Stitch Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 We are having terrible trouble with our Dobe boy digging up our garden area. He is 5 years old and should be over it however he is a hunter and for some unknown reason has taken recently to digging around the root systems of our established shrubs, 20 of them to be exact!! Each one has been half excavated - he is particularly active after rain when it obviously has irresistable smells around the roots. He re-excavates them after we fill it all in, again & again!!! Does anyone know if there is anything available, like a hot ribbon or something similar, that we can put down to deter him from this habit as he is almost impossible to catch doing it. This is an area of about 20 metres or so and about 2 metres wide. It is not like he has no other areas to amuse himself in as we live on acreage and he has a huge area to run, play and investigate in. Unfortunately he prefers the area of shrubs that is my other halfs pride and joy to dig up. He is not winning the popularity contest at the moment!! Does anyone have any ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polgara's Shadow Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 Vulcan has a bad habit of toileting in the veggie garden I've just today started sprinkling dog off granules over the veggie garden area - the granules contain strong citronella and eucalyptus smells which is supposed to be overpowering to pets sensitive noses... and so they stay away from the area . Got it from Bunnings and there were a few other brands available also The packet says it needs to be be re-sprinkled every 4 days and re-applied after rain for a few weeks until the dog changes its behavior. Its a pretty cheap solution if it works...maybe worth a go for you too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulesP Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 A ping string might work. Doggy version of an electric fence. http://www.sureguard.com.au/dog_electric_fence.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 I have tried the Citronella in the past but I will give it a go again. I do like the sound of the Ping String though so if the citronella doesn't work I will look into it. Many thanks for your suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 4, 2012 Share Posted February 4, 2012 If he's hunting crickets/frogs, I doubt citronella will have any effect .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted February 4, 2012 Author Share Posted February 4, 2012 (edited) Yes, citronella isn't a great deterrant for some dogs but it is worth a try. I don't know what he is hunting - maybe he has turned into a truffle finding dog and is worth a fortune!!! :laugh: Edited to add: He usually hunts snakes & large lizards but this seems to be on a smaller scale. Doesn't touch toads or frogs even if they sit in front of him. Could be crickets I suppose??? Edited February 4, 2012 by Stitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Could you just grab a couple of rolls of 'dog fence' and some star pickets from Bunnings and fence the area off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stitch Posted February 5, 2012 Author Share Posted February 5, 2012 Yes, that is an option but it looks terrible and doesn't actually teach the dog anything. I thought of laying chicken wire over the garden and putting mulch over the top so it can't be seen but that is a lot of work. He did it again this morning, dirt everywhere all over our front verandah and plants dug out. He doesn't do it when I am around... it took me ages to rectify it so that my husband wouldn't see the destruction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 (edited) I thought of laying chicken wire over the garden and putting mulch over the top so it can't be seen but that is a lot of work.He did it again this morning, dirt everywhere all over our front verandah and plants dug out. He doesn't do it when I am around... it took me ages to rectify it so that my husband wouldn't see the destruction. ;) so is rectifying the digging damage each time, I would imagine. Chicken wire pressed down well, and secured with wire 'tent pegs' or rocks ..and covered with soil/mulch works ok ... you might also consider buying ground black pepper in bulk..and applying it around the shrubs .Dog will sniff, sneeze, sneeze , snort ....and be a bit careful . I have used this method on dogs and piglets! Where I once worked, the piglets would come and ruin the lawn in a very short time . A couple of pepper experiences ... and they stayed away . I did feel a bit sorry for them when they were all sneezing away .... Edited February 5, 2012 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 ;) so is rectifying the digging damage each time, I would imagine. My thoughts too And in the nicest possible way Stitch, the dog being able to dig at the plants whenever he likes isn't teaching him not to either :p From a training perspective, the normal way to deal with this would be to create an area where he IS allowed to dig and make it more rewarding than digging around the plants. Burying toys, treats, whatever in the 'good' digging spot, and then perhaps also implementing Perephone's suggestions around the plants as a deterrent for added effect. Good luck :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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