It's been one year since we adopted our dog from a rescue. We love him a lot and he is a loving, loyal member of the family. The past few weeks, I've been going nuts trying to cover up any hole or possible point of escape from the yard. Yesterday, I bought 100 feet of chicken wire to secure the bottom part of the fence on the side of the yard. I put about 6 inches of it facing toward the yard and covered it with pine straw so he couldn't wiggle out under it. I put a metal grate under a double gate on one side of the yard and pegged it into the ground so he couldn't dig out. I put down garden stakes on part of a fence I share with a neighbor so he couldn't slip under it. He is becoming a little Houdini and getting out from spaces I didn't think he could squeeze through. I have another fence around a patio that I've had to barricade if I need him to stay in when the gates are open. He is an inside dog, but can't stand it when other dogs are anywhere near and has to get out to mark his territory I guess. He is neutered, but wasn't neutered until 2 years old when we got him. This is getting tiring and he obviously can't be wandering around because someone will steal him or he could get hit by a car. I'm going to go through hundreds of feet of chicken wire at this rate. He's a mini schnauzer if that makes any difference. Anyone else have a digging dog they have successfully contained?
Digging dog
- Thread starter Ziora
- Start date
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I have two dogs. One is a digger and the other is a fence jumper. When I'm not home or when I need the dogs to be contained they are in their crates in the living room. The jumper has a tether that runs the length of the backyard that he is attached to when I am not able to be outside to supervise him. The digger only goes under the fence into my side yard so I'm not that concerned with containing her and I can only use one tether at a time otherwise they would get tangled up.
I highly recommend crate training.
I highly recommend crate training.
Dolyphinm
Well-known member
This may seem like pointless question but do you take your boy for a walk on a regular basis?
chinnychinchinchilla
Emily
find where you dog is digging most and put his poop there. they wont touch their poop unless they can help it. this helped for us when my pekingnese started digging up our yard
fanofdmb84
it IS called 'fur'-niture
If he's digging he's probably bored...take him out and exercise him or give him something constructive to do. And don't leave him out unsupervised. He'll love the extra attention and won't have time to dig. Otherwise, crate him so he stays safe.
We walk him and play with him. He is rarely left alone during the day or night...someone is usually home. But...you are right, he is still probably bored. I think he is also very protective of his turf because he is not allowed in the front yard since it's not fenced. Neighborhood dogs and cats wander in and pee. You crate your dogs outside? He has his crate inside, but I didn't know people crated their dogs outside, too. The past few days, I have kept an eagle eye on him and so far so good. The chicken wire extended out from the fence into the yard with zip ties to the fence and tent stakes into the ground is keeping him from getting after other dogs.
Ok, my suggestions:
Make sure you walk him MINIMUM 45 minutes daily. yes, that's minimum. An hour is better. How ever long it takes to tire him out (I have to walk my 3 year old lab for an hour and 15 minutes minimum, unless it's really hot out, it all depends on their personal energy level).
Also, get him a sandbox where he can dig, bury some toys in it for him to find. He'll love it, it will keep him occupied. Cover it when you're home and can play with him, so he doesn't have unlimited access to it. He'll be less likely to get bored with it if he can't just go dig whenever he wants.
Good luck!
Make sure you walk him MINIMUM 45 minutes daily. yes, that's minimum. An hour is better. How ever long it takes to tire him out (I have to walk my 3 year old lab for an hour and 15 minutes minimum, unless it's really hot out, it all depends on their personal energy level).
Also, get him a sandbox where he can dig, bury some toys in it for him to find. He'll love it, it will keep him occupied. Cover it when you're home and can play with him, so he doesn't have unlimited access to it. He'll be less likely to get bored with it if he can't just go dig whenever he wants.
Good luck!
3CsMommy
My babies Rock!
Schnauzers are terriers; they were bred for years to dig and chase small game. Sounds like he needs a "job" besides guarding your house from the rest of the world. Mini Schnauzers have done very well at Fly Ball (jumping a series of hurdles and catching a tennis ball at the end) and Agility Courses (navigating an obstacle course guided by their person). There are also Earth Dog trials, where the dog runs an underground maze that simulates hunting for rats, etc. as they were bred to do. Maybe looking into something like that would help him guard and dig less when he's in the yard by himself.
The sandbox is a fantastic idea. He is a very smart dog and I think he would do great with an agility course. It would be something fun for my daughter to participate in. An underground maze seems like something he would love. He's fascinated with a storm drain I had to put wire on. I guess simply walking on a leash is just not enough. I have neighbors who leave their dogs on chains in the yard or at the back of the house all day long because of jumping or wandering. Another neighbor's dog is in a pen and all he can do is turn in circles. I appreciate the ideas and think he will be much happier with a real job to do.
