[leakaufman]

My 13 week old Doberman puppy is digging. She starts obedience school in 3 weeks. Does anyone have any ideas how to stop this behavior. Nothing I am doing is working. Thank you for your help.

 

[Dobiewankanobi]

Just wanted to say I feel your pain. My pup is a digger too! What has worked best is that he is never unsupervised. If he even looks like he's going to dig I remove him from the area and tell him no.

 

[Beaumont67]

While never a digger:
My puppy from 8-12 weeks old...liked to pick up cigarette butts.
Just used a disappointing "sharp no"...and going through the motion of "cleaning-out-her-mouth"...with a "YECK" sound.
Problem solved with 100% supervision & commanding verbal expectations, to reinforce good or acceptable behavior.
- more than 10 years later, still not a problem

 

[PatchworkRobot]

My boy tends to dig when he is bored and/or energetic. I find that after a lot of play/walking/or training when he is mentally or physically tired he doesn't dig but when he hasn't done much all day and I take him outside... that's when he starts digging.

Some people have been successful with creating sort of a sand box but with dirt for a "designated digging area" and when their dogs dig they take the dog to the box.

 

[leakaufman]

I never let her out of my sight but she is quick. In the few seconds it took for me to get to her in the yard she had dug a pretty decent hole. She is going through a destructive phase. She has grabbed the mobile phone and the remote and although both still work they have bite marks on them. She thinks it is all a game. I will try the suggestions posted. Thank you.

 

[Beaumont67]

I never let her out of my sight but she is quick. In the few seconds it took for me to get to her in the yard she had dug a pretty decent hole. She is going through a destructive phase. She has grabbed the mobile phone and the remote and although both still work they have bite marks on them. She thinks it is all a game. I will try the suggestions posted. Thank you.

Change the GAME & your tolerance level of unacceptable actions.
- playing toy tug of war & teaching ball fetch work the brain

Your still not fully supervising ...done right / results are quick and immediate (and last a life time)...can be an EASY process.

 

[LCalvert]

Most dogs dig because they are bored or getting out energy. Keep her occupied while she is outside, like playing with her or keep toys outside. Also, try to catch her doing it and correct her.

 

[Karmabites]

ways to stop digging....

There are several things that you can try to prevent your dog from digging in your yard, some may sound crazy but I have found that keeping plenty of toys that your dog really enjoys available help for when they are bored, playing fetch to help burn energy will help, taking a long walk again to help burn energy will help keep them from digging. Another trick that I have found that works is putting there #2 in the spot where they start to dig and they wont bother that area again, next day remove the #2, most people don't remove #2 that there dog leaves but I make it a point to ensure that my two baby's play area is as clean as can be, and the only reason that I would ever leave something for more than a day would be for the purpose to deter any digging as I have had much success in doing this and haven't had to do this but maybe 3-4 times. Also you can spray Vinegar on the spot that they begin digging it won't hurt them and they hate the smell or mine do at least. The best solution to avoid your dobe from digging is exercise them a lot in a day make sure they run a lot and get good and wore out, they are a breed as you should know that is high in energy and if they are bored with nothing to do well they will find something to do.

 

[LindsayMeredith]

My boy digs too.. only when he's hyper and running around and doing laps in the back yard though. He'll do a lap, run to the garden (which has no plants in it now because the frost killed them so it's all dirt) and start digging. Then I'll correct him and he'll run away, do another lap, and try digging again. It just becomes a cycle haha.

 

[Amelia_]

I remember when Rupert was a pup, I let him out to go to the toilet, walked back into the kitchen, flicked the switch on the kettle for a cuppa, walked back outside...to see his little dober butt sticking outa a huge hole he'd dug in my lawn :roflmao:

With Rupert, I got him to kick the habbit by lots of supervision and just making sure I told him no as soon as he started scratching at the ground and he stopped very quickly.

 

[Paw Spa]

I have a designated dirt/sand hole for my dogs....I've never had a "digging issue". I always wondered if maybe because it was so readily available to them, digging never became an exciting or high value game.


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[Jaydog1717]

I have never had a digger but I agree on the energy statements. I have heard MANY people say they put their dogs poop where they are digging and it deters them.