Digging up my bulbs and my yard!

[ssleighter]

Originally posted by 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.

Yes, this is a fine deterrant. I put poo in each hole they dig (you can bury it, the noses are sensitive enough to know its there under 6 inches of soil). Now this doesn't stop them from making new holes eventually, but it does stop the holes from getting deeper and larger.

My furkids only seem to dig if one's being ignored by the other two. Digging is a sure fire way to get the other two to play with you! :p So I also try to make sure that they have toys big enough for the 3 of them to play tug with. We use lots of tug toys on the backyard these days.

For a single dog, I would think a sand box would be a great idea!

Sharon :D

 

[Bella'sMom]

Oh my goodness! I just love the idea of a "Poop Ring" as a "Force Field"! I am definately going to try this! Right now what we do with Bella is redirect after saying, "No diggy, diggy" Gets her attention and seems to work. But she is never outside without us...

 

[LANEFAMILY80]

This has been very interesting for me. My Boxer Lucy is turning 7 months and she has really gotten into digging. I live in Hoquiam Washington and we get alot of rain. So she is bringing in lots of mudd. We do have doggie doors for her, so that when I am away at work she can get out side. I think the POOP thing is a good idea. But I am worried about just one thing. She is a smart dog and has her place to go to the bathroom. If I start placing her Poop in the holes I am afried that she might just start pooping anywhere. When I am at home, I keep her doggy door closed and just let her go out when she needs to. She is a very cool dog and we love her to pieces. Tami PS. maybe i need to try the sand pit for her.

 

[LANEFAMILY80]

Just wanted people to know that the poop thing does work. If Lucy would start a new hole I just filled it up and she wouldn't go back to it. She is still just doing her thing in her area, so that is good.

 

[Debbie Magon]

Jill does your boxer spend large periods of time alone outside?
Perhaps a dog walker could come in a break up her day?
Also consider getting her a sandpit.
Show her how to play in it.
Perhaps then she will give up on the rest of the yard.

Digging in older dogs is usually a sign of boredom and restlessness.
A good long hard out run every day and some company goes a long way to helping dogs over come this.

You could also build her a large concreted run, 6 foot fencing, and put a sandpit with high sides in one corner.

This way shes fenced off the rest of the yard, has plenty of space and can dig to her hearts content.
This will be her "allowed" digging pit.
Re train the way she thinks but remember, boredom and lack of exercise will contribute to a dogs desire to dig.

 

[marciafinn]

I'm not sure how I did this but Mason only digs at the beach. He knows he's allowed to there. He's so funny because he'll run around in circles and then start digging frantically, running, digging, running and so on...it is so funny! :D

Once in a while he'll start digging in the yard and look at me knowing I'm going to tell him to stop...I think he's just checking to see if the rules on digging in the yard have changed!

I'll have to pass working mom's advice to some friends that I know...their dogs are digging fiends too! Thanks for the tip!

 

[LANEFAMILY80]

I was thinking about building Lucy a sandpit. But I have a cat, plus and the cats in the neighbor hoods. They would use and I am not sure how I would be able to keep them out of it. I do the poop thing and she will leave that one spot alone and just move to the next spot. I can live with the holes, she is worth every hole in my back yard. Tami

 

[sevenshoes]

I have two boxers - My olderst, Riot, is two and has never touched a plant. However, let me just say I was so relieved to find this post and discover I am not the only one. We just bought a house and she has singlepawedly managed to destroyed a number of the plants. She likes to chew on the branches, and comes trotting into the house with an entire branch in her mouth. I think I might try a sandpit and poop forcefield combo - Thanks for all the tips and laughs.