Digging Doodles

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Deuce and Chance both love to dig. I finally got fed up with holes in my yard where I just reseeded after last year's drought. Talk about nothing but dirt!!! Anyway, after my severe ankle injury last Oct, I was not liking the holes and the possibility of another ankle sprain which would send me to surgery, so I built them a small sand box in the yard. It's 4' x 4' and about 14 to 16 inches deep. THEY LOVE IT!! No more holes in the yard and the sand is cool for them to lay in during the hot summer. Deuce actually hogs it, digs out a spot then lays down to nap. Chance just digs. Some sand is thrown out but I take a broom to sweep it back in. I'll post a pic the next time I catch both of them enjoying it. Just thought I'd throw this out as a solution to those who have digging doodle and need a solution.

[Adina P]

Cool! So what surrounds the sandbox? (as in grass or dirt or something else?)

[Marcia Stevens]

Hi Leigh,
Yes, I did the same thing....I didn't realize how much a Doodle loves to dig until I brought one home....then the digging started....so, I gave her my younger sons built in wood sandbox..he wasn't using it anymore...and, she loves it! It's about 2 ft. deep with sand....and, about 4ft. x 4ft.....it's the best thing! She spends hours digging....then, I spend hours putting the sand back in the box....but, alot easier to do that than filling in holes in the back yard...

[Tamara & Giada]

I should do that, because Giada loves to dig too.

[1v200f3rbrnxk]

I appreciate reading this as i hope to have a fenced off area for my 2 doodles soon and while they don't dig my yard up (YET) i will incorporate a sandbox inside the fenced area :) great idea!!

why don't mine dig? cause i am with them off leash and say UH UH hahhaaa but i do have one spot they can dig (for now)

quick question: anyone use a small area of double ground mulch? as for past 2 years our doodles like to Potty on it and not chew it. So anyone use say sandbox along with small mulched area?
thanks

[Valerie]

We used the sand box for awhile when Emma was a puppy. It was just a fun place and she loved diving in it and rolling and finding buried treats. What worked best for us was buying a roll of wire fencing, about mid-thigh high, and just fencing inviting areas in the yard. Neither dog would jump the fence. We pull it up after awhile and for some reason that area is not interesting anymore. We use the fencing to redirect also. It saves the grass.

[Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran]

One trick that works pretty well is to blow up a balloon and bury it where they've been digging. They'll pop the balloon when they dig again, which will tend to scare them straight!

[Jennifer Goaring]

What about wet sand?  This still seems like it would be a big mess in terms of cleaning up after they have been digging...  hmmm.  I like the concept, but not sure if it will be any less messy... maybe it needs to be covered too... but that seems like a lot of work!

[Maya]

Love it! Also - would like to see some photos, pretty please!

We have a digger, too! Since we live in the NW, and have a lot of rain, my problem is not only that Cassie's ruining what little garden area we have in the yard, but she comes back in sooo dirty, I have to give her semi-bath every time I let her out in the yard! She comes back with wet soil all over her face, IN her mouth, between her toes... since she's black, you don't really realize HOW dirty she is until you start washing her face and paws in a plastic tub full of water. The water becomes black immediately! She hates the whole process, and I don't enjoy it, either!

Now, back to your sand box... did you have to put something in the sand, to get the dogs interested in it, or they just naturally were more drawn to sand than to the soil/grass in the yard?

[Denice Caouette]

There was a discussion a couple of months ago on this site and I can not find it at this time.....but!!!! one of the answers at that time was to install a sand pit..we finished our backyard about a month ago and did install a sand pit. We used a preformed pond liner, dug a hole, set it in and filled it with playground sand. Sabrina is my digger, and you would think we gave her the best gift in the world!!! She found it by herself and has not dug ONE hole in the yard since, but you should see the SAND FLY!!! I just sweep it back in ! So nice to not have "squirting sprinkler lines" because she pulled them up!!! We put holes in the bottom, so I can dampen the sand and the water will run out the bottom...keeps the sand cooler and damp, which she loves!!! Thanks Doodlekisses and all of you Doodle owners for another winning suggestion!!

[Chelsea and her doodle Piper]

Hi, I know this forum is so old, but do you still use your sandbox? How much sand is brought into the house from digging doodles? Pipper had dug holes in all the flower beds in the 1 week we have had him. If we stop him from digging in one hole, he just gets the zoomies and starts another. Argh!

[Lorraine Bromley]

We have one for Neely too. He digs a hole and puts his treasures in there when hes done playing and takes them out each time to play again. He had an orange rind in there for about 2 weeks. It did not look like an orange rind after being buried and dug up and rolled in ect day after day though!!! Ours is surrounded by grass on one side and cement patio on the others. He doesn't dig past the grass boundry. It shakes off better than mud too. Its only if it has rained and is really wet that it tracks in bad.