I have a major issue with both of my dogs digging small holes all throughout my yard and have no idea how to stop it...My bigger dog got in a habit of digging a little bit in the heat for a cool spot to lay but now both of them dig little holes, my yard looks like a bunch of gophers had some fun....Any ideas??
are your dogs unsupervised when they dig holes? Here is what you can do: 1. make sure that your dogs have plenty of shade to get away from the heat You could also leave a plastic paddle pool out for them to cool down if they like water, like the one's you can get for toddlers
2. Teach them not to dig in your garden, but have a small area where they are allowed to dig. To train them to only use that area you have to follow similar steps like with house training. Tell them off when they start digging in the forbidden area and straigh away lead them to the area where they are allowed to dig. Then praise them if they dig there. You can also bury old bones in their "dig area" to make it more interesting.
3. If you can't supervise them when they are in the garden you can use a trick to stop them from digging. Get some party balloons and bury them in a place where they like to dig. When they start digging the balloon will pop and they will get a fright and it will hopefully stop them from digging
I had the same problem with my lab.The other reply you got was very good.However,I have a small yard and two dogs.Letting her dig in a small area was not an option for me.My back yard is right off the main dining area.When my lab dug large holes and it rained the holes filled with water and my two dogs came in covered with mud and I spent much of my time cleaning my carpet.I am fortunate enough to be retired so I am able to keep a continuous watch oh my digging lab.Whenever I caught her digging I honked a bicycle horn and yelled no digging!It has been two weeks now and she has stopped digging.
Thank you both for your replies, I think first off I will have to get a loud thing for when I do catch them, but yes they are often unsupervised...We have a fenced in area so I let them out and may go out for a few hours--it is after the fact that I am seeing the result of their fun-honestly I am not even sure which one is doing it consistently.
I think talking to them with help, when I hold the dug up grass in my hand and look at my dogs their ears go down and they slink away....but then they are back at it...The holes they are digging are not the holes to keep cool they are just a deep hole with no use...I even began to wonder if my older dog is digging for worms since she is always hungry (she is on a diet)...I don't know what to do! I will try the training with a digging spot but I am not sure if that will work..
