Chelle

My 5 month old has turned my backyard into what appears to be a recreation of a mine field. She makes a hole or two or three, heck a lot and I fill it back in just to come back and have to repeat the same cycle again. How can I get her to stop digging?




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GoingPostal

Keep her inside. Supervise her when outside. If you are leaving a puppy outside alone she's going to make her own fun and it's pretty hard to correct seeing as you aren't there. Does she live outside? That doesn't really look like a very safe area for a puppy and what's to stop her from digging her way out or jumping the fence?

EckoMac

She needs another outlet for her energy. Start hand walking her a couple of times per day. And 30 minute play sessions with toys several times a day will help dispell some of that destructive energy.

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Chelle

@GoingPostal...No all of my dogs live inside. My yard is what Hurricane Sandy had destroyed. We've had most of the debris cleaned up.

As for not being supervised we had doors installed just so that my kitchen would be accessible to one and all. So when any of the dogs go out to play its either with the children or in full view of myself or my husband. I do take pet parenting just as serious as parenting my children.


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Chelle

@EckoMac...she has her fav Kong and tug ropes and she and her two older brothers go out for walks up to 5 times a day to include meet-ups at the local dog run.

Besides the walking and toys which I'm proud of her behavior indoors and on walks, she just has this need when we're in the yard to dig. Any other suggestions?


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EckoMac

Find a task that challenges her mind. Hide and seek with toys or treats. Also, make yourself a flirt pole to help her use her prey drive in a productive way. Digging means she is either bored, or hunting. That's my opinion anyways.

__________________


There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.

krystleo85

This is a good thread for me right now. Our 4 month old is doing the same thing, so he's not allowed unsupervised for awhile. They go out in the front yard on tie outs to go potty, and aren't out long. Today was an odd 70 degree day and he didn't want to come in, so i left him out. Figured frisbee, kong, ball, he'd be fine, i'd keep checking him.

2 minutes later i had 3 holes. Stinker.

GoingPostal

If she's supervised why isn't she being corrected when she starts digging? Being part terrier a lot of pit bulls love digging, every time she gets to do it, that's reinforcing the behavior and making it more difficult to stop. You need to restrict her access to only when heavily supervised, you can also consider giving her a dig spot, some people buy a sand box and redirect the dog to dig there. There's no magic cure that will stop her from digging, some people have success with burying their poop or pepper flakes in the holes but most dogs don't care or pick a new spot.

Chelle

@Going Postal...when she does it, I have to be honest, she does it when we're all engaged. For instance the kids may be playing a tire game with the dogs & she'll get tired I guess & lay down for a bit, but we continue with play, next thing she's digging. So in all fairness I can say engaging her more or letting her in when she's finished her playtime, while continuing with the other dogs.

Luna is our third and youngest Pitbull ad our first girl, my boys never dig. Could it also be just a puppy phase? That with correction she'll stop or no more backyard, just doggie parks?


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Chelle

@EckoMac...forgive me, but can you elaborate on the "flirt pole". I will google it, but just wanted to get the jest of it. Thanks.


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ames

A flirt pole is a long stick, or PVC pipe with a rope or chain through it so you can have a cow hide or rope or tug toy tied to it. You then move it around, not too high or too quick so they tear something, but enough so they can run around and tire out. Also great for reinforcing DROP command, when they get the toy, you don't want them to tug you want them to drop so they can chase it again.

here is some links:
Made a flirt pole...(VERY pic heavy)
Flirt Pole Action Shots *image heavy*

here is a picture of a spring pole, very similar but you dont move the toy, your dog just tugs by himself. Mine is portable so I can take it to a park and toss it over a tree if need be:

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snwbrd

i would say like someone else said previously engage her mind, and watch her all the time when she is outside if you cant then bring her inside. and i would not recoomend dog parks there is a sticky about dog parks i believe i recommend you read it, these are not the kind of dogs you bring to a dog park, they may seem to do great untill something happens one day, you just should not take that chance.

Chelle

Snowbird...I'm very aware of dog parks and Pitbull behavior, but I'm not worried as when my husband & I are there with our dogs people are usually asleep. Most aren't taking their dogs at 1am or even 4am in the morning...trust me its a rarity to see other dogs at those times.

Nevertheless my concern about her digging is what baffled me and I've received feedback that I will adhere to. Thanks for your input.


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