Hi Everyone,

It's been awhile since I've turned to the board for help...but I really need it now. In a nutshell, my female GSD (age 2) is digging holes on a daily basis in my front beds and making me nuts.

Background: we moved into the house I'm in about 3 months ago. It sits opposite a civil war fort. I mention that because in her digging bonanzas my girl has turned up some odd pieces of metal and some really old hinges, etc. Maybe she is after something? I don't know. She dug a little bit at our old house, but nothing major. It was mostly ignored since we had way more property before.
She also has always had a good nose. On walks in the woods she has found money and a watch and brought them to me...no, not a Rolex, unfortunately).

This is not a bored dog. She gets an hour of ball play on the beach every day and walk in the evenings. Today after that type of activity I went out for 20 minutes and she had dug a huge hole in the same place she did last night.

She knew she had done a bad thing as soon as she saw me. She retreated to her crate on the porch, ears down.

Things I have tried:

balloons in the hole and then cover it (ha)

pet deterrent powder (ha, ha...mostly cayenne and black pepper priced at a premium - put that down right before tonight's big dig)

keeping her in the crate after the fact as "punishment" (I know this is just dumb, but in a fit of anger I did do it)

So, I'm at a loss here. I don't want her crated every time I leave the house. She leaves everything else in my life alone, doesn't chew or mess up anything and is a great guard dog. She is great company, she's great with my kids. I just can't have the digging. I really don't have a spot where she can have her own place to dig where it's okay (I've read that suggestion somewhere)

I have an e-collar and I am wondering if there is a way to incorporate it here.

I have used marker training with her, and again, maybe now is the time to get creative.

I would love some ideas or feedback. I know that this isn't going to be as easy as putting down granules of pepper...Thanks so very much!

If this is a working line GSD....honestly 1 hour of ball & a walk a day is not enough 'work' for this type of dog. (with rare exception) 2 years old is a VERY big start of the serious maturity process for a dog & often when you see dogs 'drives' really become even more intense. What may have been enough to 'satisfy' the needs of a 1 - 1 1/2 + year old dog is no where near enough for a 2 - 3 or 4 yr old WL GSD.

My dogs...even my just turned 10 year old female gets about 2 hours of running a day & other mental stimulation. (OB, stupid pet tricks, tracking etc) At 3 yrs old..it was more like 3-4 hours a day of work. And she is also a dog that will dig holes to China...in the yard if she is not kept busy enough daily....mentally & physically.

I would address the exercise issue first...both mental & physical. Then maybe cover with a board or whatever the area that she really likes to dig in & teach a solid 'leave it' command & keep an eye on her for a while to discourage the digging. Obviously, if you need to leave her outside when you cannot keep an eye on her...she would need to be crated or in an area that she is unable to dig. My dogs are never out in the yard unless I am home & either out with them or paying attention to what they are doing.

Just some thoughts.

ETA...GSDs are VERY prone to OCD..(obsssive compulsive diorder/behavior) A lot of the digging may be contributed to by this...often cause by mental & physical boredom. Once ingrained....it can be very difficult to stop. Often an e-collar is used. (I use e-collars...by NEVER needed to use one for this problem with my female.) But that would be a very LAST resort...especially with a 2 yr old dog...& only after every other alternatives exhausted. Also...you would need to be there at all times with her to use the collar. But not something that I would recommend to someone not familiar with the use of an e-collar.

JMHO

Well, while she IS getting physical exercise, she's probably still bored. Why? Because she needs more mental exercise.

A dog that finds and brings you stuff loves to DO something. But walks and ball playing just increases her stamina/fitness level and do little to tire her brain out.

I'd be coming up with tons of nose games (tracking, formal nose work, playing hide and seek with your kids, etc) and marker training activities to wear her brain out.

The other thing is digging is HIGHLY self rewarding. So you'll probably need several weeks of increased mental activity and crating when you're gone to break the digging cycle.

Is digging not OK? I have a digger and I let him dig because I thought it was therapeutic for them

As a whole...I don't think digging is bad...many dogs will do some digging.....but when it becomes an every day thing or obsessive...it can become debilitating & turn into a BIG problem.

 Quote: Anne Jones

As a whole...I don't think digging is bad...many dogs will do some digging.....but when it becomes an every day thing or obsessive...it can become debilitating & turn into a BIG problem.

Also, it may be a non-problem for some in some situations.


In this situation, it's a problem to the O.P.

Vanessa, I sure do agree with Anne and Mara. She needs more challenges.

"I'd be coming up with tons of nose games (tracking, formal nose work, playing hide and seek with your kids, etc) and marker training activities to wear her brain out. ... The other thing is digging is HIGHLY self rewarding. So you'll probably need several weeks of increased mental activity and crating when you're gone to break the digging cycle."

"I would address the exercise issue first...both mental & physical. Then maybe cover with a board or whatever the area that she really likes to dig in & teach a solid 'leave it' command & keep an eye on her for a while to discourage the digging. Obviously, if you need to leave her outside when you cannot keep an eye on her...she would need to be crated or in an area that she is unable to dig. My dogs are never out in the yard unless I am home & either out with them or paying attention to what they are doing."

And please heed what Anne is saying, because an OCB is a LOT easier to stop near its inception than after it has become ingrained. Sometimes OCBs sound or look funny to people who don't understand how destructive they are, but you seriously don't want one to take hold.

As a last resort we used to recommend getting some good mesh fencing putting it in the spot she wants to dig, making sure its staked in, when she tries to dig it will catch her pads and should stop any digging, although it won't prevent her from starting in a new area.

I heard that GSD's can smell 3 ft deep into the ground. If there is something down there, and you leave her alone in the area, you will find out sooner or later.
If this would be my dog, I would help her digging. I would teach her the dig command. Meaning, she is allowed to dig, if I give her the command. If she goes on her own, correct her. Allow her to dig. Then make her stop. Then you dig for a while. Then let her do it.
This way I taught my dog, to not chase squirrels. Now, when he sees a squirrel, he looks at me first, to ask for permission.
If she always digs in the same spot, you can be sure there is something.

You said 'she knew she had done a bad thing as soon as she saw me'

How much time passed since the digging and her seeing you?

I thought they don't know they've done a bad thing (especially if uu didn't catch them doing it), they read your body language and can tell you're mad and you might be taking it as her knowing (I think Ed wrote about this)