Digging

[bk_blue]

For those of you who don't know Blitz is a consummate escape artist. Even now, that we have the new fence up, he managed to dig a hole under it (but didn't get out, the gap was too small). We've filled it in with dirt and big bricks that he will only be able to move if he grows a pair of human hands :D but is there a way to stop him from digging his way out of the backyard? This only happens when there is nobody home and he is outside by himself. He has a one track mind when he is there- to escape- so Kongs, bones etc will not distract him. I am petrified of him getting out again and getting hurt or run over, but I hate leaving him in the house all the time, he's used to fresh air and being able to sunbake or pee when he wants to. A doggie door is not an option, as I am not allowed to alter the doors. Does anyone have any suggestions for stopping him digging? A friend suggested I put some of his poo where he digs, because apparently dogs don't like to dig where they poo... does this work? Any suggestions are welcome :drinking: :o :) :-?

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi BK,

The poo idea worked for me. Of course this was a hole in the yard digger rather than an under the fence digger. We would just shovel some fresh poo into the holes he dug and he got the hint pretty quick. Of course, you don't want to restrict your dog's freedom, but if you cannot change the behavior, it would be better to restrict the pleasure rather than loose the dog. My girl's stay inside when we are gone and are happy and well-adjusted.

Later,
Trinity

[bk_blue]

Thanks :) To answer your question Mei-Mei, he definitely digs to try to get out. I would imagine if he dug for the fun of it I wouldn't have a garden :D , the only places where he digs are places where he thinks he can get out and explore. At dad's he would dig up the gravel in the driveway so he could get out, Dad ended up putting blocks of bluestone underground and that stopped him for a while. It wouldn't matter if I took him running all day and tired him out, if I went out he'd still try to escape... I've read some stuff about seperation anxiety and I think he may have that along with some boredom issues which aren't solved through exercise (though he doesn't like toys and looks at me weirdly if I try to play games with him).
Trinity, I will try the poo idea and crossing my fingers hoping it will work. :wink: If he manages to escape again, which would make it 4 times in 2 weeks, I think for his own safety and for my nerves he should go back to Dad's again where he is not able to get out and is familiar with things, and this is what Dad thinks too. :( sad but maybe best for him.

[ShadyLady]

Another option to the poo is chilli/curry powder it can be put on the ground and when he gets it on his nose it will teach him that it is unpleasant to dig it worked for my sisters kelpie so it might be worth a try its one of Dr harrys solutions :lol:

[corgilady]

The poo thing worked for me, but my 2 dig for fun more than to get out. Koda digs craters but he hasn't figured out that if he does it at the FENCE he will get a reward. So far he has dug up the entire rootball of all the trees I planted last spring, the whole side of the garage, and part of the house. :lol: Not to mention the ones that are just out in the middle of the yard. All this and he never stops barking, either!!!

I have a friend who fosters many large dogs. She went all around her acreage and dug a little trench, and poured a small bit of concrete into it. She says when they hit that, they think they can't get out so they stop.

Good luck!

[Hobbit]

If a dog is determined to dig out, poop isn't going to stop him. And you can't put poop all the way around the fence (the smell would be pretty bad).

Electric fence on the bottom of you existing fence, or concrete like Corgilady said, or bury wire (that could get expensive) --- how long are you gone? If you aren't gone too long, what about crating him (inside the house)? Securing him in the laundry room?

Frustrating trying to keep a dog IN, that really wants OUT!! A dog stays in a yard or pen, because he wants to.

[bk_blue]

Hobbit, the wire stuff is probably not a great idea as I may not be here in a couple of months- and I can't afford it anyway. He behaves perfectly when I leave him inside, he curls up on my bed and goes to sleep. He sleeps inside with me at night and can hold his bladder for about 8-9 hours. I just don't like the fact he's inside all the time when he's always been a predominantly outside dog. Also, if there was a fire, he wouldn't be able to get out :( I have 3 mths holiday but I'm going back to uni in March and I also work and that plus errands and having no car and not being able to take him to work or on the tram means I spend a lot more time getting to places than I used to. If the bricks don't work to stop him, I'm going to ask Grandad or someone about putting concrete in that little gap otherwise he will have to go back to Dad's. :(
I will try the poo thing *wrinkles nose* and the curry powder thing, but he is a very determined little pest. :roll:

[Guest Anonymous]

Try buying one of those solutions at pet stores that prevent digging..I've never tried it but it's worth a try :roll: Just spray around the fence

[Hobbit]

bk I can feel your frustration! We have two diggers and two fence climbers. They don't go anywhere, just want to be "free".

I understand about the buried fence --- fence is not cheap. And especially since you don't own the house you're living in, hard to make improvements!! Don't blame you one that. It worries me too, leaving the dogs in the house while we are gone.

[Guest Anonymous]

Hobbit napisał(a):

And you can't put poop all the way around the fence

Says who!!!! :o :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Guest Anonymous]

EVERYone has such good ideas, I have no solution! :)

[Guest Anonymous]

I was looking on the net to try and find some more helpful tips on digging and this guy Kohler who is supposed to be some sort of obedience guru :roll: said that you should fill the hole up with water and hold the dog's head under water :evilbat: :evilbat: Good Lord.

