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...stop a puppy from digging holes in the yard?

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Question by Colleen Hine
Submitted on 7/30/2003
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How do you stop a puppy from digging holes in the yard?


Answer by cutie
Submitted on 8/20/2003
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i actually used to have the same problem! There are a couple of ways and most of them work pretty well.

* Get him a small sandpit. put treats in it for a while so that he knows it's good to dig in the sand and will go of the dirt.

* You can actually buy pellets to put in the garden to put them off. it may work 4 u but my dog ate them!

* You really need to make sure that he knows, what he's doing is wrong. especially when your not at home and come back to discover he's been digging. Rub his nose in it or show him then smack him. It's harsh but after a while he'll work out it's bad and won't like being punished!

 

Answer by leo
Submitted on 9/11/2003
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Bury it's poop in the holes. Dogs don't like to dig up their own poop. Would you? Yea, didn't think so. This works best if the puppy is digging in the same area. I live in Arizona so a lot of the reasons a dog digs around here is to lay in the cooler dirt..if your in a hot area of the US, I'd suggest providing a cooler place with a lot of fresh water and even a small mister system, (this can cool down the area by 15 degrees) and last, but not least, if the puppy is digging random holes in different areas, he's bored and just being a puppy. Provide him with a lot of exercise (this does not mean watching him wear hims/her self out) this means going on walks, playing fetch in the yard, ect..ect..I hope this along with the info Cutie provided helps you out.

 

Answer by Howdy Doodat
Submitted on 9/30/2003
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Pave the yard.

 

Answer by John
Submitted on 10/16/2003
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keep the dog inside? keep it on a leash (with you at the other end, presumably)?

 

Answer by K.C.
Submitted on 10/29/2003
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I would suggest putting a mouse trap or chicken wire in the hole it most desires. I have an 11 month old puppy who just decided that she wanted to start digging in the dirt to get the water pipes for the flowers! But just recently, I put her own feces in the hole and buried it! If that doesn't work, then I will go for the mouse trap trick. This may work, so maybe you should try it!

 

Answer by Douglas Veer
Submitted on 12/2/2003
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Making the run area all gravel works!
If your dog doesn't have the whole yard
to himself this is a good solution. Professional breeders have their dogs in "runs" and they are gravel.
The dogs never dig through it.

 

Answer by little red ridding hood
Submitted on 12/14/2003
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cover the yard with tin foil and when they go to scratch at it they dont like the feeling or sound.   keep it on for a week or so and they will stop soon.        



good luck

 

Answer by Firethrewmyeyes
Submitted on 5/5/2004
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I have a dog who is 4 or 5 years old. He has this habit of digging holes in the yard. It started out where he was just digging just one hole over and over. Then it got to the point where he was digging whole in the same area from where he first started....Now it's front yard and back yard!!!! Help, what can I do to stop this behavior. I don't like hitting animals, so what else can I do?

 

Answer by I Love My Dogs and Puppy Shadow and Beau!  :D
Submitted on 10/14/2004
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errrrr..............sorry i cant help.  I have the same problem. heh heh sorry 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Answer by girlofthecharter
Submitted on 11/25/2004
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make your dog a DDA! (Designated Digging Area) :)

 

Answer by tecon
Submitted on 12/10/2004
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I read and actually used this remedy.  Dig the hole deeper with a shovel.  Let your dog watch you.  Then get a hose and fill the hole with water.  Next get your dog and try to drown the dog.  You won't of course but you need to try.  I ended up wetter and dirtier than the dog but she never dug another hole again.  It sounds extreme but it's better than the holes.

 

Answer by Kara
Submitted on 3/22/2005
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we went to the store and bought crushed red peppers and covered the holes that whiley was consistenly digging in. she doesnt dig in those holes anymore but now she just makes new ones! the peppers work for a dog who only digs in the same spot. mine now digs in many other spots! she is part heeler part aussie so i know its in her nature to hunt for rodents...but she cant keep tearing up the yard. i dont know what else to do!!!

 

Answer by catwoman
Submitted on 3/31/2005
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Shoot the dog!

 

Answer by dex
Submitted on 5/12/2005
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The mouse trap solution is a horrible one.   You might save your yard, but you will shell out enough money when the trap breaks part of the the dog's foot or slices open its nose.  Mouse traps aren't cute like they are in the movies or in cartoons.   They can break an animal's bones.

Please do not use mouse traps as a tool for stopping dogs from digging.  I would sooner rather you find the dog a more responsible owner who can train it properly than to take such measures.  If you wouldn't be prepared to go through the same, then do not force it upon your dog.

 

Answer by mk
Submitted on 5/27/2005
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i think my puppy ate the sand and now she didnt feel well and vomit alot of times. what do i do with her?

 

Answer by Doglover
Submitted on 6/22/2005
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Get a new dog!!

 

Answer by gibbs
Submitted on 9/26/2005
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Put down coffee grounds, or pepper.  Dogs want to smell where they dig, and they wont like that.

 

Answer by Nicole
Submitted on 9/27/2005
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i have a an 4 1/2  month puppy and she digs holes and we cover them what can we do to stop her from digging??

 

Answer by Bunnell Zoo
Submitted on 9/28/2005
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I have tried mousetraps, chicken wire, kenneling, rubbing his nose in the holes, nothing works.  He doesn't just dig in one place, he changes daily.  He knows he's wrong cause when I get the rake to fill them back in, he runs to his house.

He is a 1 year old white german shepherd.  he has free run of the yard all day.  (We have in ground fencing.) When I used to kennel him, he'd dig out of the kennel.  

More suggestions please.....

 

Answer by Johnny Catfish
Submitted on 11/1/2005
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well me being the slow person that i am just bought like 20 bags of dirt to fill the holes that my dogs dug and i filled them in this morning, just came home from church, and the dirt isn't in the holes, i don't know were it is!!!  HELP EITHER MY DOGS EAT THE DIRT OR THEY LIKE INFLICTING PAIN ON ME!!! *tear*

 

Answer by daizy
Submitted on 11/5/2005
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my dog digs when i am gone, now she has started digging by the fence. i know she has separation anxiety, but she needs to stop digging, i have tried moth balls, they worked the first time, and i put her poop on top of the holes i filled in, and that sometimes works.

 

Answer by shadow
Submitted on 1/5/2006
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I think that my best results came from individual time with my puppy. The short walk around the block in the morning and then when I got home from work. Lots of different yard toys. toys that could sort of play back with her, squeeky toys, balls, etc... As the punishment for a mistake hole, I'd take her to it, make her see it, then firmly scold her. I feel if you hit your puppy it could open the door for a whole different type of problems.

 

Answer by Cathy
Submitted on 1/8/2006
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I suggest bordom is the reason your dog digs holes. Give it a play mate. After all would you like to be left alone all day with nothing better to do?

 

Answer by fla
Submitted on 2/15/2006
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I have not figured it out yet

 

Answer by doggy style
Submitted on 2/16/2006
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a good way 2 stop ur dog from digging is 2 dig a fairly round hole where your dog digs about 20 cm deap and place a water ballon full of water and cover it once the dog digs there again the water ballon will pop which will make the dog scared and will never do it again. recommended to place water ballons where ever the dog digs. give it a try dnt no if it will work but it sure worked with my dog

 

Answer by Krueger
Submitted on 3/18/2006
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To get my Puppy to stop digging I have filled the holes with her feces and mine.  I usually urinate and take a dump in the whole then mix hers in with mine.  This seems to do the trick.  She knows I am the Alpha and won't go near the poop patch.  Plus I've never had more colorful flowers.  I urinate along my fence line three times a day, this also keeps her away from the digging areas.

 

Answer by duckey
Submitted on 3/27/2006
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cover the holes and cover the top with black popper.

 

Answer by TP
Submitted on 6/14/2006
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I have a 9-week old puppy, and I'm having the same problem with him digging in my back yard.  A neighbor told me that his dog used to do the same thing, until they buried a balloon where he normally digs, and *presto*, the balloon popped, scared the puppy, and no more digging.

 

Answer by holehater
Submitted on 6/25/2006
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   Putting their feces in the already dug holes does work,and so does walking them. But now what about the rest of the whole lawn that they have access to when we don't have time to walk them?We can't walk them every day. He'll just dig another and another. I just have to follow them around and cover holes left and right until we've just about covered our whole lawn I guess, right?

 

Answer by nic
Submitted on 9/1/2006
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put chilli around the place that your dog digs. they do not like the smell and will stop digging there.

 

Answer by RoXy ChK
Submitted on 10/7/2006
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My idea might work for all of you!

i put there toys in a little basket outside and let them grab there toys. I also cover the holes in tin foil and put there feicies in there!
Good Luck

 

Answer by Monkey
Submitted on 10/19/2006
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Put long boards around the fence and hammer them in as far as they can go.

 

Answer by RACH
Submitted on 11/6/2006
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POOP......POOP/////////POOP...................POOOP....POOP.....POOP/POOP.POOP,PPOP,,,,,,,,POOP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,P9OPP.POOP.POOOP....POP.......POOP.................POO.P............POOP............POOP......POOP...........POOP............................POOP..........POOP...................POOP....................POOP//////////////POOPPPPPPPPPPPPP,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,POOPPOOPPOOPPOOPPOOP

 

Answer by carl
Submitted on 11/10/2006
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If you pour amonia around the hole they know not to go back to it or dig more holes

 

Answer by kmc
Submitted on 11/17/2006
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I HAVE 2 SIX MONTH OLD PUPPIES THEY DIG LIKE CRAZY MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME ABOUT THE POOP IDEA I HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET HE DID TELL ME TO PUT WATER IN THE HOLES AND SHOVE THEIR FACES IN IT IT SOUNDS MEAN BUT IT JUST SHOCKS THEM FOR A MINUTE OR TWO AND THEY HATE BUT DON'T DROWN THEM

 

Answer by me!
Submitted on 12/14/2006
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who cares? puppies are puppies... deal with it...

 

Answer by bec
Submitted on 12/23/2006
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well i have a 7 month old staffy and she has just figured out that she can dig and i have been covering them up and puttin pepper or curry powder over them.  all i know is she has been near the hole again. oh and gettin a smack.

 

Answer by DOG LOVER
Submitted on 1/3/2007
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Take the dog for a run until its paws are raw and bleeding. This way I'ampretty sure it won't feel like digging for a few weeks.

Another option would be to fill the holes with water and run an extension cord to it, next time it digs there it will get the SHOCK of its life.

SIGNED THE  "THE DOG YELLER"

 

Answer by Sheila
Submitted on 1/13/2007
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I have a dog."German Shepard" who constantly digs! I had, no clue what to do, till i found a solution.I'd take her on walks, i would train and love her more,and recently I bought a new dog! Her name is, Gabbie and they get along great try these tips

 

Answer by Sheila
Submitted on 1/13/2007
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I have a dog."German Shepard" who constantly digs! I had, no clue what to do, till i found a solution.I'd take her on walks, i would train and love her more,and recently I bought a new dog! Her name is, Gabbie and they get along great try these tips will help. Try them yourself.

 

Answer by **ToriKnows**
Submitted on 1/31/2007
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I have a puppy and she is about 7-8 months old. 'molly'has heaps of toys and even another dog to play with but she still digs holes. i live in Queensland, Australia so it is very very hot in summer, and that is why molly digs. she likes to lie in the holes to keep cool. i started to get very frustrated with her constant digging so one day i went to the shops and bought some chilly powder, i put some down where she had been digging, and as soon as she went to dig, her little nose would burn like crazy. SHE NEVER DUG ANOTHER HOLE AGAIN!

 

Answer by beagle
Submitted on 2/25/2007
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I have read all messages above and certanly think that the digging needs more attention.  For that reason I suggest you to go to this link, which I certanly find very intersting about this matter.
http://users.tpg.com.au/users/rloftus/digging.htm

 

Answer by sdgtsdfg
Submitted on 3/24/2007
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All you have to do is put penut buter and or jelly in the hole the dog will imedeitly go to it but not dig just eat!!! It really works i didnt think so at first but then i tried it and it does.

 

Answer by Lovesong
Submitted on 5/13/2007
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After a dog digs a hole pour cayenne pepper in the hole and cover it up. He'll stop after he gets tired of his nose, mouth and eyes burning all the time. It definately worked on pitbulls, so I imagine it will pretty much work for just about any dog.

God bless!

 

Answer by jm
Submitted on 7/13/2007
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hot pepper crushed pepper anything that is hot and on sale.

 

Answer by nick
Submitted on 7/15/2007
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how to stop your dogs digging holes:
i red this in a comic once and i tried it to my dog and it works great.
all you have to do is get a match and wait till your dog starts digging its next hole. when it does then light the match and burn of one of its whiskers. dogs need their whiskers for sensing so when all of his/hers whiskers have been burnt of then it cant sense were it dug its last hole.
this is the only thing that worked with me. good luck

 

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