I have a 5 yr old siberian husky, and lately she has been digging huge holes in our backyard. Today she redug one of the holes we filled, and my mom got extremely angry at her. We have tried filling the holes with Tabasco sauce, and spraying them with pet repellant, but nothing works! :-/
Please help before she gets sent to the pound!
Any ideas on how to stop her, or does anyone have the same problem?

Huskies are known diggers. Anyone that would send a dog to the pound for digging . . . well, just don't let me get started on your mom.

Make sure she gets plenty of exercise. A nice long walk in the morning will make her less likely to dig from boredom and excess energy.

Don't leave her in the yard alone.

Let her have a certain place in the yard or maybe a sandbox filled with sand where digging is okay. My dogs know digging under the evergreens in the backyard where grass won't grow is okay, the rest of the yard is off limits. (That doesn't mean they never try to dig elsewhere, but they've pretty much got the idea.)

I've heard putting the dog's own poop in the holes will stop them from digging, but of course that won't stop her from just picking a new spot.

I second Wolfie's recommendations for increased exercise and supervision. Without the constant supervision you can't really correct the problem.

Huskies are known diggers. Anyone that would send a dog to the pound for digging . . . well, just don't let me get started on your mom.

Make sure she gets plenty of exercise. A nice long walk in the morning will make her less likely to dig from boredom and excess energy.

Don't leave her in the yard alone.

Let her have a certain place in the yard or maybe a sandbox filled with sand where digging is okay. My dogs know digging under the evergreens in the backyard where grass won't grow is okay, the rest of the yard is off limits. (That doesn't mean they never try to dig elsewhere, but they've pretty much got the idea.)

I've heard putting the dog's own poop in the holes will stop them from digging, but of course that won't stop her from just picking a new spot.


Thanks. Don't worry, my mom won't dare take her away!

Goettling was having a similar problem. Check out
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=53743

Goettling was having a similar problem. Check out
http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=53743


Thanks for the link, it is very helpful. :)

I'm no help, my dalmatian digs holes constantly. I let him dig out by the woods because I really couldn't care less how horrible it looks out there but I stop him from tearing up the front yard so my husband doesn't have a coronary. He also tries to sneak his bones and treats out the door to "bury" them (he actually just drops them in the shallow hole and walks away 3 steps, then turns around and "finds" them again) but I don't let him bring them out. So then he attempts to bury his frisbee or ball or the kids tonka trucks. ::sigh::
Sorry, my point was he learned pretty fast that I get mad at him when he digs up the planters up front but that he can dig up by the trees in the back and he doesn't get yelled at. Everytime I catch him digging around where he shouldn't I walk him to the ok spot and point to his holes. I also take a shovel or my foot and periodically fill them back in. I think he doesn't really like to dig in the hole once it's dug but cover it up and VIOLA! it's like Christmas. :lol:
Not attacking your mom or anything but I think it's weird when people expect dogs to not dig or shed or jump on the furniture. It's like having kids and expecting your house to stay clean. Gosh, get over it already! I hope she was only threatening the pound. :down:
Good luck!
Mary

I find my dogs only dig where they can get at the soil easily. They don't dig holes in the center of healthy grass. So I am trying to get the grass thick and healthy where they have been digging. Kenzie's breeder suggested laying chicken wire down where they are digging to give the spot a rest and try to let the grass grow. But that might only make them dig elsewhere. But they dig less at this house which has a nice thick lawn than they did at our previous house that had lots of dirt patches so all in all I am happy and can handle the occasional hole.

Not attacking your mom or anything but I think it's weird when people expect dogs to not dig or shed or jump on the furniture. It's like having kids and expecting your house to stay clean. Gosh, get over it already! I hope she was only threatening the pound. :down:
Good luck!
Mary


No, she didn't say anything about the pound! Besides, she loves the dog as much as I do.

No, she didn't say anything about the pound! Besides, she loves the dog as much as I do. That's good then. What did you mean when you wrote, "Plese help before she gets sent to the pound!"?

Hopefully the supervision and extra exercise will help though.

Well, she has threatened to give her away, so I assumed thats where she would go. Sorry.

heh, your answer just changed. Well if she does get rid of the dog, regardless of where it goes, hopefully she doesn't get another one. Dogs shed, dig, bark, and pee. Thankfully digging is easy to fix, just keep her on a leash if you must. She won't stop to dig while out on a walk. :)

yeah, I changed my mind about my answer. Whats the use of a mind if you can't change it? :D
As for the dog, she seems to have gotten the message, but I won't talk too soon.

Hows the digging going? I agree that the dog shouldnt be given away because she is well being a dog. First you said your mom loves her as much as you do, then you say your mom will give her away if the digging continues. If she gives this dog away, I hope she doesnt get anymore..digging, scratching, chewing, sniffing, peeing, making a mess..all normal dogs things and you sign up to deal with those when you decide to bring a dog into your family.

Kenzie's breeder suggested laying chicken wire down where they are digging to give the spot a rest and try to let the grass grow.

We have considered trying this for some of the areas closer to the house ... haven't done it yet.

The holes can be exasperating, but not too big of a deal, ultimately.