digging

[bella_bc_husky]

Just wondering if anyone has experienced lots of digging with their BC's. With the warmer weather on its way, I would love to let Bella out to play for lengths of time, but it's hard to do that when I can't supervise her, because she likes to dig in my yard and rip out tree branches with her teeth. I've tried keeping her on a tie-out cable, which doesn't really give her the freedom to run around, but she will just dig holes in the spots she's allowed to reach. I think she senses bug movement in the ground and goes crazy trying to get them. I'd like to be able to keep her out more frequently without having to worry about her digging up my yard and sprinkler system - any tips?

[Carlasl]

Lots of different approaches to this one. Mine is simple, go out and play with the dog....if she is playing with you she is getting exercise and time with her person. If she is in the backyard alone and digging, she is probably bored.

[Sue R]

I see you are quite new here (or, at least quite new to posting questions). You might want to try using the search function at the top of the page and finding previous topics that dealt with "digging" to get lots of good information. Carla summed it up very nicely - do things with your dog rather than expecting her to entertain herself.

 

The problem with letting any dog "out to play" or "out to run around" is that there is no interaction between the dog and yourself (or other family members). So, Bella (in this case) will devise activities that entertain her - in this case, digging. Some dogs will run fencelines incessantly, others will bark non-stop, some will constantly gaze the sky for birds or planes, others may chase shadows - and on and on for a list of undesirable activities.

 

Take Bella out and do something with her - train and practice manners, play fetch, go for leash walks (or off-leash walks if it is suitable in your area), take an agility class and set up some obstacles in your yard (make courses, change things around when you have enough experience to do it safely and for fun - and have a great time developing a bond with your dog, teaching her dog manners, exercising her, stimulating her mind, and occupying her mind and body.

 

Then, let her learn to be in the house and "chillin' out" when you are otherwise occupied. A dog that has sufficient mental and physical (and mental is more important) activity and interaction with you, should be more than capable of spending plenty of "down time" - because she is fulfilled and tired mentally.

 

There is a saying that if you don't interact with your dog and occupy her, she will find something to do that will occupy her - and, as you have learned, you probably won't like it at all! Many bad habits, once established, can be difficult to eliminate but good management can help avoid them beginning and help avoid situations that encourage them. They can be very self-rewarding (doing the bad habit is satisfying in some way) so you need to make yourself and what you can "offer" to be much more interesting. Since Border Collies generally are very interested in interacting with their handlers, you should be able to manage this situation and turn the time with Bella into positive training and exercise sessions, with plenty of good "tired dog" time in between.

 

Best wishes!

[pansmom]

Just wondering if anyone has experienced lots of digging with their BC's. With the warmer weather on its way, I would love to let Bella out to play for lengths of time, but it's hard to do that when I can't supervise her, because she likes to dig in my yard and rip out tree branches with her teeth. I've tried keeping her on a tie-out cable, which doesn't really give her the freedom to run around, but she will just dig holes in the spots she's allowed to reach. I think she senses bug movement in the ground and goes crazy trying to get them. I'd like to be able to keep her out more frequently without having to worry about her digging up my yard and sprinkler system - any tips?

 

Originally Pan started digging because when I was building a patio back there, she saw me digging (with a shovel) and wanted to help. (Seriously she got all buoyant looking and dove in, like, I know how to do that!!!) Since she was better than me at it and would take directions like over there, or over there, (and I thought it was cute, a foolish first time dog owner), I was like, "Dig Pan, dig!" Never again, of course. From that point on, anytime she was out there for too long, unsupervised, she began doing the only job she knew how to do. In order to teach her not to do it, I had to catch her in the act a couple of times and tell her, "No ma'am," then fill the holes with dead leaves and twigs. Now Pan only digs when we leave her out for longer than an hour at a time (which is never)--in other words, because she's bored. From what I have learned on these boards, I don't think border collies are particularly good at free-play time. It'd be better to give Bella a job. Or to be out there playing with her. Even though I spent $1500 fencing in the back yard, Pan only uses it three times a day when she goes to use the restroom (for about half an hour at a time) and then on the weekends when I'm outside doing yardwork.