Later,
Trinity
See my girls at www.geocities.com/trinityess

[bk_blue]

I can see how the holding the head underwater might work but it's a bit cruel and anyway how would you ever be able to bath your dog again? He would hate water after that if he didn't already. Anyway that's certainly one I won't be trying...
I trialled him outside by himself yesterday evening after sprinkling curry powder and chilli flakes at the place where he digs. He didn't touch it!! (I was watching from the window.) BUT he just made lots of whingy noises and barks at the back door, and when he began to tear the plastic architrave thingy (the house has "fake" weatherboards over the real ones) off I went out and yelled at him. I put him in his kennel, made him stay there for five minutes while I sat in the chair, then called him over and made him lie down next to me for another five minutes, then we went back in the house together. He was very contrite after that. :)

[Guest Anonymous]

Oh no no BK.....I wasn't suggesting you do that in any way!!!!! That's what the bats and the "Good Lord" was for.....There is no way I would EVER advocate doing something so cruel to a dog! I only mentioned it to illustrate how many so called experts there are out there who make insane suggestions to people.....and since these people are seen as "experts" many people will be subjecting their dogs to cruelty. Please don't think I wanted you to do that! I should have put "don't do this for heaven's sake it is mean and this guy is nuts" since the bats weren't enough.....a vague disclaimer is nobody's friends.

Sorry for the confusion,
Trinity
See my girls at www.geocities.com/trinityess

[bk_blue]

Hey Trinity, it's cool. I knew you weren't suggesting it as a remedy, but in a way I could see how it would work- scaring the hell out of the dog- NOT a good way to do things in my opinion, and yours too and probably everyone's on this board! :wink: :D It's all good! :D

[Hobbit]

[quote name='Jacsmom'][quote name='Hobbit'] And you can't put poop all the way around the fence


Says who!!!! :o :lol: :lol: :lol:


You just gave me a brilliant idea --- (insert evil laugh)

Okay, to be really effective, bk -- you need other dog's poop, not just bk's. So, since we all love you so much, we all (and I mean ALL) would be more than happy to contribute by sending you ALL of our dog's poop, so you'd have enough to go around the entire perimeter of the fence!!

Sound like a plan? :P

[Guest Anonymous]

I'm in!

[Guest Anonymous]

Thanks guys... I love you too!!! :roll: :lol:

He's outside right now (I am at mum's before I go to work)... so I will see how he is (he had better bloody well be there) when I get home from work... I had him outside for a little while before I left and I kept an eye on him. He didn't go near the curry powdered fence. :angel:

[bk_blue]

Sorry that was me... I forgot to log in... :oops:

[bk_blue]

Update on the digging:

I got home from work and found my sister had put him back inside because he's chewed the plastic weatherboard strip near the back door off, and has mauled the corner of the house near the side gate. Hasn't done any digging though!!! :roll: I might try and put curry powder on the bits where he's chewed to stop him from doing that, if that doesn't work then... :-?
Understandably Mum is a little annoyed (it's her mum's house we're living in), and thinks it would be best if Blitz went back to Dad's where he won't do any damage. I can certainly see her point, if it was my rental property I would be annoyed too.
I am trying to think of the best thing to do for BK. I want him to be happy and relaxed and not fret so much when there is nobody here and he is here by himself. I CANNOT be here all the time, it's impossible, I am here probably 80% of the time and I deliberately organise things so I am not away for too long but sometimes, like today, I was out all day because I had to be. I hate leaving him inside all the time, it's not good for him, maybe ok for some dogs but not him. But if he's going to destroy the house when he's outside then what can I do?? :(
Any advice would be appreciated as I am in a bit of a quandry. Keeping him here for my own happiness is a bit selfish, but I really don't want him to go and want to see if there is any other solution.

[eric]

I'm glad the curry worked for the digging. I personally don't have diggers, but I once used cayenne pepper mixed into a paste to keep Sam from chewing on the corners of the 1/4 round (he suddenly started doing this when we moved into our first house, then stopped).

As to your second question, I feel for you. You want to do what's best for the dog, but at the same time you can't have BK destroying the house or escaping and possibly getting killed (God forbid).

I came to the conclusion some time ago that being locked up inside is the safest thing for my dogs. It may be boring for them, but they will be safe. It also has the advantage of not coming home to any "surprises".

Depending on the amount of room you have, you might be able to do what I did. I went and bought an outdoor dog enclosure and set it up in my basement. I had the old carpet from our livingroom left from when we changed the carpet, so I "carpeted" the bottom so they aren't lying on concrete.

The enclosure is chainlink and tubing, and you have to assemble it, but that's a good thing because it means it will fit in your car and down you stairs. It also has a dog proof door (latch can't be nudged up by a nose).

There are different sizes available, mine is about 12' x 12', and they are not that expensive. I got mine at Petsmart. Unlike a crate its big enough that they can run around and play, or lie down and stretch out. I can also leave their water and food in there with them.

I know you want the best for your dog, as we all do. BK making as escape, destroying the exterior of the house, upsetting your mum, these cannot be in his best interest. As much as I hate locking my boys up for the day, I do it because that's the best solution and I know they will be safe.

[bk_blue]

Thanks Eric for your advice. :) I will see if I can find one of those dog enclosures (I'm not in the US) and get prices etc. It sounds good, he won't be able to chew his way out! Would he be able to turn it over though? Could I put it up outside? We have a concreted area where it could go but no patio unfortunately.
I would have no probs if we had a dog door. I've been out and left him in and the back door open, and all he does when he has the choice to either dig out or stay inside is stay inside (he sleeps on my bed and watches out the window), so a dog enclosure inside would be pretty pointless. But leaving the door open is not good security wise, and although he'd probably scare away anyone who wanted to steal stuff I'm not going to chance him being stabbed or shot by anyone aggressive. What I will do today is make a paste out of the curry powder and put it on the corners where he's been chewing and see how that goes. It's so frustrating, I love him so much but he is just too smart for his own good. :cry: