook dinner, etc and I didn't feel like he was being put in a crate.

**crazyboutanimals** · 02-25-2008, 10:28 PM

A sandbox: Try to remember that digging is a natural tendency for dogs. So, if there is any place where your dog may be allowed to dig, you should encourage it (and only in that place). Designate an area where the dog can dig. Many people build a sand box for their dog. Place the box in an area that is cool in summer and warm in winter.

To teach the dog to dig only in the box, place or bury toys or treats (sliced hotdogs, for example) in the box. Encourage the dog to dig up the toy or treat. Praise the dog. Repeat until the dog willingly jumps in and digs. Watch the dog. When it starts to dig in any other place, quickly go out and take your dog to its box. Show it (by digging yourself), that it should dig in its box.

To deter boredom, place several toys/treats in the box before you leave for work. The dog will spend its time digging in the correct place rather than digging up your roses. You can also sprinkle animal essence (available at hunting supplies places).

Remember that dogs like to dig in freshly turned earth. So get out that shovel and turn the dirt over in the sand box every now and then. Toss in some fresh dirt. Keep a close eye on freshly planted areas, as they will be very attractive (bury some extra hotdogs in the sandbox when you are putting down new plants).

Put a cheap wooden deck over the area of the backyard. Or get a roll of rabbit cage wire (Home Depot) and lay flat over ground, stake it down. Also you say you walk him, so section off your yard with the wire leaving enough room for a toilet area.

Line the yard. for extreme cases you can line the yard with chicken wire and put a layer of sod over that. Use paving bricks or blocks around the edge to prevent the dog from injuring itself on the edge of the chicken wire.

Ok this is going to raise some eyebrows but it is not so bad, really. I did dog rescue work for 13 years and one of the vets we use suggested that when we trim the dogs nails that we trim them just a bit shorter than you are supposed to and apply styptic powder. It doesn't exactly hurt when they dig but it is uncomfortable like when you chew a nail down to the quick. It took me a while to get up the courage to do this but the dogs didn't seem to be in distress at all and quit digging. Of course you have to give them other stuff to do chew toys etc, and lots of exercise. I tried the chicken wire thing and it cut up their paws much crueler I think than this. You could file them down if you don't like using the clippers.

**Giselle** · 02-25-2008, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by crazyboutanimals

Surprises in the hole: The Koehler dog method advocates filling holes with water and sticking dog's head under the water for a few seconds or so. This may not work with some breeds (e.g., Labradors), and may not appeal to you as a method to try.

OMG. I would definitely not encourage you to try that.

I had a feeling you had restrictions on the fence, so I guess my best suggestion would be to use some type of physical barrier to discourage digging rather than an aversive. I like the idea of lining chicken wire on the ground since you can't extend the fence below the ground. At the least, it'll give you 5 minutes of peace of mind (provided Ginger isn't a jumper

)

**dukedogsmom** · 02-26-2008, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by Sirrahsim

I wish that I had time to sit in a chair by the window and relax... Maybe when the kids go off to school..

I am not slamming you at all. Maybe an older dog would have been more fitting for your situation? Puppies are a lot of work. I'd love to have a Husky but I know my schedule and no fenced in yard wouldn't work with one.

**pitc9** · 02-26-2008, 07:19 AM

I had a HUGE problem with dogs digging under my fence, both my own dogs AND my neighbors dog.

All three dogs ended up getting bitten at least once and Bud and my neighbor's dog ended up with stitches!

I ended the problem by using chicken wire and wooden slates nailed to the fence (I have a wooden fence) to keep the chicken wire in place and bricks to keep the bottem edge down.

I know you have a chain link fence so you could use zip ties/plastic tie wraps to keep the chicken wire attached to the fence and using bricks, rocks.. etc. to keep her from digging up the bottom of the chicken wire.

**Ginger's Mom** · 02-26-2008, 09:03 AM

My suggestion would be to put something around the edge of the yard that she can't dig. You can put patio blocks or something like that for about 12" wide in front of the fence, so she cannot dig along the fence line. Or you can section off the area around the fence with bushes or a flower garden. Something that will enhance the appearance of the yard, not be a permanent addition, and yet keep Ginger from the fence at the same time. I think if I had a yard, that is what I would do.

**Vela** · 02-26-2008, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by dukedogsmom

I am not slamming you at all. Maybe an older dog would have been more fitting for your situation? Puppies are a lot of work. I'd love to have a Husky but I know my schedule and no fenced in yard wouldn't work with one.

Gotta agree with Val on this one. If you didn't have time for a puppy, maybe it wasn't the best idea to get one. You HAVE to spend the time to train it and insure its safety, even if you think you don't have time to do it. She doesn't know any better. Puppies bite, dig, jump on you, jump on kids, potty in the house on occasion, get into all sorts of trouble and eat kids toys ALL the time. They may nip small children, knock them down. If you don't have 5 minutes to watch her outside, then how are you going to have time to train the pup to stop all of those other things? I'm not bashing you at all, but everyone knows how much work a puppy is. If you take on the responsibility of a puppy, then you have to MAKE the time to do it, whether you have the time or not. Saying you can't do this or can't do that won't help, you have to try to find things you CAN do to change the problem. There were some great suggestions (mostly), and hopefully some of those can help.

I hope you are able to work things out with the pup.

**Pawsitive Thinking** · 02-26-2008, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Vela

Gotta agree with Val on this one. If you didn't have time for a puppy, maybe it wasn't the best idea to get one. You HAVE to spend the time to train it and insure its safety, even if you think you don't have time to do it. She doesn't know any better. Puppies bite, dig, jump on you, jump on kids, potty in the house on occasion, get into all sorts of trouble and eat kids toys ALL the time. They may nip small children, knock them down. If you don't have 5 minutes to watch her outside, then how are you going to have time to train the pup to stop all of those other things? I'm not bashing you at all, but everyone knows how much work a puppy is. If you take on the responsibility of a puppy, then you have to MAKE the time to do it, whether you have the time or not. Saying you can't do this or can't do that won't help, you have to try to find things you CAN do to change the problem. There were some great suggestions (mostly), and hopefully some of those can help.

I hope you are able to work things out with the pup.

I'm with these ladies - but I am sure you will work things out