Please help, I just got a dog from the SPCA about 2 months ago for my Autistic son, but the dog keeps digging?

Question

out from under my fence and running around my neighborhood. No matter how many times I patch the holes she just digs another hole. Now when I let her out I have to keep her on a leash and I hate to do that. She is a Border Collie mix so I know she loves to run around but I just cant trust her not to dig out. Any suggestion? Please help!!

Answer 1

Border collies are the smartest breed, but they also need a ton of exercise. I have 2, so I can tell you it's soooo important to get their exercise. Mine both love to dig, mostly when they get bored though - they also love to shred things. I've fixed the shredding by spraying stuff with a lemon juice and water mix - but for the digging, I usually keep mine leashed and walk them, so it's not a problem anymore.

Answer 2

I have 2 Westies - chronic diggers. They get a ton of exercise and still dig, that's what they do for recreation. I tacked up chicken wire on the outside of my fence at the bottom. Since I know they dig I don't leave them out long enough to dig their way under the fence, they'll both "work" on a hole together. Some dogs are escape artists, you might consider a long dog run or not leave the dog out long enough to dig out. My neighbors Irish Setter would jump the fence regularly still attached to the long wire on the run. Could you assign your children the job of watching your dog while he's outside, it's the family dog and a family problem? Good luck.

Answer 3

Attach a strip of wire to the bottm of the fence, drop it down to the growd and run it horizontal on the groud for about a foot ot from the fence. This will make a L with the fence. Digging will only have the dog hit the wire unless they think to go back a foot and thats too far to dig. IF you worry about the mower gettting ito it put a strip of sod or a thin layer of soil over the wire.

Answer 4

she will stop if you train her to stop... but ONLY if she is getting adequate amounts of exercise.. Border collies are the smartest breed of dog, and as such, they require stimulation, mentally and physically.

If you run this dog, or walk with this dog, or even throw a ball around to her for at least an hour a day, preferable 2 hours... she will drain herself of that negative energy and be much more inclined to stay in the yard... digging is a sign of boredom.

With an autistic child however, I feel like you may have your hands and schedule pretty full, so if you cannot make time to exercise the dog, perhaps it may be time to give her away or get a different, lower energy breed... like a bulldog or basset hound.



To train, put her on leash, let her wander the yard and begin to dig (if she will), give her a tug, quick yank back as she is digging, and say firmly, no. when she stops, do not immediately give her love and support, or she will think of it as you loving her for digging. be firm, each time she goes back, you tug and say NO in a firm assertive voice... soon try it off leash, and give her corrections as needed.... when she stops and turns to leave the area.. give her a treat to reinforce her good behaviors

Answer 5

Go to your local farm supply store. Buy a zip-line and attach it to the inside of your fence about 5 inches above the ground. It is a low voltage electric line that will sting but not harm. Make sure the grass doesn't grow and touch it which will ground it out. I did this for an acre sized dog yard for under $75. (I lived on sand and my Samoyeds could dig out in under 30 seconds).

Answer 6

Leslie is right. This type of dog needs several long walks a day. He's probably digging out of boredom. She needs much more exercise than she is probably getting. She needs to be able to run or walk off all the energy this breed has or she will just keep on digging and running off.

Answer 7

we had a dog that did that we ran a bead of concrete mixed very thick almost like mortar around the entire base of our fence ..just dig a very shallow trench not very wide .. kind of like when planting a garden ..up against the fence right up under it if possible .. our dog would stop digging soon as she hit that.. might have to leash the dog for a day or two while it all dries real good though

Answer 8

Border Collies are high energy dogs that require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. I think perhaps you may have chosen the wrong animal for the job.



The right thing to do in this situation would be to find a high energy owner with a lot of running room for this animal, preferably someone experienced with this breed.



You need to be honest with yourself about your lifestyle and committment to an animal when you want to get a pet. Since you already have an autistic child, you probably intended to get a low energy, laid-back dog who'd want to cuddle more to teach your son some interspecies social skills. Please do some research into breeds and ask a lot of questions if you go to a shelter for another dog. The employees there do observe the pets they care for and can tell you about their personalities.



Edit - My intent wasn't to criticize and I apologize if you perceived my comments in that way. It's just that I see a lot of people who come into shelters thinking they're going to find a perfect dog who's already trained and can fit into their family's lifestyle without any type of adjustment.



Since all of your children are also high energy, it's possible that you can channel this toward the benefit of all by constructing an obstacle course and having your kids work with the dog. You say you have an acre of land, more than enough for this purpose. This activity would keep both your children and the dog busy, interacting and occupied in a healthy, outdoor sport. Border Collies are also fantastic at flyball and it's easy enough to build/buy one of those.

Answer 9

Why does all of us continually think of that a huge backyard skill they are able to have herding canines? So no longer authentic. a huge backyard is largely a huge backyard. It does no longer something to grant a BC a job to do, or exercising its strategies. Get a separate crate for each canines. Feed each and each canines one after the different. Get them the two neutered. locate an interest, like agility or herding and get them in it. the only stable herding canines is a drained herding canines. you'll be able to ought to rehome a form of siblings if this habit escalates.

Answer 10

I put metal screens in the ground where my dog used to dig and it stopped him.

Answer 11

Invisable electric doggy fence? Thats all I can suggest.

Answer 12

What Leslie L said...