[Shetlander]

I'm also in the camp of supervising my dogs when they are outside. I do this for a variety of reasons but it is especially helpful to avoid the dog learning and practicing bad habits such as digging, nuisance barking, becoming an escape artist, eating things they shouldn't, etc. They can't do those things if I'm there to call them off or give them other things to be doing.

 

This time of the year, my dogs spend at least a couple hours outside every day -- often much longer. We are not constantly playing by any means, but we're keeping each other company. What I've found with Quinn as he matured is his main interest is to do something with me or any other handy human. Romping with other dogs is a distant second and I know he'd be bored if I left him outside on his own for very long. He can chill with the best of them, but if I'm around, he wants to chill by my side.

[PSmitty]

With the warmer weather on its way, I would love to let Bella out to play for lengths of time, but it's hard to do that when I can't supervise her, because she likes to dig in my yard and rip out tree branches with her teeth.

 

See, that's the thing. If she's out there by herself, to HER, digging is playing! And so is destroying the landscape, getting into things she shouldn't get into, etc. Dogs left to their own devices will find something to entertain themselves, and it's usually not something we humans approve of. Sorry, but the only solution I have is not to leave her out there alone for long periods of time. She's only going to get bored. When I have left my dogs out longer than usual alone, I have come back to holes in my yard (Lilly and Jack) and a dog sitting by the back door, waiting for me to come play (Alex).

 

My advice would be to take her out a few times a day and play with her in the yard. Also a great time to work on training time (I read your other thread). Work on sits and downs, recall. Make it fun, but the mental challenge of training is also tiring to a puppy, so the time outside becomes both physically and mentally active, which will help wear her out. When you're busy inside, let her chill out with you inside. She needs to learn how to be settled anyway.

[Ninso]

You've gotten great advice already. I don't really have anything to add. Sometimes it would be nice if we could just put our border collies out in the yard and expect them to exercise themselves (without doing anything we don't like), but that's just not usually going to be the case. Border collies want to be interacting with YOU. Your dog will probably be much more content just hanging out in the house with you and watching you do whatever you need to do, as long as she has structured play/training time with you at some point each day.

[Lenajo]

She sounds bored and is redirecting that energy into something obsessive. It's natural to dig, but not at that level all the time.

 

Before she goes on the cable or yard she should be tired from playing in an appropriate way, with you in charge ideally. It will take several months, but if you set a pattern that the cable is for resting and casually watching the world go by, then there will be times that you can put her out without immediate exercise if you have too. You can't abuse that though, or she will revert.

 

What have you provided her to do in the yard besides this? You can also put her food in various knogs or give her a big bone to chew on.

 

Most Border Collies would rather work (or play) with a human or another dog than be alone. A yard is not really their thing.

[Root Beer]

I've never dealt with this since I've never had a digger, but I was told that Dean excavated the backyard in his former home. Apparently the door was open for him and he came and went as he pleased. It was even written on his surrender papers - "he digs".

 

In spite of that, I have never seen him dig - not once. When we first adopted him, we were always outside with him. He ran with the other dogs. As I taught him to play games with me, one on one, he became much more interested in doing things with me out there than in doing anything on his own.

 

Now if I let him out, he waits by the gate for me to come out. Once we are finsihed with our game, he will entertain himself a little, exploring the perimeter, playing in his sprinkler, or just lying under a tree with the other dogs, but if I'm not out there, he's at the ready at the gate.

 

My mutts really enjoy having time in the yard to wander, sniff, and lie around in the sun or the shade. The Border Collies really prefer to be where I am - even when they are "at rest".

 

So, I'd advise, along with the others here - go out with her and enjoy something together.

[Jimmyd65]

Just wondering if anyone has experienced lots of digging with their BC's. With the warmer weather on its way, I would love to let Bella out to play for lengths of time, but it's hard to do that when I can't supervise her, because she likes to dig in my yard and rip out tree branches with her teeth. I've tried keeping her on a tie-out cable, which doesn't really give her the freedom to run around, but she will just dig holes in the spots she's allowed to reach. I think she senses bug movement in the ground and goes crazy trying to get them. I'd like to be able to keep her out more frequently without having to worry about her digging up my yard and sprinkler system - any tips?

