Robb, I don't think anyone implied that you are ignoring your dogs. Just that digging is an activity they like to do and if they can be directed to focus on you for playtime and activity, it may help with the problem. Check your PM's in 'my profile'.

If you are that big and tough dude, then don't worry about what one guy said.

Here is a fix that I have used myself.

Build a deep sand box in the back corner of your yard. That is the digging spot. Praise the dogs when they dig there, put toys or treats under the surface for them to find every once in a while. Shouldn't be to hard to get them to dig there the first time.

Then, hang out in the yard with them and discourage digging elsewhere with a little negative reinforcement.

Then take them over to dig at the box, and make it fun. "you can dig here you little excavating bastard" (in a super nice voice)

This worked for me, and I have a killer digger as well. Terriers dig too, they must have dig drive as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Lol. Yeah, I will try the sandbox thing. Someone suggested a dog run with a sandbok in it.. That's a good idea. I think I'm going to go one further tho... I have a 40' x 16' lot beside my garage that's just gravel.. I think I'm going to use that. I have to move the car that's there tho. If I fence it all in and close the top, they can dig in there without too much worry.. I just thought it was a behaviour that I had to stop, not control. Cool, glad I know now.

Oh, and I didn't think anyone was saying I was ignoring my dogs, I was just trying to illustrate that I know boredom wasn't the problem.

While the dogs LOOK like GSD's, I guess the husky in them would also explain why they're so vocal. Not barkers per se, but they howl, yelp, and are just really talkative. lol.

Thanks again...

Here's a couple of thoughts:

Most dogs don't like to dig in gravel, and removing that much gravel could be a huge pain. You want to make the designated area as appealing as possible (not much is more appealing than fresh sod, so gravel probably won't work too well unless they are strange dogs).

If there are roaming cats in your area they might treat a sandbox like a litterbox if it is left open. It doesn't sound like too big of a deal at first, but Auster got tapeworms several times from finding cat poop in the yard and tapeworm medication is not cheap when you have to buy that much of it. Enclosing the digging area is probably a good investment if there are cats in your area.

Walking doesn't tire most dogs out. If you take them to the dog park and throw a ball once or twice a day, great. Otherwise, you might want to try jogging them or investing in a springer (bike attachment). I think I paid about $45 for my springer (I had a bike anyway) and it has saved me thousands of dollars in medical bills <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> . I ride on the side of the road and let Auster run all out on the grass. It works much better than even a fenced yard for tiring her out because she doesn't have to stop, turn, etc.

Read your post. You said a 2 mo. old, the son of the 10 month old.

Lauren, how does that bike attachment work? I've never heard of it, but it sounds like something I could use when my pup is old enough to run. Thanks.

positive things about digging
-it is good exercise
-it keeps the dogs toenails in very nice trim
-it can be pretty fun to watch
I have 16 dogs and when I ex everybody it is pretty fun to see the digging "games" they get into as mine have been able to turn it into a group sport. We have had some MAJOR excavations
in the dogyard - one was a "den" that took more than 10 construction wheelbarrows full of fill!
It was started by a pregnant dog and it was pretty funny to see her with a really, really wide
puppy load on, all scrunched up in the hole throwing dirt up behind her <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> .
A couple of times a year we fill in the holes and throw some seed around - it doesn't turn it into a putting green but it makes it look somewhat less like a grenade range! An idea that works well and amuses the dogs is to lay down some big logs or ties and put some pallets with solid tops on top of the logs to form a tunnel - mine is about 8 feet long. The dogs like to excavate a den underneath it and play chase and hide games under it and snooze on top of it in cooler weather and underneath it when it is hot.

I'm not Lauren, but I have a Springer Bicycle Jogger as well. Just bought it the other day (Sorry, Lynn, I got impatient! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ). I love it!!! We ran for 40 minutes today, and the little bugger is still as full of energy as ever. But it does help to take a bit of the edge off. Now if I can only figure out how to get it to stop slipping around (the contact cement isn't working).

Just type "Springer Bicycle Jogger" into your search engine, and you'll get lots of hits. I saw one on ebay the other day, too.

Here is a website showing how to use a springer attachment on a bike to run the dog. http://www.doberdawn.com

 Quote:

Originally posted by VanCamp, Robert:

This worked for me, and I have a killer digger as well. Terriers dig too, they must have dig drive as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I think Terriers are in the dictionary with their photo next to the word dig...

You know, earth dog VanCamp...

I had a JRT that I fostered for a while... you would be amazed at the number of people that want them and don't get that digging is more than a hobby for these dogs....

If it makes you all feel any better Blitz is a digger from HE!!, I was trying to pull some fence posts the other day and he decided that he would help me.... now anything that resembles a fence post is where he can be found... covered in mudd....

Today it was the telephone pole...

:rolleyes: <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Dork...