[cheryce]

Hey there,

so our 5 month old puppy is SO smart, he was house trained in under a month of having him at home, and he already has 10+ tricks under his belt...but we cannot stop the digging! He dug one hole right by our sidewalk so deep that you can literally take the block out of the ground now. My husband filled it with bricks so that he cant do any more damage but all that did was move him to other spots of the backyard. Part of me thinks it is from a bit of boredom when he is outside, which is never for that long anyway, but I'm not 100% sure. From the research I have done, it looks like they can be known for digging, which I was expecting, but for how smart we know he is, I'm surprised he is still doing it after being disciplined a million times over!

any tips on what we can try to get him to stop??


Thank you!

 

[KevinK]

The only way to get him to stop is to not allow him to start. disciplining him after the hole is dug is worthless, and confusing. He needs to be watched better, and corrected before he gets to digging.

Or, you can designate an area where he is allowed to dig.

 

[cheryce]

we do watch him. once we realized he was starting to get into digging we literally sat at the back door while he was outside and watched him the entire time and when he'd start scoping out the hole again to start digging we'd go out there and stop him. still doesn't seem to work?

 

[Adara]

The "easiest" solution is also the hardest and that is not letting them in the yard unsupervised. Once it becomes a habit it is horribly hard to break them of it and you could have a lifetime of holes in the yard.

I have heard of people creating a sand box for a dog to dig and redirecting them to the sand box every time. Again it requires supervision.

Also to add - it won't happen overnight. It's going to take awhile for him to "outgrow" digging.

 

[cheryce]

that's a good idea. my husband works for a concrete company so maybe we will try to get some loose shale or something brought to the backyard for the front of his dog run and then train him to dig only there...thanks for the tip!

 

[EmilyB]

Put large stones in any areas already dug and follow advice above.

 

[KevinK]

we do watch him. once we realized he was starting to get into digging we literally sat at the back door while he was outside and watched him the entire time and when he'd start scoping out the hole again to start digging we'd go out there and stop him. still doesn't seem to work?

I agree with Adara. At this age, your dog should never be unsupervised, or left to wander outside, even if you're watching from inside. He needs to be kept occupied. If you leave him free to wander too long, he will only start building more and more bad habits.

 

[mmctaq]

There are so many great reasons to dig holes! Getting to roots or bugs or other tasty, wonderful-smelling things... making a cool place to lie down... it's just a fun project! And, it is something to do when a puppy is bored and has nothing better to do.

It is far more effective to correct a dirty thought than to discipline after or during the fact. This means that your pup is not outside alone, and is being watched. I correct downward focus combined with shoulder muscle tighteneing... "HEY! Are you NUTZ???" Without that first swipe of the paw, a hole cannot happen. Dogs who have not dug do not dig, as a rule. It takes intense supervision to develop the habit of not digging, and it is pretty time-consuming for a short period of time. The amount of time you spend will be less than the time you will spend re-filling holes over the lifetime of your dog, though, plus you can use that time for fun and play and training.

What else has he got to do out there? A couple of raw beef knuckle bones are good or a whole raw steer femur. A big block of ice with kibble/string cheese/hot dog/chopped chicken/blueberries/dog treats is fun... fill up an empty milk jug with water and a handful of goodies, freeze and then cut the jug away. Toys outside... lots of toys. Play with your pup outside... a puppy playing with you is not digging holes.

Unsupervised, he will develop LOTS of wonderful habits. Digging, fence running, peeling the siding off your house, peeling the bark off your trees, barking enough for the neighbors to call the police, eating your deck, etc. There are endless opportunities for a pup to try to escape from boredom, and you won't probably like any of them LOL!

 

[cheryce]

He does have lots of toys outside...but I have never heard of an ice block with treats inside, i think i will try that tonight and have it ready for tomorrow and see what that does!

We have dealt with him trying to escape already, and he has stopped that, that started solely because the neighbors across the alley let their dogs lay around freely in their backyard that isn't fenced...so they were trying to come under our gate which led Skwissgaar to thinking he was allowed to go play in THEIR yard lol, fair right??

