Dog Digging Up Yard

[H-B]

Hi All,

I need some help. My 7-month-old rottie (Zoe) is digging up the backyard (leaving craters). I'm not as concerned with that as that she is also digging along the fence line. I've spent 3 hours last weekend filling holes.

Can anyone give me any help? She has plenty of toys in the yard.


H-B

[Judi W]

How long is she out there by herself? Sounds like a bored girl looking for a hobby and who has taken up gardening.

[rottnkidd]

You can give her an area that's just for her digging, or you can
be extra vigilant and not give her the opportunity to start digging!
It's up to you. Keep her busy by interacting with her. Playing or training or both!
I recall when my girl was about that age and decided to redo our landscaping (She completely dug out a tree we had planted! I mean completely! It was actually toppled over!
I wish I would've taken a picture of that!) I'm sure if you look in the archives you'll find several threads on this subject. I know I posted a few of my own experiences.
Some dogs dig out of boredom, others dig because it's fun!
If you don't get enough replies here, please check out the archives. There's alot of info available there.
Best wishes -
kath
p.s. If you use the archives, check under Behavior, General Info and/or Training.

[rottnkidd]

Boy, Judi. I'm starting to feel like a stalker! :p

[H-B]

The length of time she's outside varies from 2 to 9 hours. It
mostly depends on whether I'm working or if I'm at school.

Lately, I've been home since being unemployed and she's under foot all day. I think most of this happens when I'm not home.



H-B

[Brooke&Ryan]

Could you possibly crate her while you are gone during the day? I know that crating is a godsend to a lot of people on the boards (including me).

:)
Brooke

[rottnkidd]

H-B - So does that mean she can be outdoors and unattended for up to 9 hours? No wonder she's digging to China! She's only 7 mos old and too many things can go wrong H-B. Thank goodness she hasn't escaped under the fence! Is there a reason she's not indoors, crated? or in a safe room if you don't have a crate?
The Rottweiler loves to be with their owner. Take advantage of this time off you have and work with her, play with her, but don't complain about her being underfoot. She didn't ask to come and live there! Give her a job to do, train!
kathy

[Brooke&Ryan]

A lot of the time I'll bring the laptop outside to be with Julius or bring a book outside to read. Maybe since you're still in school you could do some of your work outside & keep your girl company?

Julius is only allowed outside when we're home. We have a fenced in area that surrounds the back of the house. He is only allowed in it when we're home & I always lock the gate with a padlock. I'm a bit of an overprotective mom but I just feel that if something happened to Julius I wouldn't be able to deal with myself.

I think that investing in a crate (that is indoors) is a great idea. Just throw a Nylabone or a Kong in there & off you go. :) I think it'll make life A LOT easier.

:)
Brooke

[H-B]

I haven't tried crating her during the day for long periods of time. Just at night.

If and when I start work, I won't be able to come home and let her out. I don't live that close to town and most of the jobs are at least a 45 mins drive or more.


H-B

[H-B]

The backyard has a 6-ft fence and padlocks on both gates. She does have a extra large size crate.

H-B

[Brooke&Ryan]

Well if you couldn't come home from work in time to let her out how long would she be in the crate?? Maybe hiring a dog-walker to come & let her out once a day would be helpful?

Maybe someone else will have some suggestions that might be helpful. I work about two blocks from the house so it was always easy to pop over & let Jules out.

:)
Brooke

[Judi W]

Since time should not be an issue now, the time you have with her should be spent productively, teaching, training and using her mind. She will be maturing during this period which will also slow down some (certainly not all) exploratory activity. After maturity she will be able to be confined for longer periods of time.

Other suggestion is make a kennel run so that she does not have the full run of the yard. Also, next time you have a neighbor doing some landscaping, ask for a pile of dirt and you can fill in holes as needed.

She is bored and entertaining herself. That is not a doggy crime, nor is it a discipline problem.

[sindo]

Hi,
We are starting to have the same problem with our 18 month old girl rottie - Roxy. It is generally when we are out that she starts to dig. We were wondering whether to buy another puppy so that she can have a playmate. Is this a good idea /solution ? Or will they both start digging the garden ??? If we do get a playmate for her would it be best to get a male rottie - she is already spayed. We have good family friends who own a male rottie (about 5 years old) - and the two dogs get on really well with each other, so she does seem to enjoy company. We have considered giving her to this family as a last resort, but we would so much prefer to resolve her boredom in otherways.
Does anyone have any tips about this ?
Thanks,
Karen

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by sindo

Hi,
We are starting to have the same problem with our 18 month old girl rottie - Roxy. It is generally when we are out that she starts to dig. We were wondering whether to buy another puppy so that she can have a playmate. Is this a good idea /solution ? Or will they both start digging the garden ??? If we do get a playmate for her would it be best to get a male rottie - she is already spayed. We have good family friends who own a male rottie (about 5 years old) - and the two dogs get on really well with each other, so she does seem to enjoy company. We have considered giving her to this family as a last resort, but we would so much prefer to resolve her boredom in otherways.
Does anyone have any tips about this ?
Thanks,
Karen

I would get the dog a crate if she does not already have one & put her in that while you're away. That would solve the problem of the yard being dug up while you're gone. Is your dog crate trained?

Getting another dog is not going to solve the problem. Just think...they could be double trouble. ;) I would make sure that your dog is well trained before you think about getting another dog. We have a 14 month old Rottweiler & we're not even thinking about getting another dog until Julius is at least 3 years old.

[Jaegergirl]

i agree with the others that keeping the dog in a crate is the best way to keep them out of trouble while you're away. maverick was crated for 8 hours or so on the days i had to work from the time he was 4 months old and he did just fine. he is no longer in a crate but he goes into his "room" (the laundry room with a baby gate across the doorway) when we're not home.

i personally don't think it's safe to leave a dog outside when you're not home. i'd be afraid someone would mess with him or worse. we have a 6 foot privacy fence with a padlock on the inside but some can easily jump over the fence if they wanted to... and if maverick were to bite them.. oh boy, that's not a risk i'm willing to take.

maverick was digging holes in our yard and even dug up and ate 4 garlic cloves i planted. i was so mad. the solution? he was not allowed outside alone for any length of time unsupervised and the minute i caught him digging (or starting to), i would give a good firm "no". i also heard if you put some of their poop in the hole and cover it up, they won't dig there again. i don't know if that's an old wives tale but he's never gone back to the same place twice.