Digging

Jenny G · September 26, 2006, 01:07:22 PM

Lucy has new hobby - digging up my back yard! She had a nice hole started in the corner of my back yard when I caught her. I told scolded her (no spanking!) and washed her muddy feet. I attempted to put the dirt back in place. This was Sunday evening. Then last night, I found her digging up the same spot! There are some cables buried where she is digging (I think one is a telephone cable and I'm not sure of the other) so I'm concerned she may get herself in trouble!

Any homemade remedies to discourage digging? A friend of mine said there is some sort of spray I can get at Petsmart for digging. Has anyone had luck with this?

Merion · September 26, 2006, 01:46:48 PM

There is a repellant that is supposed to keep them away from and area too. Maybe that will work? :scratch:

Merion & the ZZ's

TerriL · September 26, 2006, 01:59:11 PM

Both Toby and Oscy are diggers...Buelah could care less.
I have tried everything I can think of or have heard about but unfortunately nothing has worked. Thankfully they usually dig in the same spots so I just fill the holes in and let them do it again!
Let me know if you find something....

papbouv · September 26, 2006, 10:22:57 PM

Hi of course they usually find a new place to did but if you put their poop in the hole they will not dig in that hole again have tried the sprays they are a waste of monies in my opinion did not work on my Bouv,or any of my dogs in the past.
Does anyone know where the dirt goes when you try to fill in a hole never enough dirt to fill it up again,need a pile of dirt just to fill in holes. Buddy's digging not getting enough exercise really need a medical scooter to take him on long walks.
papbouv

Dee Dee and Hallie · September 26, 2006, 11:07:06 PM

LOL papbouv I am laughing because I have heard of that poop trick too but the reason Hallie digs is because she's digging FOR poop! (cat poop in our garden...grrrr_). She gets into diggie-attack mode when she finds the buried treasure she usually doesn't take it but it just gets her going. I got one of those scarecrow things that shoots water at anything that moves to try and keep the cats out...I'm also laughing at you wondering where the dirt goes. I dont know either if you find out let me know!

Hallie loves to dig just in sand or very soft dirt like flower beds but I always try to stop her now I worry it's not good for her back...sigh.

Good luck Jenny G I wish I had some better advice for you!

Jenny G · September 27, 2006, 06:44:20 AM

Quote from: papbouv on September 26, 2006, 10:22:57 PM
if you put their poop in the hole they will not dig in that hole again

I did see this idea when I was Googling for help yesterday. Now, if I can only figure out which is hers and which is Berman's! Also, I bet my neighbor will love the pile of poop just on the other side of her fence!

papbouv · September 27, 2006, 07:08:02 AM

Hallie may dig to eat cat poop but when you use their own poop in the hole the usually will not dig in that same hole depends on the dog of course usually when they poop they their turn around and sniff it or run off then if they go by where it is they sniff it but stretch their necks out to do it??? Cat poop is a different story they all love to eat it ???except my Gizmo is a prissy little thing ,Do not think cat poo has touched her lips???Evidently their poop & cat poop is a vast difference I have had some luck with the granules you can put down to keep cats & dogs from going in a certain area the granules seem to work allot better than the spray.We have a huge back yard but everyone one wants to pee & poop up by the patio which my husband has a fit over.I have used the granules in the past and they seem to venture out past the granules but it does get expensive though.You have to add too them seems like weekly might help with the cat problem in your garden. I read somewhere something you can put in the garden or flower bed that will keep cats out I think it is chicken wire but not sure if I remember right you lay the chicken wire down over the planting or around the planting cover it with a light top of dirt. Then when the cat comes to do its thing it cannot do the scratching because their claws get stuck on the chicken wire and they do not like that and go somewhere else??? not sure because I read it a long time ago have a faulty memory now days I think.You could also use moth balls but that would not be safe for Hallie.
I did not realize that Minnie Doxie's were way into hunting Patches goes after squirrels like she is a big dog the squirrel and Patches are about the same size & color.The squirrel goes up the telephone pole or treethen cusses at Patches drives patches crazy then Patches trails everwhere in the yard the squirrel has been even in the rain,gets deaf to my calls???Guess that is normal for a Doxie need to train Patches in obedience what type of collar works best??? I usually walk her in a harness because she chokes with a regular buckle collar was thinking a choke chain would be worse???I really have to work on come with her in case she gets out the door again she has once usually good about waiting at the door when I tell her wait.
Husband from another planet tell him not to open the door until he or I have Patches in our arms this last Saturday his uncle came over husband says get the dog before I can get her he opens the door & Patches runs to the porch. The uncle is standing there like a dummy(male) and husband is standing there like a dummy (another male) I say get in the house & Patches will follow you in because she wants to say HI so I get everyone in the house that way. Scares me though because Patches refuses to come at times we live on a busy street plus sometimes their are squirrel's in the front yard too.Need to teach a fool proof come is that possible with a Doxie.???
Papbouv

