I have a 1 year old female pitbull who loves to dig in the back yard nothing seems to make her stop. Any tips?

Question

I've been looking at other questions about this so, before anyone asks I know she isn't lonely and no she doesn't stay outside 24/7. We bring her in during the night (around 6 pm and let her outside around 9 am) I go outside about every couple of hours to play with her but, it seems during those couple of hours she is digging! I try to "trick" her and try to catch her digging but, I haven't been able to yet. She has a ton of toys (which she destroys within a few minutes of receiving...) I know she is a very spoiled dog (thats my fault, we don't have any kids yet so we act like she is our baby) but, every since she came home from the vet a couple of months ago (she had gotten parvo & had to stay at the vet for a week and she had never been in a cage or been away from me for that long) she has destroyed everything! Also, she is very happy and very healthy. she weighs about 70-75 lbs. I don't know how to make her stop destroying stuff or digging. If I could she would be the perfect dog

We have another male dog, as well. He is older, but at the moment I don't think I could handle another puppy. She is a handful in herself :)

Like I said in the first details, I know she isn't bored I go outside to play with her every couple of hours for at least 20 minutes. I take her on my daily walks (3 miles a day) and on hikes weekly

Answer 1

Digging occurs for many reasons. Dogs dig to bury and recover bones; they dig cooling pits when it's hot and warming pits when it's cold; they dig up prey and they dig dens. Digging is a highly enjoyable and natural canine activity. Lack of exercise, prolonged confinement and boredom can also cause digging. Once digging starts, it can quickly become a habit.

Preventing Digging
If you provide your dog with regular walks, runs, play-time and training, the chances are you will not have a digging problem. But until your dog has been taught that digging up your garden is unacceptable, he should not be given free access to these areas when you are not there to supervise him. Temporarily confine your dog indoors or to a dog run. Confinement is not the solution; it is only a temporary measure until your dog can be trusted not to destroy your garden and yard.

The Digging Pits
If your dog loves digging, provide him with his own digging pit just as parents would provide their child with a sand box. Make sure the pit is neither directly in the summer sun nor unprotected against the winter winds. A 3 x 6 foot area about 2 feet deep is sufficient. Dig it up to loosen the dirt and mix in a little sand to help it drain in the rainy season. Let your dog watch the preparations and if he joins in to help, lavish him with praise. Once the pit is ready, it is easy to get your dog digging in it. Take some of his favorite toys and treats and let him watch you make a fuss over burying them. Call your dog over and help him dig things up. Once he gets the idea and is digging without your help, enthusiastically praise him and repeat, 'Dig in your pit, dig in your pit.' When he digs up a treat, he is immediately rewarded by getting to eat it. If it's a ball or toy you've buried then you can immediately play a short game of fetch, then bury it again. Repeat this over and over, always repeating the command, 'Dig in your pit.' Your dog will quickly learn what the command means. You can test this by putting your dog inside the house, burying a dozen or so treats and exciting chew toys, and then letting him out. Say 'Dig in your pit' and praise him if he goes to the pit. This training can usually be accomplished in one afternoon.

Continual Reward for Digging
Once your dog has learned that digging in his pit is fun; you must still encourage and praise him whenever he shows any interest in the pit and especially for digging there without any encouragement from you. Now, every morning before you leave for work, you can hide all kinds of fun things in the pit, which will keep your dog busy digging for hours. Even if he has found all the goodies, he will keep digging and looking to see if anything else is buried there.

Discouraging Bad Digging Habits
Once your dog understands that digging in his pit is an acceptable and enjoyable activity, and knows the meaning of the command, 'Dig in your pit,' now you can teach him that digging elsewhere is forbidden. The first step is to teach your dog to stay completely off the flower and vegetable gardens and that he is only allowed on the grass or other parts of your yard. Clearly demarcate the forbidden areas with a short fence about a foot high. A few small sticks with a length of string attached along the top are fine. The fence is not intended as a physical barrier but as a means of marking a boundary. Spend the day outside and watch your dog. Each time he gets close to the boundary, quietly warn him by saying 'Off.' If one paw goes over the line, scold him firmly until all four paws are on the correct side of the boundary and then immediately praise him. If you invest some time, your dog will learn to keep out of the garden.

http://www.perfectpaws.com/dig.html

Answer 2

Had the same problem! Here's what I did. Whenever my dogs would dig a hole I would bring them inside then go out and fill the hole almost to the top. Then you put a big pile of thier own poop in it and cover it up.
after doing this religously for week or so it stoped. I got this tip from my dog trainer who also trains search and rescue dogs. She is very into it. It's been over a year now and no more digging. Just remember, don't let your dog see you perform thius duty. For some reason it doesn't work if they watch you do it. Also there are toys rated indestructable at Jefferspet.com. I got some and I have Boxers, Haven't destroyrd them yet. Good Luck!

