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How do I get my dog to stop digging holes in our yard?
Our back yard is full of crater sized holes. I don't have time for her to be constantly supervised when she's outside.....what should I do?
11 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
i used mouse traps. i put them in the bottom of the newest project hole my dog was digging. it may sound cruel but it does work. it only took 2 hits for my lab to decide that digging a hole was not worth it. that was 5 years ago and to this day she won't dig.
best of luck
- Anonymous5 years ago
Dogs need a lot of socialization. Do you go out and play with your dog on a regular basis? Your dog could be digging because she is bored, or she could also be digging to try to find a moist, cool area to cool down. Dogs learn quickly that digging exposes cool, moist dirt that will help keep them at a comfortable temperature. Some solutions: Salt the earth with small rocks, which will feel unpleasant to the dog's paws. Try ground pepper, the smell of which offends and deters most dogs. Most effective of all, place chicken wire mesh around plants or shrubs you want to protect, as well as underneath the ground your dog always seems to pester. After a short time your dog should get discouraged and stay away from that particular area. If your dog is digging out of boredom, have you thought about maybe getting another dog so she will have someone to play with?
- 1 decade ago
What kind of a dog is it?? This will make a big difference. If you have a breed that is bred as a digger, like a terrier, the breeders say to give them a sand box, where they can dig safely. You just need to give the dog more exercise and one on one time with you, and the anxious digging behavior should get better.
- 1 decade ago
My 8 month Aussie does the same thing. I put her poop (has to be your dog's own poop though!!!) in the hole, then fill it in and put a piece or 2 on top. Yuk I know, but this with firmly telling her 'no' when i see her digging somewhere I don't want her to seems to work for me. Remember though (very important), NEVER, let her see you gardening! This will send the message that it's okay to dig where you just have! Also, dogs do need a place to dig, so maybe put a homemade sandbox in your yard for her/ him to dig. Bury treats in the sand and praise her when you see her/ him digging in the okay spot. I try to encourage mine to dig in the sand box or just sand in general, such as the park etc...
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- coolhandvenLv 41 decade ago
Speaking from experience (our organization has rescued over 2700- I personally did 31 last year alone) I have found that putting their "poop" in the holes to be most effective. I have a variety of dogs coming through my backyard that have very different personalities and behavior and this has worked on roughly 90% of them. In addition, this sounds gross but it works where the dog does not react to the poop, have the Alpha Male (myself) pee into the holes when needed and that absolutely STOPS the problem cold turkey! I really like the idea about the mousetraps though!!!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
This might sound a little odd, but my american bulldog use to do the same thing, and someone told me to put his "poop" in the hole and bury it and he won't dig there, after a couple of weeks he was no longer digging. I've also heard of the "mouse trap" route to solve the problem but it seemed cruel to me. Best of luck!
- 1 decade ago
Try to walk her more or play with her. Most of the time dogs dig holes out of boredom. They also do it becayse they want to cool off in the summer and vice versa. Make sure that when she digs, you immediately do something to let her know it is wrong, spank her nose, make a loud noice or scream no! This will startle her and make her associate that fear with digging and make her stop. Let me know!
- Anonymous1 decade ago
employ her to dig a well. who knows, you might strike oil. i'm guessing that you have a lab or some kind of terrier. my advice would be to buy her some new toys to play with or take her out on walks more to let out some of that excess energy.
- 1 decade ago
that is the greatest question... if you get an answer lemme know. i have a golden retriver, and that is all she does, are yard looks like a mine yard