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Subject: Stopping puppy from digging?

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Abby23

Maine

Posts:6

03/12/2008 3:58 PM
Hi--- I'm new here- obviously- and we're new to GSP's. Our 6.5 month-old girl is doing great on the training basics , but she's getting a bad habit of digging to China in our back yard. Does anyone have any advice for this? Our lab wasn't a huge digger, so we're not used to it. Is it just a boredom thing, maybe? I'd love to hear anyone's experiences on this- any advice is much appreciated! Thanks-

Gracie-Girl User is Offline

Posts:4

03/12/2008 6:00 PM
I just joined this site too and I'd love to hear suggestions since my girl is finding it funny to dig in the yard. And to dig up the yard lights too!

Texas Belle User is Offline

Austin, TX

MH
Posts:7834

03/12/2008 9:23 PM
There is already a thread on digging that you might find helpful. Last post was in January on page 12 of the General Discussion area. Or you can search on the word, Digging, and scroll down to the post. I think you will find some helpful suggestions in that thread. The one that worked for me was putting poop in the hole. They wouldn't go back and dig that hole, but they always seemed to find another place to dig in the yard. I gave them an area that was their digging zone and that helped. The other thing that caused mine to dig was when they were after a lizard, mouse, rat, etc. So your pups natural hunting instinct may also be coming into play. Good luck and welcome to the forum. Bev and the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo)

Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna) Yellow Rose GSPs "A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato

RyanGSP

MH
Posts:428

03/12/2008 11:52 PM
I used a mouse trap in the hole then fill the hole back in. I would do this to everyhole of his. You gotta keep ontop of it for the first little while but it works. I also put runs in lastyear on gravel. The dogs are in those during the day if weather permits so there is no digging. They come out when we are home (usually come inside) or if we are in the back yard they can have their freedom as well.

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

03/13/2008 6:55 AM
I guess if you want her to stop digging you will have to find another activity for her. It will have to be more than making her tired. She is telling you she wants SOMETIHNG TO DO!!!! And she is really giving you a loud message. Instead of being annoyed and fustrated and thinking what the heck to do about it - get her using her mind with activity. Digging is a release of energy. Preventing her from digging will divert this energy someplace else. Chewing? barking? all those other annoying traits dogs pick up rather quickly. Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

RyanGSP

MH
Posts:428

03/13/2008 4:07 PM
"I guess if you want her to stop digging you will have to find another activity for her." Hit the nail on the head with that one. A simple kong filled with yogurt or peanut butter and given frozen goes a long ways. Bleive it or not but a sock or rolled up towel soaked then frozen goes a long ways as well. My 2 love it.

Cocoasparents User is Offline

SH
Posts:47

03/14/2008 12:49 AM
When we took Cocoa to meet the trainer we are going to use and he let her work on a couple of chuckar. when we came back to the stakeout line for the other dogs half of them had holes so deep that only their heads were showing. I decided right then that the little holes she digs are a reasonable price to pay so I can have her. I fill the holes in on the weekend and put pieces of plywood over them till the ground hardens up a bit. she may didg it up later but they are still small compared to the foxholes the other dogs had

Abby23

Maine

Posts:6

03/14/2008 7:48 AM
Thanks for the story, Cocoasparents---- and for reminding me it is a small price to pay! We may try that plywood idea for a bit, at least during mud season. Thanks to everyone for the alternative activity ideas too. She's not a big kong fan, though, strangely enough, & we've tried the frozen cloth before too- occupies her for about 5 minutes. The thing about digging is, when she's outside she wants to do "outside stuff," not play with toys. Unless we're throwing one, of course!

pixie bee

MH
Posts:4448

03/14/2008 8:07 AM
If she is going to be outside left to her own devices maybe she will benifit from a enclosed pen or kennel run? Francine

"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle

Abby23

Maine

Posts:6

03/14/2008 8:30 AM
Thanks, Francine. She is never left outside to her own devices for very long- just enough to explore a bit. And we do already have an enclosed run- a fairly good-sized one. She is only let outside on her own in the run.

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