Dog digging

I have a 20 month old Lab Retreiver. Sasha loves to dig and I have tried everything I know to stop her from digging. She has distroyed all 6 of my flower gardens. I have a special place for her to dig but she won't dig there. Is there anything I can do to stop her? Right now I have her in a dog run but I feel that she needs more room to play in. I also have a 7 year old Chesapeke. Chester doesn't dig.

[Jaybay]

That age seems to be the WORST for digging.  I've had 4 dogs in my life, and the 1 to 3 year mark was always when they insisted on digging.  Thank heavens they outgrew it.

One thing that actually does help to keep the dogs out of my flower beds is to pitch their droppings into them.  Dogs don't like to dig where their own poo lies.  Of course, you have to keep up with it.  The two dogs we have now still bury the occasional rawhide in the garden, but they're amazingly careful around plants.  

Walking regularly also helps.  A tired dog is a good dog, and when they aren't tired they WILL find a way to burn off energy and frustration - usually doing something you aren't going to like.  If you can't walk her yourself, hire someone - even a trusted teenager - to help.  You have nothing to lose but your flowers.  :-)

[Leah71187]

i would put up some sort of barrier around your gardens. then put up chicken wire that runs from mid-way up the barrier and into the ground bending it running it flat on the ground. then cover it with dirt that way when she feels the need to dig, she'll hit the chicken wire. you'll need to attach the chicken wire pretty securely to the barrier because she'll try to pull it and move it one she realizes she cant get any deeper. thats how we got out dogs from digging holes under the fence in our back yard and getting out. hope that helps!

[rht1943]

We have tried the wire and she just pulls it up. I am hopeing that she will out grown this habbit. Thank you for the information. If you can think of any thing else please let me know. Thanks again.

[have 2 kids]

Are you giving her plenty of items to play with?  Balls, frisbees, chew toys, etc.  Do you leave her outside unattended?   Many dogs will dig out of boredom.

[Jaybay]

That age seems to be the WORST for digging.  I've had 4 dogs in my life, and the 1 to 3 year mark was always when they insisted on digging.  Thank heavens they outgrew it.

One thing that actually does help to keep the dogs out of my flower beds is to pitch their droppings into them.  Dogs don't like to dig where their own poo lies.  Of course, you have to keep up with it.  The two dogs we have now still bury the occasional rawhide in the garden, but they're amazingly careful around plants.  

Walking regularly also helps.  A tired dog is a good dog, and when they aren't tired they WILL find a way to burn off energy and frustration - usually doing something you aren't going to like.  If you can't walk her yourself, hire someone - even a trusted teenager - to help.  You have nothing to lose but your flowers.  :-)

[elizabeth_rn]

I rescued a dachshund that loves to dig. We tried everything to stop it. Eventually I asked a question like you, and someone suggested a sand box. When she would start to dig, we'd tell her no, put her in the sand box and tell her okay. Eventually, she figured out that it was okay to dig in the sandbox and that she shouldn't dig in the yard or gardens. Hope this helps!

[rht1943]

Thank you both for your information. I think I will just out wait Sasha, I think she will stop digging when she gets a bit older. I HOPE. She has a broken leg and I thought that with her back leg broken she would not dig. No such luck. Once again thank you.