How do you stop a dog from digging?

Question

I own a 1 year old golden retreiver who enjoys digging up my yard. Can anyone tell me how I can stop her from doing this? Its almost April and the snow is melting fast.

Answer 1

First, the dog shouldnt be allowed outside without supervision. Bring her inside and this will stop the digging.

Next, take her to training classes where she can learn "no" and "leave it". Use a trainer who uses positive reinforcement.

Until she's mastered the training, keep her leashed when she goes outside.

Once she knows "no" and "leave it", you can start letting her play while under supervision. When she starts to dig, correct her.

Exercise your dog 1-2 hours a day. This could be going for a walk, playing catch in the park, playing frisbee, or whatever, Goldies are VERY active breeds that need regular exercise, no matter the weather. A tired Goldie is less likely to be a destructive Goldie.

Exercise is also important because of the anatomical problems in many Goldies. When they become overweight, they are VERY prone to arthritis, knee problems (like blown ACLs), and hip dysplasia. By starting an exercise program now, you'll be on your way to having a healthy dog for the next 12 years.

Answer 2

She digs because she is bored. She needs more exercise. I also lined my fence area with river rock. They don't like to dig rocks. It looks nice too.

A Golden Retriever needs a lot of walking at least an hour in the a.m. and p.m. besides playing fetch or whatever outside games she likes to play.

I continue to be amazed at how many people obtain the dogs that require mega exercise without being aware of it before purchasing the dog. I did my homework and found a breed that doesn't require much, if any exercise.

I have a friend that had always wanted a Weimerweiner. That breed needs exercise. It was fine because my friend would roller blade about 6 miles and the dog could run with her daily, some times twice a day. The dog was just wonderful. Then my friend became pregnant. The dog didn't get the needed exercise any more and turned into the dog from hell. They are looking for a good home for her. She is not the same dog and never will be without extreme exercise. It is something they require EVERY day of their life.

Answer 3

Digging starts when a high energy, smart dog (like a Golden) doesn't get enough exersize.
Goldens need at least an hour of hard running EVERYDAY!!!
Just sticking them in a backyard doesn't mean they are exersizing, they go to sleep unless they're played with.
Teach him to run beside a bicycle. Take up jogging, find a dog park. Something to help him get rid of all that energy.

If she's in the yard alone all day, chances are she won't quit.
This is a habit for her. A pleasant one that passes the boring hours you aren't home. Consider decorative fencing around the flower beds and plants. You can get "Invisible Fences" to put around the beds too. A static electricity collar will shock the dog when she gets too close to the wires buryed around the planting beds. It's perfectly safe and effective.

If you are home all day, you have to watch her like a hawk and correct her firmly everytime she goes to dig. Never allow her in the yard unless you can watch her.

Answer 4

I'm copying/pasting from a previous post of mine...

"
Digging holes is a natural behavior for dogs and these sorts of behaviors are the hardest to stop. However, if a cause for the digging that is treatable can be identified, it may be able to help with the behavior, especially if it is related to separation anxiety.

There are probably a lot of possible causes for digging. They include wanting to escape the confines of the yard, trying to stay cool in the summer or warm in the winter, predation (if you
have moles, for instance), separation anxiety, boredom, curiosity (digging at unfamiliar objects in the soil), aggression (wishing to dig out to reach an object of aggression) and displaced aggression (digging out of frustration at not being able to get to an object of aggression). My guess is that there are probably other causes, as well.
For aggression, using some sort of screening (vegetation, fence slats, etc.) to block the view of the world can be helpful. Separation anxiety can respond to behavioral therapy and can also respond, in some cases, to allowing access in and out of the house through a pet door. This might also help with boredom.

Medications may be helpful with separation anxiety and with aggression. Among the medications that might work, clomipramine (Clomicalm Rx), fluoxetine (Prozac Rx) and
paroxetine (Praxil Rx) are probably the most likely ones to help but they do work best when used in concert with behavioral modifications.
In the case of puppies, vigorous exercise programs can sometimes make a huge difference in behaviors like this. It is hard to single out the puppy for exercise when there are multiple pets but it can make a big difference. It often takes more than an hour or two or really intense exercise per day to make a difference, though. This can be hard for people to arrange but it is something to think about.
There are veterinary behaviorists who can help evaluate why a behavior is occurring and then help with the treatment of the problem diagnosed. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of board certified behaviorists in the country but it is worth a trip to one if the behaviors are making life miserable for you or for your dog.
Good luck!"

Answer 5

give her other things to do, bones and lost and lots of toys. also make sure she is tired, take her on runs/fast walks daily. you can also make a digigng box for her by having a designated area where she can dig. to teach her to dig here, first sprinkle some treats on top of the area. then do that but cover them a little bit, then bury them a few inches deep. eventually she will figure out that is the best place to dig. also, about once/week use a shovel and make the dirt soft again. you can also bury her own, but only her own, poop in the holes she has already dug. dogs will not dig up their own poop, im not sure why.

Answer 6

Training your dog will be a huge part of your interaction with him for the first few months. Learn here https://tr.im/ompaT
This includes housetraining, leash training, obedience training, socialization, and problem solving. In addition to providing your dog with needed skills, this time will also be a great opportunity for you to bond with him. Take the time to really get to know your pet while training him and a loving relationship will easily develop.

Answer 7

Dogs will begin to distroy your yard out of bordom. Including on chewing on cable cords. Our two dogs did that all the time.

1. I mixed cayenne Pepper with water and I sprayed all my cables. You may have to do this on a reg basis to ensure the cyyenne pepper remains on the cable lines and eventually our dogs stopped chewing on the lines.

2. Sopping dogs from digging holes is a tough one! I began playing with them more, taking them for walks, purchased HUGE raw hide bones to keep them occupied. I've also placed Cyenne pepper in the holes so when my dog began digging again he would get cayenne pepper in his nose and quit. I noticed the more I spent with them the least likely they would dig holes.

I hope this helps you out...

Answer 8

If she has a favorite place to dig,fill some balloons up with pneumonia and bury them back up,as soon as she pops one,no more digging.

Answer 9

Take it's spade off it. (after it's cleared the snow of course).

Answer 10

watch "dog whispier"
in national geographic