I guess the only concern that I have with being outside with Skwiss 24/7 is that if I do that, he will expect us out there every time. He already gets play time with us outside, apart from his potty time. And I guess I worry that he will lose his independence that he has so greatly gained, if we do it that way. I 100% see the reasoning behind doing it, but I am worried that he will only back pedal in his independence and become even more clingy than he already is, and i'm sure i don't need to explain THAT to any doberman owner lol

I will try the ice cube with treats, he is definitely a focused dog, and if he has one thing that grabs his attention he will stay with it for HOURS so maybe that is the cure we are looking for!

 

[EmilyB]

I guess the only concern that I have with being outside with Skwiss 24/7 is that if I do that, he will expect us out there every time.

I'm a little concerned since you have already mentioned a dog run. You are aware that dobermans are inside dogs that need to be with their people 24/7.
I hope you are not leaving him outside unattended or your problems have just begun.

 

[cheryce]

trust me we did PLENTY of research on doberman's before we purchased and are well aware that they are indoor dogs, and even more aware that they are people dogs.

all I am expressing is concern that the independence he HAS learned to use, will be gone if i am outside with him EVERY single time he is out there. and the dog run was simply because we rent, and are trying to save our landlords yard as much as possible, that is all the dog run is being built for...not an excuse to leave him outside....regardless of what breed of dog you have, i don't feel it is right for your dog to be outside more than in.

however, Skwissgaar has become a bit more independent due to him being outside by himself for potty time (usually only 10-15 minutes at a time 2-3 times a night). like i said, he absolutely has playtime every single day outside with us, but i do feel like his independence has been more of a positive than a negative, yes he digs, and obviously due to that, but he also does have that independence which i feel is crucial through his puppy stage into young adult stage.

 

[KevinK]

He does have lots of toys outside...but I have never heard of an ice block with treats inside, i think i will try that tonight and have it ready for tomorrow and see what that does!

We have dealt with him trying to escape already, and he has stopped that, that started solely because the neighbors across the alley let their dogs lay around freely in their backyard that isn't fenced...so they were trying to come under our gate which led Skwissgaar to thinking he was allowed to go play in THEIR yard lol, fair right??

I guess the only concern that I have with being outside with Skwiss 24/7 is that if I do that, he will expect us out there every time. He already gets play time with us outside, apart from his potty time. And I guess I worry that he will lose his independence that he has so greatly gained, if we do it that way. I 100% see the reasoning behind doing it, but I am worried that he will only back pedal in his independence and become even more clingy than he already is, and i'm sure i don't need to explain THAT to any doberman owner lol

I will try the ice cube with treats, he is definitely a focused dog, and if he has one thing that grabs his attention he will stay with it for HOURS so maybe that is the cure we are looking for!

Dobermans are not independant, and they are very clingy. Very. Dobermans like to be with their people as much as possible. It's one of their most basic needs. Why do you have to leave him outside by himself? If you're inside, why can't he be inside with you? They are most certainly not solitary animals, and leaving him outside like this WILL lead to bigger and worse problems if you continue it.

Your dogs "independence" is nothing more than curiousity. You are going against the instincts of your dog. It's like the teenage years in people where a teenager thinks they don't have to listen, they think they know more than their parents, and they think their parents are out to get them. Trust me, this is not a road you want to go down leaving your dog outside like that. Every single person I know that has an "out of control, stupid, poorly behaved dog" leaves them outside unatended. It's not just coincedence.

 

[Adara]

however, Skwissgaar has become a bit more independent due to him being outside by himself for potty time (usually only 10-15 minutes at a time 2-3 times a night). like i said, he absolutely has playtime every single day outside with us, but i do feel like his independence has been more of a positive than a negative, yes he digs, and obviously due to that, but he also does have that independence which i feel is crucial through his puppy stage into young adult stage.

That is a really good thing to focus on, but maybe not in the yard. As long as he spends some time by himself (i.e. humans aren't with him/home 24 hours a day) and make a point to leave him, he should be fine.

You could TRY peeking out a window and watching. But it might be hard to miss the signs and redirect before he digs.

