How can I make him Stop - Page 1

My 6 month old male is a smart pup actually to smart for he's own good,  he loves to learn we work everyday just so he doesnt get board, he runs and plays, got he's basics down to the T.

The ONE thing he will or won't learn is NOT to digg, I tryed every thing in the book even gave him he's own designated diggin area, but no he didn't like it , he got toys, other dogs to play with they are with me all the time as soon as I go in the house and leave them outside well guess what he diggs I cought him many times in the act and corrected him but he still diggs.

How can I stop him? Any suggestions help.

Repeated corrections help but if you find a cure let me know...LOL      I can keep mine out of the flowers but I cant stop the digging all together, they love it and its natural for them to do.   All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

he's just being a dog.  two ways to stop the behavior - build him a nice kennel on a concrete slab or keep him in the house.  you cannot stop his digging if you turn him loose, unsupervised in the yard.  some dogs are worse about digging than others, but i think they will all do a bit of it if they are bored......just to entertain themselves.  he probably needs a good workout everyday and then kennel-up.  :)

pjp

I have to agree with ziegenfarm putting concrete in the kennel will do the trick.  I have 2 that are diggers and that's all that I could do to stop the big holes in my yard.

Giving him an area where he can dig is defeating the purpose.  You want to eliminate the digging completely.  It's kind of like giving the dog an old sock to play with and chew on and expecting him not to go after all the other socks.

Complete supervision when he's outside.  Have you taught him "quit" or "leave it"?  That might help.  Correct and either kennel or crate to indicate to him that the fun ends when he digs.  How much exercise is he getting?  You might have to up the exercise.

An e-collar might help but you need to get with an experience trainer who can teach you how to use it properly, especially on a young dog.  

Aye! me luvs me diggers aye thar not be a better workout for t' GSD's shoulders aye on top o' that me has a place t' bury t' dog poo, and if me needs t' plant a tree, Voila! aye but me diggers provide places for me t' bury me Contraband Aye!

We work, we run, we play dogs are very rarely unsupervised live in the house we do have kennels  and Crates in the house they can go in their Crates if they want to,  yes he knows leave it , he knows he's Crate and also the Kennel.

Thanks  all for the greate suggestion since it seems to be a natural thing I will look at it like CaptMike LOL

As I read all the suggestions I was thinking maybe he is doing this to show off, as I watched him just a while ago he starts to digg and the others sitt and watch and he puts on a big show for them. So I went and filled up the hole he digged and got the others in but left him outside just to watch what he would do, nothing so I also went inside but watched Nothing left him alone for 20 min, no watching no other dogs nothing. Then I left the others outside there was a big greeting ,running jumping then they settled down guess what the digging show began. 

Maybe I don't know but could it be that he wants to impress my older male or the females what do you think?

delacruz---I never had a digger, but saw one in action. A woman was bringing a rambunctious lab down to the fields I frequent.  The youngster would dig and dig. A couple holes were turning into craters.  Others had very nicely requested of the owner to fill in the holes before leaving. She never complied...just blew them off.  One morning, I waited till she showed up.  I smiled and said, "Are you trying to break her of the habit."  She laughed and remarked, "I've told her no....even yelled. Nothing works.  My backyard was a mess....that's why I come here now."  I took a deep breath and said, "How about laying some chicken wire down in the holes and covering them with a couple inches of dirt.  Digging will become unpleasant....or buy those dog booties and put them on her front paws during backyard romps...at least for a couple of weeks.  She laughed again and said "Where would I ever find chicken wire?" And this was voiced in quite a condescending tone.  Her final remark was....."Don't worry.  It's not that big a deal."  I smiled again....looked her in the face....stopped smiling, and said.  "It is a big deal.  I really don't care if you find chicken wire, or not.  Go to Home Depot.  Find any similar substitute and at least make an attempt to change this obsessive behavior.  And.....while you're there, pick up a shovel.  You need to fill in these holes.  Someone is going to step in one, fall down, and get hurt. I happen to know it already happened.  You're lucky.......she didn't reinjure the knee that kept her handicapped for more than a year.  Otherwise, I'M POSITIVE, she'd be burying you in one of those craters." 
 

delacruz----I can't say if my recommendations worked.  The woman and lab disappeared. (LOL) Perhaps, worth a try.  I do agree the dog needs more exercise........and allowing it to dig anywhere is counter-productive.   

I know someone who had a "digger" and utilized chain link fencing laid over the grass to keep the dog from digging, while still allowing mowing. I am sure that it would also work in dirt areas where he is digging.

Try exercising him a little more prior to your leaving, and perhaps he won't dig (as much)?  :)

Good luck,

-Melanie

No, i don't think he's trying to impress anyone, unless you mean showing off his 'game'.  But the game....really 'habit'  was started and continually fueled as an outlet to relieve extreme pent up, exuberant energy....something akin to obsessive, compulsive behavior. This is just one big, bad habit now.  Over excitement causes frustrated release......also, throw in the added attention it now receives........(LOL) I'd just try to make it impossible to dig. Good luck.