HELP!

My wife and I have 3 dogs, an 11 month old white GSD/Husky cross, a 10 month old GSD/Siberian Husky cross (A 110 pound Male) and a 2 month old puppy, the "son" of the 10 month old. (Mother was 100% GSD)

I have a problem with these three that's got me at the end of my rope. Storm, the white GSD/Husky cross, we've had her since she was 5 weeks old, and love her to death. Smartest dog we've ever come accross.

Anyways, the two larger dogs are digging the yard up, no matter what I try. Praise, discapline, feces in the holes, toys, everything. There's only 4 or 5 holes, so far, they don't dig new ones, just the same ones, over and over. I've re-sodded the holes, and fenced them off with garden fencing, only to discover that after being outside for 20 mins, they've dug them up again, shredded and scattered the new sod, the instant they see me come outside, they scatter, but it never stops.

Now, the 110 pound male, he's not a permanent fixture, I only brought him home because his previous owner, a farmer, was going to give him to some notorious dog abusers because the dog HAD to go, and he couldn't find anyone else. I brought him home to spare him the misery. THis digging thing, it's his ONLY behavioral problem. He doesn't bark, growl, bite, loves kids, super loving and affectionate - by all accounts, he's a living, breathing teddy bear who digs holes.

I'm now getting to the point where I'm frustrated and deep down, I want to really whup on the dogs because nothing seems to work, maybe fear... But I'm not the beat your dog type. But what else is there, one day, I'm afraid I just may snap. I hate to admit this, but the problem is becoming very expensive.

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Some responses and a question:

1) Are your dogs bored? That is a way for some dogs to release pent up energy.
2) Is it hot? This is a way for some dogs to cool down
3) Punishment is probably meaninless to the dogs unless you catch them in the act 100% of the time. You may be teaching your dogs that when you come outside you will shover their face in a hole.

Consider providing a digging area filled with something fun to dig and get the dogs used to that if the above do not reveal a solution. I know GSDs need a lot of excercise and would think that a dog meant to run all day (your other half) would also need to. An exhausted dog is a good dog.

Now for my question. Why on earth would you make such a mix? My son in law wants to do the same thing and it sounds to me like a potentially dangerous outcome?

I hate to break this to you, but - huskies DIG.
Not just lower case dig - but capital letters DIG!
They dig because they like it and it is fun for them. They dig because there is dirt. For a husky digging is not something you do out of boredom, it is something genetically programmed to be a really satisfying activity. They have dig drive. If you amputated their legs they would slither along the ground and root holes with their noses. One husky will dig - several huskies will hold a digging convention and sell tickets. For huskies digging is both a sport and a social activity. The only solution is to put them on a surface where they can't dig or give them an area where they can dig and don't put them on anything diggable unless under direct supervision. If you have three huskies in a yard with grass the grass is going to go! If your dogs are not spayed and neutered the males are going to dig where the female pees also. Three dogs in a grass yard - it is not going to look like a golf course.

And why in the H*** woud you breed a 6 mo. old pup?
Lady you deserve all you get and more.

In addition to the above post, perhaps you should consider an outdoor kennel whilst your not there to supervise. If laying a cement slab is too costly, it was suggested in another post (kennel flooring) to lay cement pavers.

Dogs love to dig! In my kennel compound, I laid brick pavers (because I had extra) and it looks like a courtyard. The only dirt is a small area around a tree, and my pup gets to that, which is swept up on a regular basis :rolleyes:

Put them in a kennel, and let them out regularly to play with YOU! That should divert them from finding their own activities.

This is what I intend to do for my dog once we put up his permenant kennel(going to be moving next year) and you may want to think about doing the same. The kennel I have for my GSD is fair size 10x10x6. We/I am going to cement slab it-but in the back half of it we are going to dig a pit probably about 3ft down, cement it-then fill it with sand so he can dig there-this way he can have his cake and eat it too-and I can live with where he digs. Think about this idea, or something simular <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

:rolleyes: Just one more thing-if you do go this route-I think you will want a bigger kennel than 10x10x6-or get then each there own kennel and do this <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

And why in the H*** woud you breed a 6 mo. old pup?
Lady you deserve all you get and more.

My God, are all people on this forum as rude and ignorant as you!? I really hope not. What in God's name gives you the impression that I'm breeding a 6 month old pup? I don't even HAVE a 6 month old pup! I got my 11 month old from the SPCA last summer, and about 6 weeks ago, I responded to an ad in the paper, bought the then two month old, and took the puppies dad home (the 10 month old) until I could find a better home for him. In the future, I recommend you READ before you start hurling insults.

For one thing, I'm not a Lady, I'm a 7'1" 220 pound tattoo artist, so I don't know how the name "ROBB MACK" seems like a womans name, but whatever..

Second off, I didn't breed anything, I adopted Storm from the SPCA last summer after reading in the paper that they were overcrowded... I also foster dogs from there all the time.

I appreciate the advice from the non eliteist dog owners on this problem, and I'm going to try to put it into action. Thanks to those who desire to help and advise, and have a nice life to those who want to hurl insults and let their egos get even bigger.

Robb

Oh, and one other thing I'd like to note... I don't ignore my dogs, they get LOTS of attention and exercise, are very socializes with several neighbors purebred GSD's, and go on walks twice daily. I work from home and am home 24/7, and our home borders a very large park. Stormm and Cutter (the pup) are both house dogs, and Chopper (the big male) is an outdoor dog as he came from a farm, was an outdoor dog his whole life, and hates being inside because he gets too warm. The dogs are not attention starved or bored, they just seem to NEED to dig.

Thanks,

Robb

I'm sorry you recieved such a rude welcome from one person. People should ask questions before they just make assumptions. I think you recieved some useful information as well, thanks to the others who responded. Good luck with your dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />