Dog with landscaping issues

[JUDY S]

My new year and a half old Lab has decided to help us with some landscaping deficiences that she has noticed. Apparently no yard is complete without random holes in the back yard. Unfortunately my husband and I have different tastes. Any thoughts on how to stop this behavior? We have two other dogs that she plays with, there are toys for her to drag around, which she does, and vehicles on the other side of the fence to chase. We have almost an acre fenced for them, a portion of which is trees, and we take them out whenever we can, she shouldn't be bored.

[Tambrey]

Labs are notorious for digging...mine have always been mudnoses!!

A coupleof suggestions I have tried (without success) over the years...

* scooping their feces into a hole they have dug...next time they dig they will hit a surprise...this did not stop them from digging....

* getting mousetraps and MAKING SURE THEY ARE LOOSENED!!....uncoil it so that if it snaps on YOUR finger, it will NOT stick or hurt...but the snap WILL startle...very carefully place a set trap in a hole they ahve dug and cover it with dirt, being careful not to spring it...when they dig, it will snap up at them and startle, but not hurt...this has not stopped them from digging....

* the ever present water bottle!!!!...give a squirt fo water and a firm NO and redirect with a toy...of course, most labs love water sports of any kind...so of course, this did not work either...

So basically...if you find a way that works...let me know!!

[k9Karen]

Exercise, exercise, excersise!! Wear her out. Digging is a way to release pent up energy. Throw the ball, play tug, etc. until her tongue is dragging.

Then, hope for the best and have that water bottle handy!


Then, wait 5-8 years for it to end because she no longer has the energy, but (believe it or not) you will miss the dog she used to be when she gets to that point ....

So - enjoy your frisky critter - she won't be that way forever, and that will be a heartbreak when you realize it has happened!

[mamabear]

You need to teach her a command. The command we use for any behavour that we dont want done is Phooey said (foo eeeee) very sharply said. My dogs name is Max, so if Max goes after the quirrel and I want him to stop I yell PHOOEY! There is no need to call him by name, it is the command you want said, his name is not a command and he will get confused. When Max, my german shepherd decides its time to dig and I see him i yell "PHOOEY!" Now he is a well trained dog and I only use german commands. IF for some reason he does not respond to this command, we use a very strong german word, Las Es. Said just the way it looks. This means LEAVE IT! And that command he has learned is an obsolute, there is no going back from this command if he doesnt do this he is in trouble. I never have to go beyond this command. He does listen to phooey so it is not that often that I use the leave it.

You need to find a command that you know you will use as a contant command, and be consistant. Training is key and if you slack off in the training he will continue to do what you dont want. In a house full of dogs remember you are the alpha along with the other humans and even children are above a dog. The oldest dog in the house is the alpha, and females and males have a different order. Male dog first then female no matter what her age is. You always go outside first NO EXCEPTIONS!

You do not let your dogs outside ahead of you ever untill they know you are the alpha. This will help you when you give a command from the door and he is digging out there. You eat before they all do always, and they never eat at your table. If you let them all run outside to go potty, you have to take the time to properly train them in knowing you are alpha. THis helps when you speak to them and demand something. THey will learn that when alpha female speaks she means business.

If they get fed in the morning you are to eat first even if it is a cup of coffee and slice of bread. THEN they get their food. If they are fed at night then again you have to eat before them. Doing this will help them learn and then you have a strong base to say and demand a command from any of them. If you are unsure of yourself or come accross weak they will know. Dogs dont want the alpha role dont force them to have it. He will listen to what ever word you choose. We use phooey because it means icky, gross, dont touch. It has surely saved us when he has gotten something he shouldnt.

good luck

[Tambrey]

I forgot!!!...mamabear trains dogs...she knows what she is talking about!

[mamabear]

I recommend a book that has helped many. It is on Amazon.com or your local book stores. It should be no more than $3-$4.00 if you see more than that its a rip off.

It is by a woman named
Pacticia B. McConnell

the name of the book is called
How to be the leader of the pack... and have your dog love you for it.

I would google it or go straight to amazon and put that whole title in there and it should come up. Its a brown color book and only about 15-20 if that. It's short but very informative. I like it because it goes into details but doesnt over do it and repeat it self.

Many people tend to want to fix the problem at hand which naturally in your case is the dog digging a hole. The problem isnt the hole when you think of it. Dogs naturally want to do this. THe problem is is that they dont kwow we dont want them to and have no clue when we run to them screaming and flailing our arms saying no no no! (actually have seen people do this LOL). They look at you like omg she has lost her marbles we better look on the floor for them. LOL It is a matter of control and that means you have to know you are the alpha.

My dogs are good and yes even though they are well trained my oldest tests me all time. It is natural and I'm ok with it because all i have to do is tell him to sit and stay and he knows he's back where he belongs.

I actually have walked into a friends house knowing fully well her dogs jump and they do it to me but I just swat them off of me and say Phooey and they stop. She laughs because they dont listen to her. I say well you have 5 dogs and you LET them walk all over you, i dont and they know it.

It takes time and patience. If you dont have that to spare you will not be successful. My dogs are good but they still love to dig and I tell them not to and they stop but you must understand that digging can be out of boredom, they are hiding a treat, sometimes it becomes a form of OCD or they are just having fun and are playing. No matter what the reason if you want it stopped or at least slowed down then take the time even if its 10-15 minutes a day to teach them ALL that you are the alpha over all of them. The training is always you and one dog at a time. The other dogs are to be no where near you and the one being trained.

Hope this helps.

LOL

[k9Karen]

Very good advice mamabear - any advice about how I can handle a deaf dog who walks all over me? I have a hand signal for 'bad dog', which she knows, and when she sees it she lower sher head and looks very submissive and begs for forgiveness - she also stops the 'bad' behavior. But, often times when she knows she is doing something that will make me give her the 'bad dog' hand signal, she turns her back to me so she can't see it. She's smart and much faster than I am!

[Tambrey]

water bottle? a good squirt on the hind end would surprise her and maybe make her stop!?

[JUDY S]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I try to play the alpha dog role. The dogs are not allowed to leave the house before I do when we go for walks. The cats get fed before they do, but I have yet to learn how to calm them down. They do have to sit and wait for their food and can't eat until they are given permission, but while I am feeding the cats it's like dogs on speed.

But here is the problem. They spend the day outside while I am at work. I have yet to catch her digging. The dogs are not allowed in the house . My husband is very good about my kids but he has drawn the line there. I do spend time with them in our garage or in their room as much as I can. I will maybe try the mouse trap and walk and play with her more. She is a fast learner. She was letting herself out under our gate so my husband set up an electric fencer. She got zapped once, we turned it off and she hasn't done it since, so that just might work with her.

I also have a problem with her and my Rotti snarling at each other. They play together great, but at meal time and occasionally throughout the day they decide they don't like each other. I have started to make them lay down until they are calm, which takes time and a lot of growling, but I don't have the time in the morning as I feed them before I head to work and it would certainly make me late. In the morning I have resorted to smacking and yelling at them. Not very productive I'm thinking. I am not worried that they will bite me, but I am concerned for them and anyone else that may get too close to them in this mood. Any thoughts?

[JUDY S]

I am looking for the book that Mamabear mentioned, but on amazon.ca they want $39 for it! Will have to look harder.