Dog holes
 

I really didn't know where to put this thread and maybe no one is interested but I sure would like to hear some input. I'm really pissed at my dogs. They just keep digging holes. I fill 'em, they dig 'em. I'd like to have a nice yard. I'd like to walk to my truck without falling and tripping in a fargin' hole. They won't stop. I've drug them to the holes and pounded on them. I've caught them in the act and given them hell. They see me fill the holes, all the while cursing and glaring. They look guilty and slink away. Then they dig again.

I care about the dogs. Hell, they've cost me plenty and I like the way they howl when anyone comes around but I can't handle the holes anymore.

Thoughts?

Re: Dog holes
 

I've heard if you put their crap into the hole and refill it they'll stop digging. Good luck! I imagine others will have more ideas too. Have you tried googling it?

It also might be a sign of boredom. Get them chew-toys, kongs, etc. That might help.

Re: Dog holes
 

MNeagle makes a good point about the boredom. Are they some kind of hound? They might need stretching their legs. Playing a bit of fetch and the like. Something to chew on is a good idea. I've seen em pull yards and yards of plastic reticulation piping out of gardens and just munch it to bits out of boredom.

Re: Dog holes
 

It usually means they're bored. Most dogs just need a job of some sort to keep them out of trouble. I have livestock guardian dogs and Border Collies -- so both working dog types who are often too smart for their own good. If we couldn't find something for them to do, they'd find something to do themselves -- even if it was something as simple as digging holes or chewing things up. More than exercise, they often just need a little extra 'mental stimulation' -- tossing the ball or a frisbee, just giving them a little extra attention -- that as worked for me, anyway.

Re: Dog holes
 

I'd heard this as well, and tried it. It was just so long ago, I can't remember if it worked or not. What I do remember is our dog was still a pup when she was digging, but that it stopped when she was about two. I don't know if it was a puppy thing, or if the negative reinforcement (as mentioned in the OP) finally kicked in.

Back on the farm, our outdoor dogs used to dig huge holes to lay in during the summer - must have kept them cool. Anyway, good luck curing that!

Re: Dog holes
 

Most of the ones I have had, will dig
to have a cool place to lay down.

The bigger the dog the deeper and bigger the
hole..

?

Re: Dog holes
 

I'm not an expert by any means. But I have heard of the following working out well for a friend.

Create an area in your yard that is suitable for digging and then encourage your dogs when they dig in the correct area. Bury things like bones and favorite toys for them there and let them dig em up. That way you don't have to do the impossible and teach the dog not to dig. Instead, you just teach where to dig.:ok:

Re: Dog holes
 

The minute my dogs get on dirt, they start to dig. It's in their genes. The only solution for me is to keep them off of the dirt -- so they're inside most of the time, and when they're outside, they're on a leash so they stay on concrete or asphalt.

Re: Dog holes
 

Bingo.

While we were putting in the chicken coop, the dogs thought it was for them, every day they were laying and digging in the soft cool sand. No holes in the yard.

Told my wife, well there is our answer, we need to build a 10x10 or so area, fill with bank sand, and put some type of shade over it.. .that should fix the problem.

Re: Dog holes
 

Put em in a kennel with chicken wire on the ground then throw grass clippings in there so they have a soft place to walk. I hated to do it but labs are pretty ignorant about personal property.

Re: Dog holes
 

That they are! It's odd, my labs have their diggin' spot, but nowhere else in the back yard. All of them dig, the youngest will bury his toys and "treasures".

Re: Dog holes
 

I usually walk/run my dogs a few miles each day. They have no energy to dig after that. When they do dig at all it is to find cool earth and lie in it to cool down.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/...03d61c.jpg?v=0

Re: Dog holes
 

Love your photos, Morgan...thanks for posting the latest one!

Re: Dog holes
 

Where are ya located? What is the weather? Is it Hot? My dogs use to dig holes too when we lived back in Nevada, it was so they could keep cool. They would dig em, then lay down in em.

Re: Dog holes
 

Exactly! My daughter had a 75 pound hound that was part woodchuck. He dug a den in the side of a deep swale and could get right in it, turn around and lay with it's head looking out the entrance.

Re: Dog holes
 

Thanks for all the replies. My dogs are digging for a cool place to lay I'm sure. They are mostly lab and ya gotta love 'em, they are sweet and very freindly but will put up a good front and growl menacingly for strangers. They are also a real pain in the ass sometimes. They chewed alot of stuff up as pups. I am going to try putting in a sand area for them to dig and stay cool.

Re: Dog holes
 

I had the same problem. Started filling the holes with crushed shale. Worked like a charm. They were mostly digging the fenceline. Cover the shale with enough soil to grow grass if need be.

Re: Dog holes
 

I keep mine on concrete pads. they cannot dig on concrete, and it is easy to hose their crap away when I fill their water bowls. Another benefit is that I never have to trim their toenails, as the concrete acts like a giant emery board as they pull on their log chains.

Re: Dog holes
 

holes are cool.
you have good dogs.
Buy a couple bags of lime.

Re: Dog holes
 

Of course some breeds, like terriers, were bred to dig. But most dogs are just making a cool spot to lie down. We were lucky as our good dog dug herself a nice cool den under the deck and left the rest of the yard undug. I think maybe they all have a den digging instinct, so making them an ok and inviting place sounds like great advice.

Our hens dug cool shady holes in Texas summer too, which amazed me. Animals understand ground climate control.

Sandy's under deck den is pretty fancy, actually, and she digs so well and fast her staying inside the fence is clearly just politeness to our wishes.

One of the sweetest things she did was help bury one of our beloved old cats. She nosed dirt over the body with me and looked at me clearly understanding my grief.

Re: Dog holes
 

I have use something like an electric anti-barking collar to negativly reinforce my dog. It has a remote that allows for stimulation if caught doing something we don't approve of. Works pretty well. We also use the underground fence and it works really good too once we got the right sized receiver. All of these products are from PetSafe. Attached is a pic of Dexter with his static receiver (black box on red collar).

Re: Dog holes
 

Good for Quail hunting too. My friends hunt their Brittany Spaniels with those collars on.