Digging

[fivecupsoftea]

My 6 month old puppy has started digging. She has found bits of the lawn where it was a bit patchy and has started digging in those places. Has anyone got any ideas how to stop her doing it? We have put down new turf on the holes and covered them up with metal playpen sides, but there are lots of other places for her to dig. I didn't let her go in the garden by herself today and I think she was really frustrated.

We got ours a big sand pit that he was allowed to dig in and hid things in it to encourage him but although it satisfies his urge to dig he will still dig elsewhere given the opportunity . After a disastrous episode where he dug up and chewed a daffodil bulb that nearly killed him we just fenced off the patio with ornamental fencing and he's only allowed on the actual garden when supervised . His sandpit is on the patio , which is plenty big enough for him to mooch about on .

My puppy was a digger from a very early age but he seems to have grown out of it. Initially I ignored it trying not to make a big thing about it as that tended to make him worse. Is there anything you can put in the garden (more toys etc) to try to divert their attention away from the digging.

One of mine loves digging. The only thing that seems to work is allowing him one hole which gets refilled with compost/raked back in so that its a satisfying dig.

Some dogs need to dig. It releases endorphins and makes them feel good. As above, supply a legal digging pit.

I have a terrier and a big one at that. She gets so much pleasure from digging I never have the heart to stop her. We do have places that she is allowed to dig (not the veg patch!) and just refill the hole for her to have another go. A sand pit is a good idea, filled with topsoil or sand. Also a wide diameter drainage pipe filled with compost or soil keeps her happy for hours.