Help!

[Bobhica]

Somebody please give me some advice! My 8 month old Redtick is digging graves in my backyard, and I don't know any way to stop him. Anything I can spread on the yard periodically? Something, please, talk to me on this one!:mad::mad::mad:

[tuffdawg]

You need to give him a huge pile of toys. Especially stuff that he can chew on to help keep him occupied. There is nothing you can put on your yard to keep him from digging.

ALSO dogs tend to dig MORE when they are over heated. So you might want to sling a box fan out along with some bones and toys. Hope this helps.

[Bobhica]

tuffdawg, thanks! Is it something he'll grow out of and I just need to be patient?

[tuffdawg]

tuffdawg, thanks! Is it something he'll grow out of and I just need to be patient?

Yes and no. Digging is alot to do with instinct. Which, thats what they do when they get too hot. Then there are some dogs that will dig because they are just plain bored. So if you can hang him a box fan out back......... and give him some stuff to keep him occupied.......... you should see a huge difference.

One thing I have learned is if you do what I suggest..... He SHOULDNT dig new holes........ BUT you will have find a way to keep him from damaging any holes that you fix. If you start filling in holes, you might want to try sprinkling either some black pepper or garlic over them. The pepper might work better because he wont sniff that area but one good time. And no, this wont damage his sense of smell. Especially if he learns his lesson the first time or two. Just keep him busy!!

[hogdawg]

fill the holes up with his poop and then put a little dirt on top of it. this works great with most dogs, but some just don't care

[Twenty five ought six]

I don't think there is any way you can "break" him. I have a picture of our weimaraner that only shows her tail out of the ground. Eventually she out grew it. Until she did it made cutting the grass a real adventure.

[JSimon]

I had a Boxer that would dig HUGE I mean man sized holes! She was an inside dog . I let her and my other dogs out to play in the yard for short periods of time and while out there she dug trenches and chewed the trim on my house. I tried toys, I tried putting her poop in the holes and the ONLY thing that worked for me was cutting some blackberry twigs and putting them the holes. When I cleared my fence rows off I took a few clippings and stuck them in her holes and that was the only thing that worked for me. I think some dogs just like to dig...my brother has her brother and he never had a problem with him digging or chewing.
Good Luck with your dog....

[Bobhica]

Thanks guys. I knew about putting poop in the holes, but I didn't know if there was another secret. We'll try that next before he digs under my foundation!

[dawg2]

Yes and no. Digging is alot to do with instinct. Which, thats what they do when they get too hot. Then there are some dogs that will dig because they are just plain bored. So if you can hang him a box fan out back......... and give him some stuff to keep him occupied.......... you should see a huge difference.

One thing I have learned is if you do what I suggest..... He SHOULDNT dig new holes........ BUT you will have find a way to keep him from damaging any holes that you fix. If you start filling in holes, you might want to try sprinkling either some black pepper or garlic over them. The pepper might work better because he wont sniff that area but one good time. And no, this wont damage his sense of smell. Especially if he learns his lesson the first time or two. Just keep him busy!!

CAYENNE PEPPER is a much better deterrent:smash::bounce:

[Jack Ryan]

Somebody please give me some advice! My 8 month old Redtick is digging graves in my backyard, and I don't know any way to stop him. Anything I can spread on the yard periodically? Something, please, talk to me on this one!:mad::mad::mad:

Trim his toenails and keep them as short as possible.

If you have a kennel or are going to use one, take the sod off and fill it with pea gravel about a foot deep before putting up the fence. They can dig all they want and it falls right back in. Also keeps them from stinking. On concrete they will lay in urine and where the urine dries and that makes them stink. A rake in pea gravel is way easier to clean of feces than a shovel on concrete.

Keep the nails short to stop digging. A cordless dremel tool with a sanding drum is the best way to trim nails. You've got to trim them back a little at a time. Don't just cut them off short right away or it will bleed like a stuck pig. Have some paper towel handy when you trim nails. If one bleeds and won't stop, put a little paper towel on it like you would a shaving cut and it will clot up before you are done with the rest if the dog will let you finish.

Start with a white or clear nail. The pink near the toe is what you want to avoid. This is why a dremel works well. As you get close to the nerve they will feel it and pull away. To far and it just bleeds a little.

With those guillotine cutters it is easy to get way too short. Trim once a week for a while and you can work them up short. As you trim the nerve will retreat and the nail can be trimmed shorter each week. The dog will quit digging.

[tuffdawg]

Trim his toenails and keep them as short as possible.

If you have a kennel or are going to use one, take the sod off and fill it with pea gravel about a foot deep before putting up the fence. They can dig all they want and it falls right back in. Also keeps them from stinking. On concrete they will lay in urine and where the urine dries and that makes them stink. A rake in pea gravel is way easier to clean of feces than a shovel on concrete.

Keep the nails short to stop digging. A cordless dremel tool with a sanding drum is the best way to trim nails. You've got to trim them back a little at a time. Don't just cut them off short right away or it will bleed like a stuck pig.

Start with a white or clear nail. The pink near the toe is what you want to avoid. This is why a dremel works well. As you get close to the nerve they will feel it and pull away. To far and it just bleeds a little. With those guillotine cutters it is easy to get way to short. Trim once a week for a while and you can work them up short. As you trim the nerve will retreat and the nail can be trimmed shorter. The dog will quit digging.


Ya know............ that make a lot of sense. I never thought or heard of that one.

[Jack Ryan]

Ya know............ that make a lot of sense. I never thought or heard of that one.

I worked next to a professional show breeder for a few years in a factory and I happened to have a dog that was digging. He gave me a few tips.

It worked for me. Hope it helps ya.

[bobman]

this type of behavior usaully means the dog isn't getting enough exercise. Get up early and run him next to a bike.

Tired dogs are good dogs