Is this safe

[bluemoon1992]

Hi all I have a 3 month golden retriever who absolutely loves to dig . But she is ruining our garden . I'm just wondering if this is safe to buy . I am going to buy a pit like you get for sand or water and fill it up with stonesb, the same stones that he loves digging . Or sand ? I just done know as sand might go in his eyes 😅 Thankyou

A specific digging area for your dog - either in the form of a children's sandpit type thing or a clearly demarcated area of your garden - is a fantastic idea. When your dog digs in the allowed area, give lots of praise - and also preferably bury some toys / treats / chews in there to make sure that in her mind it is the BEST place to dig EVER.

Sand is fine - dogs have been digging on beaches since the dawn of time and I'm not aware of any issues with sand getting in their eyes!

Make sure you put some drainage holes in the bottom though - or just fence off the relevant area

Yes get the kids play sand too as non toxic if they eat it!

It’s a really good idea. I plan to do similar when we get our terrier. All my dogs have adored digging on the beach, even the ones that never dug in the garden at home.

Children’s play sand is fine and I would recommend a cover to keep slugs out, especially for high lung-worm risk areas.

Well obviously get him some safety glasses...

We have a digger , he’s 11 now , we tried with sandpits and a digging pit with dirt , hid treats etc to encourage him to dig in the correct place and he still digs wherever at the slightest opportunity When he was a puppy he dug up and chewed a daffodil bulb which led to a near death experience so we fenced off the patio with ornamental fencing and he’s only allowed on the garden when supervised . If I stop to chat when we are out he starts digging up the grass verge and when we go to the beach he digs huge trenches , he doesn’t dig actual holes he prefers a trench for maximum mess .

@Floralnomad I think I’d prefer trenches. I broke my ankle when I put my foot down a small, but deep, hole a terrier dug on the beach. At least I would have seen a trench.

Which beach was it , if mines short of time he does ankle turning type trenches .

One thing to be aware of is sand impaction, where a dog swallows enough sand to cause a blockage in their intestine. This can happen through digging and repeatedly picking up sandy toys: www.vets-now.com/2017/06/beach-dangers-for-dogs

The only time mine swallowed any sand / sea water he then threw up in my open handbag in the back of the car on the way home , he’s a delight .

It wasn’t in the UK and it was my own dog that dug the blooming hole! So your boy is definitely off the hook in my case. (Foot went in heel first, toe end of foot snapped upright, then I fell forwards onto it, making it worse!)

Empty beach, just us, the dcs and the dogs there, 13 km of lovely golden sand and I had to step in the one and only hole! Doh! Thankfully it was near the boardwalk so not too far to the car.

I learned my lesson from that and am always really careful to make sure we fill in any holes they dig pretty quickly these days.

Had to laugh at the handbag story. I think I would love your boy - sounds like he’s got tonnes of character.

Haaaaa these comments have made me laugh ! I rekon my dog will the the same with digging on the beach I can't wait to take him out . He has his injection next week x