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!