 

 

Layla will only dig if she's by herself in the yard. She'll get in the garden and make a royal mess of herself and the garden. I know she does this for attention if she's left alone. Once we're out throwing the frisbee or soccer ball she's content. Or even if I'm working around the outside of the house she's content searching out squirrels, birds, etc. I'm not a big fan of tying dogs to tie-out cables of any kind. Too much risk of tangles or worse if they charge after a rabbit or squirrel they'll pretty much hurt themselves severely.. Best bet is to make time to spend with your dog. Even if its only 30 minutes 3 to 4 times a day. If not you'll have a bored dog that will get into unimaginable trouble.

[Jumpin Boots]

I agree that interaction w/your dog is the first step. But you also might think about giving your dog a digging spot while you are out there w/ him. Boots loves to dig, so we choose the spot and that is where he is allowed to dig. It's pretty cute to tell him to go to his hole and watch him sprint across the yard and hop in (his hole is about 2x3x3 feet we have refilled it several times, which makes him really irritated) then he looks at you until you say 'get it' and he goes crazy digging and biting at the earth. DBF has even buried bones for Boots, which makes Boots so exited strutting around the yar w/ a bone that he excavated all on his own

[burdock]

Someone suggested getting a child's sandbox with a cover and instruct the dog to dig only in the sand box for bones, toys etc. I myself am making sure I do not leave my Emma unsupervised and tell her, no when she starts to dig anywhere in the yard. She has a favorite thing, she digs for is rabbit turds in the yard, which I am trying to brake her from eating. Other then that she is responding to the training to no do not dig in the yard or using command, look at this and take her mind to another place of interest. Left alone she would be digging by now if we let her,but not letting it get started in her mind helps as far as I think.

[martySQ]

Bess digs for stovepipe crawdads, which I don't mind so much as they make the yard a lumpy mess anyways. Her digging always has purpose, kind of straight lines she digs, usually, I'll find a crawdad claw or shell someplace close where she has terminated the troublemaker.

[bella_bc_husky]

Thanks for all the great tips. Just to make sure everyone understands what I was asking (I probably wasn't specific enough), I do go outside and interact with Bella whenever possible - we play frisbee, fetch with a tennis ball, and soccer. I also run with her. I would LOVE to invest in some agility training materials, but I haven't found any within my budget - I have seen used weaving poles for $70 and I can't dish that much out at this time (no work for the summer). I am looking more for tips on how to keep her from digging when I am not with her. She does dig with me outside also, as she gets easily distracted from what we are doing - I have to keep my training sessions very short with her. Even with rewards, she often gets distracted within seconds of me (or anyone else) asking her to do something.

Anyway, back on track... I was more so asking for tips on (specifically) when I get ready for work in the morning. I have 15-20 minutes after her breakfast that she normally follows me around the house when I get ready for work that I'd like to let her out to play by herself. I have done this when she was a puppy and was successful, but since she has gotten older, she finds things in the ground and digs for them. Could be that it's summer and there are more bugs than in the winter when she was a puppy, or could be another reason. I'm not sure. It happens both when I'm with her and when I'm not.

I do appreciate everyone's responses, and I have been working on training to get her to listen - she has been getting better thanks to all of your ideas! I have gotten some wonderful ideas through everyone on here and it has helped so much for the first time I'm raising a puppy!

[Sue R]

I was more so asking for tips on (specifically) when I get ready for work in the morning. I have 15-20 minutes after her breakfast that she normally follows me around the house when I get ready for work that I'd like to let her out to play by herself.

Why not enjoy her being with you. I had dogs that do the same thing and being you with, with little interactions like you speaking to her, petting, practicing sits and downs and stays and so on as you go about your preparations, is much better for her than being by herself in the yard with no one interacting with her.

 

First time with a pup is a steep learning curve! I'd have to sit and figure out what pup number our Dan is, and I'm still being stymied, challenged, and puzzled by a pup who is unlike other pups we've had before.

 

Best wishes!