Houdini Dog!! 4-year old spayed Golden will not be contained, and I'm about to get in trouble with the law!

Question

I live in a small town. Dog has a 20X20 pen (w/food, water, shade, shelter) inside a fenced in back yard. She started digging out. Lined her pen with large stones. Didn't work. Added long 2X12's under the rocks. Didn't work. Saturated the soil along the fence with cayenne and red pepper. Worked for a while, but now she ignores it. I hate to chain a dog who is already inside two fences. I'm tired of calls from the police, and/or neighbors about this danged dog. (mine only technically - I'm a cat person. Ex-husband bought it for children and I got stuck with it). Does get attention/walks from children, who don't want me to give it away or send it back to live with their dad. Anything else I can try? Dog is likely too stupid to respond to invisble fencing.

Regarding "keep her in the house." Twice I have lived with large dogs in the house. Both times the dogs destroyed items precious to me, and destroyed the house. My roommates dalmation dug through a vinyl floor trying to get out of the kitchen, and my x's first dog totally destroyed carpet, books, baskets and wrecked an intricate knitting project (and thats the short list). Current dog, when inside as a pup, destroyed a new loveseat by eating a hole through the cushion in minutes, WHILE SUPERVISED. Besides, even clean dogs smell. I'm a Realtor, and I can tell what pets people have the minute I walk into a house. I won't live in a dog house. (The cat goes outside to do his business, I don't want eau de litter box either!). The dog does have a crate in the basement for incliment weather, but loose in the house - not gonna happen.

Answer 1

I have a digger and this is what I did. I purchased the 12x12 inch cement square stepping stones. They are heavy and my German Shepard mix could not budge them. Place them around the inside of the pen and that will prevent her from getting a head start on the digging. Good luck. If that doesn't work, back to Dads might be better for all concerned.

Answer 2

I would not chain her. Try putting a row 12-18" on the ground around the inside perimeter and then place the stones on top. If you don't have enough to go around you can use landscape timbers with rebar stakes holding them down on the outside edges. Or if you prefer a 12" border of concrete with probably work. Dig a trench and pour the front edge slightly deeper. Most retrvr, labs and huskies have this trait. The next trick with be to go over so be sure it is covered on the top and that she can't stand on anything for leverage. Invisible fences don't usually work for these types of dogs for long. I would probably recommend that you use a crate when not at home and use the pen for exercise/play time when you can supervise (this should not replace her time w/children). Trust me they are anything but stupid and she will respond to love, attention and rewards better than a contest of wills.

Answer 3

The concrete answer is good, also add some toys dog can play with safely. Talk to the folks at petco. The dog just doesnt want to be in the pen. needs MORE exercise and attention. Is he loose in the back yard when you are home, or in the house? Maybe that would help. Get help from a dog trainer. Or find the dog a new home where it can run. Good luck.

Answer 4

The best thing you could do is bring her inside...she would be super hyper at first if she's not used to being inside but would settle down after a while. I advise against the concrete floor. a) it would be really expensive
b) I worked at a shelter and when dogs like that were penned up, they would pull at the chainlink until the pulled a hole big enough for them to get out, ultimately damaging their teeth and the fence. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Maybe she'd do better with a high energy family that would bring the dog in the house. The best way to keep a dog in the fence, is to always supervise it when it's outside. When it goes for the fence and starts digging or jumping, you interupt the behavior and get her playing with a toy or doing tricks to get treats. She shouldn't be outside all the time. Goldens are social and love to be with their people. Take her to training classes if you are going to keep her. they will help you housebreak her and teach her manners. If you bring her in and let your kids be active in her training it will teach them to respect and care for their pets. if you don't want to take on this big job, then find her a new home that will. finding her a new home may make your kids sad, but it will also teach them that they have to concider what's best for the animal. You have options... instead of trying to stop her, prevent the behavior in the first place!!!

Answer 6

It's actually the smart dogs that aren't contained by invisible fencing, not the stupid ones!

You can try putting chicken wire in as a deterrent to digging. It needs to be attached to the fence, down into the ground several inches, then bent so it comes forward. When a dog digs to get out, they dig very close to the fence, they won't think to dig a foot away from the fence.

This dog, despite getting "attention/walks from children" sounds incredibly bored, not to mention that any semi-intelligent dog can feel the resentment from someone who doesn't want it. Goldens are smart, active dogs who require a lot of exercise, mental stimulation to keep their minds busy (they are working dogs, after all), obedience, agility, chasing frisbees or balls, something to keep them busy.

Answer 7

Of course your dog wants out. Goldens are very intelligent, very family oriented dogs. They need alot of exercise and attention, and do not do well in a kennel outside alone.

Bring the dog inside, enroll in some training classes.

But in all honesty, from the way you sound the dog would be better off given to a rescue who will find the appropriate loving home.

Rehome your pets and don't get any more. You obviously don't the time nor the patience the to care for and train a pet.

Answer 8

I have a hard time believing your lab is stupid, when it keeps outsmarting you. Labs need space, and they need to be around their family. So instead of treating her like an outcast, let her be a part of the family. Buy her some fun toys.
Let that poor lab come inside and be with her family. That's what it wants and needs. Labs a far from stupid. That behavior is saying, it's my way or the highway. Labs do terribly in kennels. This will continue until you treat her right, or you find a family that will.
Cat person or not, you have a dog. If you didn't want her, you should have said no. It sounds like you hate her, no wonder she wants to run away.

Answer 9

She's older, isn't she? Her face looks a bit . . . . not sunken in, but missing that youthful "shine" and fullness. And her coat seems less full, especially in her chest. She looks a bit weak in the rear. She has a great topline and her front angulation looks pretty good. I am concerned that she seems withdrawn or otherwise a bit stressed - her lips are pulled back, she's looking down, and her tail isn't just down, it's almost tucked in. EDIT: Didn't see your add.s, so that's her automatic response to collar handling? Also, she looks pretty 'American' as compared to your other goldens - aren't they more of a nice cream than the Irish red?

Answer 10

Funny enough, I was gonna say invisible fencing.

It'll be expensive, but maybe you should cement your backyard. Just a suggestion, the dog can't dig through cement. Or cement a portion of it, and keep the dog there? Other than that you might have to chain her. Or take her for more walks. Maybe have your kids spend more time with her. If she starts digging, just say "If you want her you'll have to keep her occupied" because if they want the dog, it's their responsibility to keep her from digging out.