Answer 3

pour cyan pepper around the fence Your dog is going crazy as you are not spending enough time with her playing. I would say since she is a terrier type they like a lot of play time. Maybe a hour or two a day and possibly a walk at night and in the morning before you go to work. You may need to take her to doggie school for obedience training. She wants your time with the toys, not just the toys alone. She distroys because she wants your attention. Some dogs are just naturally hyper. I had a terrier mix who was a basket case and would run around like a maniac and tear up floors and doors and my clothes, the garbage etc.. if we left her alone too long. It was a nightmare!

Answer 4

Pitbull dogs are terriers. "Terriers" comes from "terra" meaning earth because they were bred to dig. This is what terriers instinctively do. Other dogs are bred to herd cattle or sheep and if there are no sheep or cattle they will try to herd chickens or children. Another answer has suggested reserving a place for her to dig. I don't know how you do this but it might be worth a try. You may find that as she gets older the inbred behaviour will fade a little but perhaps will never disappear. In the meantime long walks might relieve things somewhat.

Answer 5

She is a puppy, full of energy. Tearing up toys and digging all are a part of being a puppy. The one thing you can do is to find a training collar which emits an electrical shock. You can stay out of site and watch her and when she digs you press the hand held transmitter and "zap" her. It won't take her long to associate the "zap" with her digging. It a graet training tool.

Answer 6

the best i can tell you is to find a place for her to dig and when you catch her digging where you don't want her to tell her no and then take her where she can...i heard somewhere that digging is good for dogs something to do with the paws, I have three dogs so i wouldnt think its because shes lonely. One of my dogs grew out of the digging stage....for real I thought he was trying to dig a hole to china once it was really deep he could get his whole body in it (125lbs)

Answer 7

boredom is the enemy here - and she needs TRAINING to learn what is apropos to chew or play with, and what's off-limits.

she needs to come indoors, and be on an umbilical-cord so U can supervise.
put the 6ft leash around Ur waist; slip the clip-end thru the wrist-loop, and then clip the free-end to the dog's smooth collar or martingale collar. Now where U go, she goes.

Every time she tries to pick up, play with, or MOUTH any thing she should not have: INTERRUPT. say her name cheerfully, whip a small treat or her own kibble out of Ur pocket, offer the FOOD, and she lifts her head/drops the object.
Magic! STEP ON the thing U don't want her to have. While she's swallowing the goody, offer her the RIGHT thing to chew: a Galileo from Nylabone would be good, they're practically indestructible.

She needs to learn to peaceably hang-out with U, while NOT being the center of Ur attention or activity. when U sit, tell her to down, give her a STURDY safe chew-toy, and read, watch TV, even iron or what-have-U while she's busy with her 'pacifier'.

WHEN U LEAVE: crate her - let her load herself, toss a kibble in the back and let her go in to get it, shut the door. Give her a STUFFED KONG - fill with part of her next meal, or part of her last meal - NO FAT DOGS, watch the calories! the Kong is =Only!= for solo-time in the crate; when U take her out to pee, CLOSE THE DOOR on the crate with the Kong inside.
potty pup, come in, tether her to the sofa-leg momentarily, get the kong out of the crate, dump the leftovers in the trash or down the garbage-grinder, and set the Kong in tapwater to soak. It's DIsh-Washer Safe - Top Rack ONLY, plz.

then go get pup, put leash on Ur belt or around Ur waist, and strart umbilical-training. she can hang with U while U cook dinner, make phone calls, hang on the 'Net, etc.

when U depart, make no fuss; just go. Come home, same thing; NO reunion scene. very calm, matter-of-fact arrival, hi, pup, go hang up coat, put away groceries, etc. AFTER she is over her initial excitement, get leash off TOP of airline crate (clever human, to put it right where U can find it in a hurry!! good Girl...), and let her out, clip leash, out to potty, let her off, THEN... make a fuss for her excellent potty-response, tell her about Ur day, etc.

ONE of U has got to earn the kibble - and it won't be the dog. Don't guilt over leaving or crating; in the crate is way better than barking in the yard, being stoned by small boys, or poisoned by some %&$@#! who hates bully-dogs.

don't give her the opportunity to be out in the yard UNsupervised... end of sentence. she can't dig if U are there to make sure she has something else to do.. like play fetch, soccer (U kick the ball, she uses paws), agil;ity on a kiddie gym, a small pool with floating toys, etc.

TRAIN Ur dog please - a positive-reinforcement class for pet-dogs has to be somewhere near U. She needs mental stimulation, too - and dog-company, not just ppl.

pits can be GReat !! dogs... but they need EXERCISE, challenging activities that work muscles and brains, and companionship - not just food, treats, and toys. TIME is the most important thing U can give to ANY dog... time is what makes or breaks that relationship!

Answer 8

The only thing I have read is to put its own poo in the holes it has dug and cover them up. Sounds disgusting but apparently it works

Answer 9

If she is digging in the same place you could try ground black pepper. worked for my Shepherd.

Answer 10

get her a companion!