Digging up my bulbs and my yard!

[jansmo]

I knew there had to be something wrong with my Maddy, I just didn't know what it was until today.
At 5 months she has been the BEST puppy I have ever had.
I could go on and on about how smart and adaptable she is, but I won't.
It was a beautiful day in Tacoma Washington today(remember, this is mid Feb.) so Maddy was in and out of the doggie door and at least 3 times when I went to check on her, she had been digging in my flower pots. She knows this is unacceptable, but it continued. I put most of my pots up on tables or on chairs, but the last time I went out she had dragged one remaining pot into the middle of the yard and had turned it over and was playing in the dirt. She has started digging in the yard also and I know that she is just a pup, but it's still unacceptable and I need some advice on how to show her that things would be much better if she didn't do that anymore.
Let me say that when I do catch her doing this, I tell her no and go back into the house. I do not chase her or make her feel like this is a game. Do you guys think that this is just a phase, or is it something I should really try to nip in the bud before it becomes a real problem.
Totally open for suggestions
Thanks

 

[Debbie Magon]

Boxers LOVE to dig!
Its a basic instinct for the boxer.
In fact the average boxer can far out dig any heavy duty earth moving equipment!
Why I have a boxer who has completely excavated her compound at least 3 times!!!!
ROFLMAO
I think you will have to accept that she is a puppy and she is still learning.
Keep as many pots etc away from her and perhaps consider getting her a little sand pit of her own to dig in.
You cant stop her but you can redirect her.
Eventually she will probably give up but dont hold your breath.

I dont let a little "earth tilling" worry me.
The boxer has far too many other wonderful qualities to let a bit of soil come between us.

 

[Krikkit]

Mine have all become keen gardeners at around that age I don't think Maddy knows that this is 'unacceptable' - if she really did know then it would not be happening...

To be honest, the easiest way to prevent things like this is to stop her access to the pots / sections of garden you do not want re-done by Maddy. It may not look too pretty, but after some time you can take down the barriers / temp fences and feel reasonable secure. Try spraying the pots with Bitter Applie or similar.

We provide our Boxers with areas of the yard they can garden (dig) in - they have a sand pit they love. When younger, if someone was heading to an area I did not want dug up, I would call them to me, and take them to the sand pit - they got the idea quickly.

Also, it sounds as if Maddy is outside, unsupervised? Is this right? I don't think there is anything wrong with letting them outside to play, but they can get into mischief if not watched. She may also be bored - bored dogs do things like this. She may prefer to be inside with you.

Does Maddy have any outside toys? My Boxers like Treat Balls outside, and have some other toys as well that are more appealing than the garden.

Good luck

Sharon

 

[jansmo]

digging

Good advice from you both and I have put as many pots up as I can. A sand pit is a really good idea and one that I will try if I ever have any extra money. She does know that digging is unacceptable and she had many toys and other dogs to play with. She has been dragging in all sorts of things from the back yard to chew on including rocks, so I just tell her no and take them away from her and then give her something that is acceptable to chew on or play with(including me) My other Boxer never did dig but only because there was no place for her to dig. Now that Maddy is showing signs of real puppydom, I always go check on her every 15 minutes or so. Today I caught her trying to bite one of the branches off a tree!
This too shall pass, and there really is nothing she could do to make me love her less. I am and always will be the Boxers biggest fan.
Thanks guys

 

[kt_brandy]

i had a bit of a chuckle to myself when reading your post - i to have a digger. every pot plant i have has been dug up when i got married i had a pot/plant party instead of a tradional kitchen tea so i had been given beautiful pot plants and planters etc then along came brandy and she has killed nearly all the plants that i haven't we tried to put them on the outside table and anywhere we thought would be high enough - i came home from work and found her on the table needless to say the plant was gone. i have now moved my few plants left out to the front yard where she cant get them. i had found that she atleast wasnt digging the plants out of my garden only the pots until last week - she had dug out a rose bush and shredded it. she has a heap of toys and treats for the day but i guess she gets a bit bored. my inlaws have a 7 yr old boxer adn she still occassionally digs out the plants.

sorry i am no help but aleast you know other do it as well. and for all the anger when you find a fav.plant dead on the ground the love for your boxer and the look them saying did i do something wrong makes it all not matter.

karen

 

[MyGirlHeidi]

Originally posted by Debbie Magon
Boxers LOVE to dig!
Its a basic instinct for the boxer.
In fact the average boxer can far out dig any heavy duty earth moving equipment!
Why I have a boxer who has completely excavated her compound at least 3 times!!!!
ROFLMAO

ROTFLMAO, tooo!! Yes, Heidi is a stump digger!! She can dig out stumps faster than any machine around!! She's a little pig..she loves to get that snout full of dirt. :D

 

[Debbie Magon]

I have proof boxers love gardening!
Here is a Portia lookalike, called Jet, who spent many a happy hour rearraging the soil in my indoor pots!


http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/boxers/128.jpg

 

[ljnash]

That looks familiar, Debbie!:D Beau does it too! In fact, he loves to remove the plant and shake it and shake it til all the potting soil is removed! (He doesn't eat the plants!)

Lenore

 

[WorkingMom]

I too am the owner of an amatuer landscaper. I myself am a gardener & enjoy planting flowers, herbs, etc. I was tired of coming home to unearthed root balls that were a mere shadow of their former plant self.

I have something that works, but it sounds a little gross.

POOP! Poop people, it works.

When I plant a new item is when they seem to be most interested. So when I build my little "burm" for holsing water, I go around the yard & use the "poop tongs" to pick up a peice or too & place it within a short distance of the new planting. The dogs won't go near it. After a few weeks, the poop breaks down & by then the dogs have lost interest.

It seems that the freshly turned soil is just to inviting, but the "poop ring" I create is just the forcefield needed for plant protection. It doesn't take much, so you don't have to worry about stinking yourself out of the yard.

I can't remember where I learned this, but I started using it as a method to deter digging at the bottom of the fence. It's no longer an issue as they kids now know I will shortly be filling their holes with some poop & covering them to ensure no more digging in that spot.

Hope this helps & didn't gross you out too much.

 

[Evie&Adam]

my pups love to "prune" the bushes, especially my honeysuckle! They know that it is a non-no. So when i cant him, usually its Adam!, we begin some training. When I ask them if they want to "work" the behavior immediately stops and I have their complete attention. Of course, we do go through tons of doggie treats!