DeeanDave · September 27, 2006, 07:13:39 AM

My two are not really diggers -- but once in a while, they smell rabbit and will tend to dig to get to the spot where they think the rabbit may be -- like under the back deck so they attempt to dig a hole to get under the deck......I have used an orange citrus spray which has worked and also just pour white vinegar on the spot after you fill the hole up. The vinegar works very well for us -- the dogs absolutely detest the smell of vinegar!

Dianne · September 27, 2006, 09:24:12 AM

Digging is in their genes! They are hunting hounds and I'm happy that mine still bear these traits. Try setting aside a special place in the yard and encourage them to dig there. Spread some scent if you need to get their attention. It is such fun for them and fun for me to watch.

Our Patches was raised a house dog and never learned to hunt. Cocoa (Bambam & Ladybug Angels) are/were all hunters. Ladybug survived several months on her own (lost pre-rescue) because she could hunt. Cocoa will follow mole trails in the yard, digging a path as she goes. Eventually, she gets the mole! And we patiently, recover her trail. It's only grass!

Let them have some fun...dirty doxies are washable!

Jenny G · September 27, 2006, 01:48:25 PM

Quote from: Dianne on September 27, 2006, 09:24:12 AM
Digging is in their genes! They are hunting hounds and I'm happy that mine still bear these traits. Try setting aside a special place in the yard and encourage them to dig there. Spread some scent if you need to get their attention. It is such fun for them and fun for me to watch.

Let them have some fun...dirty doxies are washable!

I don't think the digging is my biggest concern. It's where she's digging - right at the fence line and over some cables (maybe telephone or cable company cables). I just don't want her to get out or get hurt by the cables. Do dachsies like sand? What if I made a sand box or some sort of sand pit? My back yard is pretty small (I live in a duplex) - it's probably 30ft by 10ft so I don't have a lot of room to work with.

Roberta · September 27, 2006, 02:04:20 PM

Jenny we don't have diggers now, but Emma digger paws was what we did down the fence line was dug in chicken wire so she could not dig out of the yard, so I suppose you could dig it over the cables. the reason she dug was someone had let their pet rabit run loose and it dug tunnels every where, and Nick had one leg disappear to the knee in one, which kick started her.
Good luck
Roberta

Sandishooligans · September 28, 2006, 12:38:29 PM

Can you put some River Rock at the fence line? My whole little yard is lined that way. It's been a great deterent. 'Course, the ground here is so garsh darn hard, they wouldn't be able to dig every deep.

Dianne · September 29, 2006, 08:01:48 AM

Hi Genny,

Sorry I misunderstood your question. I like the idea of lining the fence line with large rocks. River rock or flat dry stone fence rock would work. You might even be able to use landscape blocks.

The chicken wire is also easy to do and less expensive as an alternate.

good luck,

Dianne

Digging

Sandishooligans