Dogs and digging. Any experiences?

[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.

[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