[HerculesMomma]

You can not correct a behavior unless you are there to consistently enforce it. So basically, you can't control what you are not willing to supervise on a regular basis. Unless you simply fence off the area with the shrubs (chicken wire or something). I would be bored too if my owners left me in the yard all day and night.

I have to tell you, if your expectations are that you're house, both inside and out will remain perfect or close to it with a big dog, you are mistaken. I've had bone digging holes, I have pee burns on my lawn, hair inside my house, hard wood floors scratched by nails, cream carpets dirtied beyond steam cleaning etc.

It's the wonderful world of having a big dog. I get dirt and grass seed to fix the holes, same with the pee burns, my dyson vacuum for the inside, carpets steamed cleaned every 6 months to try and keep up with the carpet etc. You get used to. Dogs are a lot of work, but usually anything worth having in life is.