Digging!!

[Stephanie Neufeld]

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on how to stop a doodle puppy from digging in the garden??  Our 3 month labradoodle has just started digging in the garden and we would like to stop this ASAP (especially before we start planting our spring flowers and veggies).  When we catch her in the act she comes out immediately, but keeps going back when we aren't looking (it's hard to always be watching her outside) and doesn't seem to remember she's not allowed in there as she has remembered when we have scolded her for doing other things such as going behind the TV.  Any suggestions or recommendations if you had a "doodle digger" would be greatly appreciated!!

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

We read putting their poop in it then filling it back up with the dirt.  It worked for a while but now they just dig new holes EVERYWHERE and never return to the same one!  Also read putting a balloon so they pop it but I was concered they might eat the pieces?  I'll be anxious to see what feedback you get, our new redone yard is full of valleys and hills now, thanks to these two.  Grrrrrr...

[Suzanne Newman]

Hi Stephanie- 

We have the same issue with our 3.5 month old doodle, Whidbey.  We pretty much have resigned ourselves to "no planting" this year.  We are hopeful she will grow out of it, and also I feel it somewhat subsides by keeping her active.  I took her to an off-leash dog park yesterday where she ran herself out!  No digging occurred afterward.  Could it possibly be because they have a lot of energy to release?  Curious...

I too will be interested in seeing what others share!

Suzanne

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

My girls are almost two and it's only getting worse! lol Tuckering them out can help (sometimes it is a sign a boredom) but some breeds (including the labs) are just prone to digging. Thankfully mine don't dig in the flowerbed just the dry spots in the grass/yard - which is a lot from their running/chasing in circles!

[Tina]

My doodle doesn't do this yet but I have had a few dogs in the past that did. The poop in the hole works just don't bury it too deep. If its in your garden, you can scatter it around and then just cover it up a bit and it should stop them from digging in that spot. Hope that helps.

[Star and Goldie]

Chicken wire chicken wire chicken wire!!!! I started a discussion here just a couple weeks ago about this and another DK member suggested burying chicken wire and it worked like magic!

[BettyAnn, Holmes & Lucy]

Do you lay the chicken wire flat and bury it?

[Star and Goldie]

Yes. You just lay it flat and bury it. You want to leave it relatively close to the surface but not sticking out. It doesn't hurt them but they don't like the feel of it on their paws so they stop.

[Sue and Buddy]

I have used the poo on top of the filled in hole. That works most of the time. What really works for me is to provide Buddy with a place where he can dig. I will partial bury a toy or chew toy to encourage him to dig in his area. When I catch him digging where he shouldn't  I redirect to his spot and praise him for digging there.

[kristine & Auggie]

We have given Auggie a very small fenced area. Heavenly Bamboo, a tree and we planted new sod so he would have a cool place to lie  the rest is patio pavers.  What trouble could he cause right?  First he pealed the bark off the tree so we put wire around it to protect it.  When he is bored he tears  branches off the bamboo.  The sod, well, he came to the door with a big piece of it hanging out of his mouth.  He is just destroying the new sod.  He may end up in a playpen yet.

Sorry I can't help because our puppy is just as much of a pill.  Good luck

[Stephanie Neufeld]

Thanks for all your suggestions!

[Lynda Kamrath]

The good news is they do get over it.  Our ALD was a digger and a chewer.  I think there are some photos on our page of him digging around the oak tree on our patio.  It seemed like he was trying to dig up the tree.  And then he chewed on the walls, the deck, and the baseboards in the laundry room.  My husband soon discovered that he did not like Tabasco Sauce and he got big bottles of it and put it anywhere he would chew with a dauber.  Seemed at one point that the laundry room and the deck were painted with Tabasco.  Digging - he just kind of outgrew that but will still dig under the wood in the wood storage area because other animals crawl under there.  We have seen cats and possums and also lizards.  He loves a good chase.  My suggestion for digging would be to try cayenne pepper.  It won't hurt the soil and when he gets a little of that up his nose, he will probably stay away from the garden area.  Worth a try.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Yes, the photos are on page 4.