 

[cheryce]

okay...so...i've grasped the fact, and already knew the fact, that they are clingy and want to be indoors with us. it took me about a week to realize just how clingy he was. how is it going against his instincts to put him outside for 10 minutes for a pee? and if he has learned, and accepted, the independence he's already gained, am i not doing him an injustice by back pedalling myself and catering to his neediness 24/7? he gets 150% attention inside and outside for the most part...but i do feel he can go pee by himself for 10 minutes. him not being right beside us for 30 minutes a day isn't going to harm him...i know people personally with full grown dobermans who do the exact same except they leave their dogs out for even longer than we do Skwissgaar, and their dogs have turned out quite fine and have had no long term disadvantages by not being with their owners 24/7.

i just don't like getting the feeling that i'm not raisiing him well just because i put him outside alone for 10-15 minutes at a time i find that quite ridiculous.

 

[cheryce]

That is a really good thing to focus on, but maybe not in the yard. As long as he spends some time by himself (i.e. humans aren't with him/home 24 hours a day) and make a point to leave him, he should be fine.

You could TRY peeking out a window and watching. But it might be hard to miss the signs and redirect before he digs.

yeah see...peeking wasn't working...we were giving him the benefit of the doubt after we had assured he was doing nothing in the yard to harm anything...and it's honestly been only the past 2 weeks the digging has gotten out of hand. so that was when we started watching him from inside to see what he does...and we would step outside right when he was scoping to distract him, OR we would wait until he was just about to start and walk outside and gently correct him for it.


i'm hoping it is just a phase...and maybe, like i said, the ice cube with treats inside to distract him will work...but i think his problem is boredom...even after only 10 minutes!! talk about A.D.D

 

[Adara]

leaving dogs outside unattended during the formulative periods can create a lifetime of "issues" such as digging, fence fighting, nuisance barking, etc.

My dogs go in and out. Typically they are with us unless it's critter season. They they run in and out the dog door so much I finally close it off

However as puppies, they are not left unattended especially if they are digging. My Doberman naturally barks at noises/people etc. more than my Vizslas. It's a learning process for many of them so they don't bark at everything or continue barking. Also if you have neighbors with dogs that like to fence fight, good luck stopping it once it starts.

Flirt dug my yard up if she was unsupervised until 19 months.

 

[KevinK]

okay...so...i've grasped the fact, and already knew the fact, that they are clingy and want to be indoors with us. it took me about a week to realize just how clingy he was. how is it going against his instincts to put him outside for 10 minutes for a pee? and if he has learned, and accepted, the independence he's already gained, am i not doing him an injustice by back pedalling myself and catering to his neediness 24/7? he gets 150% attention inside and outside for the most part...but i do feel he can go pee by himself for 10 minutes. him not being right beside us for 30 minutes a day isn't going to harm him...i know people personally with full grown dobermans who do the exact same except they leave their dogs out for even longer than we do Skwissgaar, and their dogs have turned out quite fine and have had no long term disadvantages by not being with their owners 24/7.

i just don't like getting the feeling that i'm not raisiing him well just because i put him outside alone for 10-15 minutes at a time i find that quite ridiculous.

You have a problem, and that problem is a direct result of not being outside with your dog, and him getting bored. The answer is to be outside with your dog so you can correct the behavior. we're not talking about letting a well trained 2 year old dog out in the yard by himself... We're talking about a puppy that doesn't understand what he's doing is wrong. He is too young to be left outside, even if it's only for 10 or 15 minutes. This is ONE problem you're dealing with... If you continue, the problems will multiply, and continue to get worse. I'm sorry if that's not what you want to hear, but that's often how it goes. At 5 months old, my girl was not left alone longer than it took to go to the bathroom, or get a drink...

 

[mmctaq]

He does have lots of toys outside...but I have never heard of an ice block with treats inside, i think i will try that tonight and have it ready for tomorrow and see what that does!

One thing I should have mentioned but forgot is that dogs will eat a lot of ice when gnawing away to excavate the treats... lot of ice is a lot of water is need for more frequent trips outside to pee.

 

[sam&macksmom]

Does he go anywhere besides the backyard? At 5 months old, now is a good time to start OB classes.

 

[stryker2]

Digging is a sign of boredum. You have a very smart pup. Do not leave unsupervised.