Digging!

GiGi's dad · 06-22-2009, 09:06 PM

GiGi will not quit digging holes! It seems like she knows better because she doesn't seem to do it when I'm around but if she is by herself or with my two younger kids (they don't keep an eye on her) she digs away. The couples of times I have caught her it seems to have started with trying to get a bug. She gets compulsive about it and digs trying to find it. I have stopped her as soon as she starts going for the bug but she does it anyway when I'm not around. She is an inside dog hiwever sometimes likes to roll in the mud and has to stay out for a couple hours until she dries and gets it off. Any suggestions to stop the digging?

AussieGirl · 06-23-2009, 03:56 AM

Digging is one of the natural instincts of a dog. Some of the reasons they dig are out of boredom, a means of escape, to find relief from the heat, or to investigate a scent eg long lost bone. Some breeds of dogs are more prone to do so as they were bred to dig out game eg foxes, rabbits etc. Behaviours that are a result of instinct are sometimes harder to stop than bad habits that are learnt - don't get me wrong it can be "unlearned" but you will have to supervise her at ALL times while she is outside until she "gets it". I would direct her digging to something positive, do you have an old sand box your kids no longer use or can you provide her with one (doesn't need to be fancy), basically give her an area that is okay for her to dig in. If you do have something she can have as her own designated digging area teach her to use it by burrying treats in it and directing her to the scent saying "dig" as she begins to dig. If you catch her digging outside her designated area get her to stop and direct her to her digging spot and tell her "dig". After doing this a few times she will catch on that that is her place to dig her little heart away. We are lucky we live near the beach and after Ruby tried to landscape our garden I took her to the beach and taught her to "dig". Now she doesn't touch the garden, but as soon as we get on the beach she goes for it.
Good luck

Spyglass Sally · 06-23-2009, 06:33 AM

LOL - that's pretty funny. Buddy also starts digging when he finds bugs! Like aussieGirl, we also live by the beach and I've found sand is great for him to dig in because it tends to just roll in on itself so he gets a great workout with little "damage".

Maybe GiGi needs a sandbox?

whitedaisy · 06-23-2009, 08:46 AM

I'm planning to get a sandbox for Poppy too!!

GiGi's dad · 06-23-2009, 06:00 PM

Thanks. Great suggestion! I guess it's time for a sandbox…lol

Mesquite451 · 07-31-2009, 05:10 PM

You might try putting some of the dog's feces in the holes he has dug. Citrus peel (orange/lemon) is also offensive to dogs and might discourage this destructive behavior. Most boxers outgrown their urge to dig.

Nismo · 08-01-2009, 01:53 AM

Nismo had a big digging problem a few months ago. We started putting his #2 in the holes and filling it back in. It took about a month for him to catch on. Now he very rarely digs.

Tommy1 · 10-29-2009, 07:52 AM

Place her poop in the holes where she digs. It may take a couple of time doing this but this was all that worked with my Tommy

Ron · 10-29-2009, 09:00 AM

haha that's a neat idea tommy, i never even thought of that before

welcome to the forum btw

Doreen · 10-29-2009, 09:14 AM

Hmmmmm sounds like something I need to try too... poop in the holes, LOL... Rex hasn't been out long enough to be digging with all this rain we've been having. My past boxer Rufus used to dig holes under the fence, so I had DH line the fence with bricks... he no longer dug under the fence anymore. Now I have patio blocks over holes to deter them, but the poop sounds like another good thing to try... odd, but OK... I'll try it.