Post by Dom on Mar 25, 2005 15:50:10 GMT -5
Our five month old shep X digs when she thinks we aren't looking. The animal rescue we got her from said she was shep/husky. I don't think they knew for sure. If we are outside with her she will bask in the sun and walk around the yard. I can walk inside the house and by the time I get to a window to look out at her she is digging. Normally I can open the window and say no and she will stop. Lately she has figured out that if I can't see her then I can't tell her no. She watches me go into the house and will hide behind the shed to dig. I have had to sneak up on her to catch her.
I am scared she will dig out of our fence and get hit by a car. The only thing that separates our fenced yard and a 4 lane highways is a small ditch. When she digs at the fence she digs straight down and not under the fence to get out. Atleast yet. She doesn't just dig at the fence but will also dig anywhere in the yard. Twisting your ankle in the dark isn't fun when you wander across a fresh hole.
I am not sure how to correct her for this since she doesn't do it when we are around. As a temp solution we been attaching her to a 30 foot tie down if we can't watch her 110% of the time. We don't let her outside for very long if we can't watch her. Usually about 10 -15 minutes. I have been placing her stool in the holes and covering them back up. I have bought crystals that is suppose to deter dogs from areas and she ignores them.
Some have suggested an electroic collar but I thought 5 months was too young for one of those. We were going to stick chicken wire along the bottom of the fence to keep her from digging out but I know that isn't a solution to stop her from digging up the rest of the yard.
I walk her and play with her daily. Playtime adds up to around 2 hours daily one on one time on weekdays. That is not counting her 6+ mini training sessions(5-10min). On the weekends we take her to the store with us and I walk her in the field while my husband shops. Weekends are 4 hours plus one on one time. At first I thought she was bored but she will even dig after a long walk or after a vigours game of fetch. I have seen her walk down to the bottom of the steps and immediately begin to dig the ground before her back feet hit the ground.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
I am scared she will dig out of our fence and get hit by a car. The only thing that separates our fenced yard and a 4 lane highways is a small ditch. When she digs at the fence she digs straight down and not under the fence to get out. Atleast yet. She doesn't just dig at the fence but will also dig anywhere in the yard. Twisting your ankle in the dark isn't fun when you wander across a fresh hole.
I am not sure how to correct her for this since she doesn't do it when we are around. As a temp solution we been attaching her to a 30 foot tie down if we can't watch her 110% of the time. We don't let her outside for very long if we can't watch her. Usually about 10 -15 minutes. I have been placing her stool in the holes and covering them back up. I have bought crystals that is suppose to deter dogs from areas and she ignores them.
Some have suggested an electroic collar but I thought 5 months was too young for one of those. We were going to stick chicken wire along the bottom of the fence to keep her from digging out but I know that isn't a solution to stop her from digging up the rest of the yard.
I walk her and play with her daily. Playtime adds up to around 2 hours daily one on one time on weekdays. That is not counting her 6+ mini training sessions(5-10min). On the weekends we take her to the store with us and I walk her in the field while my husband shops. Weekends are 4 hours plus one on one time. At first I thought she was bored but she will even dig after a long walk or after a vigours game of fetch. I have seen her walk down to the bottom of the steps and immediately begin to dig the ground before her back feet hit the ground.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.