Dogs and digging. Any experiences?

[Miss.September]

My beagle is now four and our c o cker spaniel is two. Both are natural born diggers.

I have garden beds that are fenced off from them, months of replacing plants got the better of us and we fenced it all off. They would dig out the plants, or snap the plant as they leaned on it while they dug.

The fencing off we did was with fence extensions and they are ugly. I'd love to take them down and be able to look at the plants. They're now a good size, but I'm concerned that the dogs will still dig once the garden beds are open. Problem is, I don't have an area to "test" the dogs, because once one guard is removed, the entire garden bed is open.

Has anyone else had this problem? How did you get around it, or am I doomed to have guards on my garden beds forever?

[Livinthedream]

Citronella spray on the garden bed. You can get a product called "Get off my garden" in the garden spray section at bunnings. I have been known to get the citronella kero that is used in those out door torches and spray that around too.
GL

[Miss.September]

Thanks Livinthdream, I should have mentioned that we used that and another product that is green jelly things, but if anything it encouraged the beagle. The spaniel didn't like it, but it didn't make a difference to the beagle. The fence extensions were actually the last straw after trying numerous other options.

I guess my question is how old should I expect them to be before they grow out of things like this, or will they always do it?

[Phteven]

If they are 2 & 4 I think they will always do it.
An option might be to provide them with an outlet for their digging desires.
An old clam shell (ask on freecycle) with dirt and sand in it and a bone or two for them to hunt for might keep them busy so that they leave your garden alone.

[MrsBexie]

Hi!!

I have a border collie who LOVES digging. We found putting her own poo in the holes/where she liked to dig it stopped her (they HATE having their own poo on their paws yet my pup will eat the cat's poo? LOL).. also we put down chicken wire in the back corner where she digs and she won't go near it now. Maybe put down chicken wire and cover it with a little bit of dirty so you can't see it? They hate the feeling of it on their paws...

[Teeki]

I agree with Onyx, at that age it's not something they're likely to 'grow out of'. My in laws found the dedicated digging space worked well for their old dog, he had a patch he'd go hide all his bones and stuff and left the rest alone. My parents' dog didn't get it though, that it only had this one patch to dig in - she figured if she could dig there then she could dig anywhere.

What Dad did was put a trap type thingie (those big ones that snap together) upside down in the hole, and cover it with newspaper. Then he covered the hole again. If you do this, test it first so it will just jump up, not hurt the dog. After finding two 'jumping holes' it scared the dog into not digging again. Don't know if you'd like that option though!

[StrawberryFields]

Because Beagles and Spaniel breeds are bred for things like hunting and foraging, they will always do it and digging is part of that. You'll find there is most likely something in the soil, a scent that is attracting them, possibly even a particular plant - if you have put blood and bone down anywhere in that garden at any point, that will be a definite trigger and you will likely never be able to get rid of it. Some terriers also have the digging instinct from their being bred for ratting. My parents have silky terriers, and Dad used to put pepper in the holes and it worked a treat. The dogs would stay away because they just couldn't handle the sneezing! Oh and if you have any chewing problems - probably that would be the Beagle's thing - tabasco sauce works miracles.

Bex - I wish our puppy was bothered by standing in her own poo - she does it ALL the time and tracks it around EVERYWHERE its disgusting. Wet grass though, you would think that was a mine field!

[Miss.September]

Thanks for all of your replies. Our backyard is small, so a designated digging space is a bit tricky. I'm hoping that the walking I'm doing with them now will help a little (finally worked out the best way to walk them both plus pushing the pram, no mean feat there!). The beagle isn't fussed about her own poo, so I don't think that would stop them.

I'm home most of the time, but it'll be the day I go out that they destroy everything. And if they did, I think DH would pop a valve! Leaving the guards up, me thinks! But thanks for all the tips, we're going to be moving from here in a couple of years, so when we plant out a new garden, I'll definitely do the chicken wire on the ground, sounds like a good idea. Overall, they are very good dogs, I have very few bad things to say about them. I was just looking out in my backyard today and saw how big everything now is and wondered if I was brave enough, or silly enough for that matter, to remove the guards.

StrawberryFields - funny enough, its the spaniel who chews! Everything from the kennel, to the door frame, even down to their collars if they are left on!

[StrawberryFields]

StrawberryFields - funny enough, its the spaniel who chews! Everything from the kennel, to the door frame, even down to their collars if they are left on!

Really? I always thought Beagles were big time chewers! Perhaps they do grow out of that! Give the sauce a try, it worked wonders for the terriers and our Rottie (we have some cane furniture bound with rawhide!), and I recommended it to my friends aunt for her Labradoodle or Goldendoodle or something and apparently she hasn't had many incidents since - accept of course on the places she hasn't put it yet.

[Miss.September]

Thanks hun! The beagle used to chew when she was a pup, but only things she was allowed to chew - she chewed apart her rope, leaving billions of tiny strands everywhere! But I don't remember her chewing anything she shouldn't.

[StrawberryFields]

Thats good! Beagles are usually highly destructive as pups! Our little girl only chews DH's stuff (it serves him right for leaving it where she can get it) but she has HER shoe that she can chew, and HER towel and her rope so its not much of an issue anymore. I just bought her a new ball today because she'd been such a good girl lol I spoil her rotten!

[Jennie13]

The only thing that worked for me, (and my dog was THE WORST ever digger!) was getting water balloons and blowing them up, then bury them in the hole, or the ground where u think they might dig. Then when the dog dig's, it scares them when they pop the ballon with there nails. Works quick enough!! My dog was cured in a few days lol