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How do I stop 4 month old pup digging up garden?

(34 Posts)
Smurf52 Tue 23-Jan-18 16:09:07

Lulu my Cavapoo has recently taken to digging up the garden mainly in the rockery area. She comes into the house with soil on her beard and paws. I am in rented accommodation which makes it worse. She brings bulbs, twigs, snail shells etc into the house. Its driving me mad. Today I've taken her into the garden several times with collar and extendable lead but she just stands there and looks at me!

midgey Tue 23-Jan-18 16:38:33

There was a pet programme that suggested making an area where she may dig, I think they made a little sandbox/pit and buried treats so it was confined. Would that be possible?

Christinefrance Tue 23-Jan-18 17:13:46

When you find out Smurf52 let me know please, I've spent 13 years trying to stop my JR digging holes. We love him though.

whitewave Tue 23-Jan-18 18:54:26

Well I say UM in a very stern voice, and he stops all the time I’m looking at him!!grin

Menopaws Tue 23-Jan-18 18:56:18

Mine was a digger, never had one before, absolute caverns in the lawn, thankfully he grew out of it at about year old but I do understand the mud and general ruin of the garden

Jalima1108 Tue 23-Jan-18 19:13:49

Our spaniel used to try to dig holes in the sofa and/or the carpet if left alone to 'guard the house' for a while.
He eventually stopped but took to rolling in cow pats instead.

Iam64 Tue 23-Jan-18 19:13:52

Both my poodle crosses dug holes in the garden if given the opportunity. I think the key is not to give them the opportunity, taking them out on a long lead as you did is a good way to stop them practicing. The more dogs repeat a behaviour, the more they seem programmed to do it. Nip it in the bud. Digging is fun so of course they want to do it. Don't let them but do provide other excitement like chasing and retrieving a ball. I found both mine loved 'find it". Id teach them to sit/wait then hide something in the garden for them to find. The digging didn't continue and they can now go into the garden without destroying it. Good luck

Jalima1108 Tue 23-Jan-18 19:15:12

that wasn't very helpful, sorry.

Anniebach Tue 23-Jan-18 22:08:10

Veruca Salt has realised she has joined a family which at one time had coal miners, she has decided to walk in their shoes, well to dig rather than walk ?

Jalima1108 Tue 23-Jan-18 23:38:33

They are practising burying bones and digging them up again.
Distraction techniques as Iam64 suggests are the way to go I think.

Tegan2 Wed 24-Jan-18 00:28:52

I have fenced off half the garden for the dog [and it isn't a big garden, either]. Whippets don't dig, but they will rip up every plant they see and run round the lawn in circles at 35 mph so there's little chance of any grass surviving.

Iam64 Wed 24-Jan-18 08:26:42

That made me laugh Tegan2. It also had me wondering (again) why on earth do people have dogs! Not that I'd ever want not to share my life with dogs of course

OldMeg Wed 24-Jan-18 08:55:47

Oh Smurf and it’s so wet and muddy out there isn’t it? How old is she?

I think she needs lots of long walks, prefersbly in areas where she can run off some of her excess energy, and play dates with other dogs. Lots of toys, ball fetching, tuggies and one of those things you hide treats in and it takes lots of trying for the dog to get them out.

In other words exhaust her mentally and physically (and probably yourself in the process). It probably won’t work 100% but it’s worth a go. And dump her in the sink and wash her down to save your floors and furniture.

Newquay Wed 24-Jan-18 08:58:26

Sorry-just get rid of dog!

Alexa Wed 24-Jan-18 09:03:47

I don't know. My lurcher tries to dig holes in the sofa.

And when younger she dug near the garden fences and I had to instal part buried wire netting so as to keep her in the garden.

Alexa Wed 24-Jan-18 09:15:07

Tegan, I note what you said about whippets racing about. My whippet lurcher has worn paths through the grass where she sprints her barking circuits. I have bought a lot of white clover seed to put on the worn bits in the hope that it may be harder wearing than grass.

Christinefrance Wed 24-Jan-18 11:29:05

Newquay angry

OldMeg Wed 24-Jan-18 13:41:33

Newquay ?

Newquay Wed 24-Jan-18 13:54:37

Lol!

OldMeg Wed 24-Jan-18 14:59:28

Just realised you said he’s only four months old. He’ll grow out of it. He needs a doggy pal, get another pup!

merlotgran Wed 24-Jan-18 18:05:14

Our JRs spend hours in the garden with us. They know they Must Not Dig on the borders so they try to kid us they're doing us a favour by digging into molehills. As soon as I spot the mess I yell, 'STOP DIGGING' which they do straight away like the well trained doggies that they are hmm

They then go round the back and dig somewhere else. grin

Christinefrance Wed 24-Jan-18 21:29:44

Your JR's are so well trained Merlotgran just like ours. They are such characters, we are entertained every day by Mr Bossy.smile

merlotgran Thu 25-Jan-18 14:12:32

Peggy thinks she's helping to turn the compost heap!

Christinefrance Thu 25-Jan-18 17:21:14

Peggy looks like she is a great help in the garden Merlotgran so cute.

nigglynellie Mon 29-Jan-18 16:42:27

You can't stop them, loads of chain link till they grow out of it!!