Husky, I have a digging problem?

Question

I have two husky dogs, They keep on digging holes to get out of our yard and sometimes holes in the middle of the yard. They have to dig thru rocks to get out and they are pretty big rocks. I thought dogs didn't like the feel of digging up rocks? What is one way that I can stop them from digging in general. I know why they try to get out of the yard but how do I stop them from digging up the fence and the grass?

Answer 1

Huskies are diggers.... that's a fact. Breaking them of that is difficult but not impossible. If they have certain areas they like to dig in...... saturate the area with a combination of jabanero sauce, red pepper and chili powder. Keep the dogs out of the area until it dries. Most dogs will freak and NOT dig but some like it.... go figure. Grapefruit juice with red pepper sprinkled on it always has been known to work.... however, it draws ants so be prepared.
Further, the feel of digging rocks to a husky is nothing because they were bred to go over ice and dig into mountainous rock to travel through the snow. Rocks will never be an issue for your dogs, sorry.
Hope I helped

Answer 2

Huskies need a LOT of exercise and I mean a LOT! They are sled dogs as you know. Breed to pull sleds for LONG periods of time.

You now know huskies can dig. Also jump 6 foot fences!

First give lots of exercise to remove the frustration. If it is too much time, huskies can be trained to use treadmills, yes treadmills! Get one and use it for them to supplement the walks.

Next you will still need to address to digging problem, hopefully you have established the alpha role already. If not, establish that. then come back to the digging problem. As the alpha you will assert your natural authority to stop the digging.

Keep a small leash on them and catch them in the act. Be assertive (not aggressive) and kind of clam and non vocal.(maybe a small noise). Pull them away from the dig to your side and stay there with an assertive attitude! Not a lot of eye contact only a quick flash, almost look away when doing it. You let them know their leader does not approve! You must catch them when they are doing it for an instant correction. You will need to repeat this many times.

This is kind of hard to explain its really an attitude that you are trying to convey to your dogs. The good news is, if you are seen as the leader and you convey the message so they will understand it, they will obey, its in their nature to do so.

Oh yea, don't worry too much about the heat, unless it's excessive. Huskies adapt by shedding a lot of the undercoat used for cold weather.

Answer 3

You didn't mention where you live. Huskies are not meant to be in warm climates. They dig to keep cool. My friend got reported to the Humane Society by an ignorant neighbor because her two Siberians could not deal with being inside during the winter and preferred to stay out in the yard in the snow where they, of course, dug holes to sleep in. They will do the same in warm weather; dig a hole because the earth is cooler. But after a while the earth gets warm so they dig another whole and again the earth is cool. Do they get enough room to run and exercise? It is their nature to run and not be cooped up. Do you walk them? Anyway my girlfriend solved this problem by buying those doghouses that look like igloos. They never used the doghouses much. What they did do was dig a giant hole underneath their igloos and that's where they stayed cool during the warm weather. Plus she put them on a tie out that hooked up to their clothesline (far enough apart of course where they wouldn't get tangled up and strangle each other), so they could run back and forth all the time when she couldn't walk them. Do you have a garage maybe where they can be put next to to get in out of the heat? They'll claw at the cement rather than your yard. Plus the cement provides a cool place to lay in. It's hard to go against natural instincts. They're simply not meant to be kept as house dogs or live in warm climates. It's not that they're misbehaving, they're just being forced to live in a way that is unnatural for them and goes against their instincts. That's why it's so important to choose your pet accordingly. You wouldn't have a Chihuahua outdoors in Alaska and expect it to be happy, right?

Answer 4

You won't be able to stop them doing it BUT that doesn't mean it has to ruin your life or your garden. It is good for them to dig, it is entertainment and necessity to them, so let them dig - in the right place.

Make them a sandpit or something similar. Section off part of your yard and fill it with sand or loose dirt that is easy to dig, and encourage them to use it by burying stinky bones in it for a while until they get the point. Make sure the boundaries of the sandbox are very clear, like big wooden sleepers or something, so the dog has no reason to get confused about where he can and can't dig. It is worth the effort because stopping a dog from digging altogether is nearly impossible.

To stop them digging out under the fence, get some wire mesh and lay it flat on the ground like a picnic blanket for a distance of about two metres into the yard, right up against the fence. They just can't dig through wire mesh. Peg it down really firmly. The grass still grows through it so it looks fine.

When you catch them digging, snap a lead onto their choker and haul them off to the sandbox. Tell them clearly Dig Here. Do it every time you catch them digging in the wrong spot. Praise them for digging in the right spot. It works eventually.

Much easier than the old method I read about - filling the hole with water and almost-drowning your dog in it by holding its head in the hole full of water! Really hard to do. The sandpit is heaps easier.

Answer 5

They're digging out of frustration from being bored. Start taking them for walks. Not only will they wear themselves out, but they will start saving their energy for the walks.

Answer 6

They may have anxiety attacks, like my malteese who licks his paws and hides under pillows when he's nervous. I suggest you take your dogs to the vet so they can figure out why they do what they do.

Answer 7

You can't. I'm sorry. Maybe try a trainer but it's their nature. I doubt they will stop.

They have a reason for doing it... maybe planning to bury food or something..

Answer 8

http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/digging/
http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-2996.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_2206_stop-dog-digging.html
http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?Story_No=1845
http://www.lucythewonderdog.com/digging.htm
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/03/03apr07b.cfm

That's all the info you should need.. Best of luck!