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I have a new puppy (14 weeks) and she loves to dig in the yard. I have tried a number of different things but haven't had any success. What suggestions can anyone give me?

Melissa37 said "I have a new puppy (14 weeks) and she loves to dig in the yard. I have tried a number of different things but haven't had any success. What suggestions can anyone give me? "

own shit in the holes it's dug, dogs don't like stepping in their own crap!

I have tried it and it does work but I would end up having to smear poop over a 1/4 of my yard. I have many bare areas on my yard as it is not in good shape which leaves too many spots for my pup to dig. I am thinking maybe I need to buy a kiddie pool and fill it with dirt. Maybe she would then just dig in it rather than the yard. Thanks for the suggestion

I Have heard of but haven't tried exactly that, get an area that they are allowed to dig in and burry some toys etc in it and let them dig there. Some dogs just love to dig.

google smells that repel dogs .good luck

Vinegar  
Citrus Peel  
Chili Pepper  
 
I guess I will give it a try.

This worked like a charm for my border collie pup. Let the pup dig a fairly big hole. Pound a wooden stake into the middle of the hole and then tie the dog to the stake close enough so that it cannot move out of the hole. Leave the dog sitting in the hole for about 5 minutes, then turn it loose. Repeat the next time it digs a hole. My pup quit digging after the 3rd hole. Sounds kind of cruel but it works and is better than having to give up your dog or keeping it penned or tied up.

Decide what it is that you want the dog to do When in the yard.. Eliminate and come in or sit quietly in the shade. Whatever the desired behaviour is train the desired behaviour. If you are consistent most dogs can easily learn to do what you want them to do, but aren't as good at learning not to do something.

Most dogs like to dig, it's a fact. If you think you would have to give your dog up if it digs in the yard, then you shouldn't get one  
And yes, tying it to a stake in the hole does sound kind of cruel.  
How about just a firm "No" and move him away from where he was digging, throw a ball, etc.

I would suggest getting into clicker training with your dog. It gives you the tools to help change behaviours. Only thing is you have to be consistent in using it. Call Two Brown dogs.

I agree with getting advice from someone like Rene at Two Brown Dogs, or Dr Liana Mawer, or someone with education and expertise. NOT us eBrandoners, no matter whether something worked for us in the past. You don't want to cause aggression or other behaviour issues inadvertently.

A puppy is so full of energy they need to burn it off. How long is the pup left alone outside by it self? I have had many many dogs over the years and not one of them dug holes in my yard. With that said we played them out with lots of play, walks and exercise never had to use much correction. If they are left too long by them selves they will get bored just like any child would. Their attention span is not very long and does not take long for them to get bored. What does one do when bored? Either whine for attention or amuse them selves somehow and it is not always productive or appropriate behavior. I am no expert but have been around dogs my whole life but I would say lots and lots of play and exercise to help burn off inappropriate behavior.  
Just my thoughts, good luck with the new puppy

I agree with the exercise suggestion. A tired puppy won't be looking to entertain itself quite so much. Some breeds are more easily bored than others too. What kind of dog is it? A working breed dog like a Border Collie really needs something to do. You could offer alternative toys, or one of those balls that drop food out of that could entertain him. Lots of walks, and maybe a puppy class to stimulate the mind. With any luck he will outgrow the habit if you are consistent now.  
 
If he picks the same spot all the time, you could try filling it with gravel, and then a bit of dirt over the top. He won't enjoy that spot so much any more. I've heard of burying an inflated balloon, and let him pop it. For that you need to watch though, because you don't want him eating the balloon.

Build a digging pit out of an old window frame and fill it with half sand and half top soil. I built one for my lab puppy and he loves it. Put a toy or treat partly hurried in it. He or she will learn that that's a where to dig. If you catch the pup digging somewhere else, call it to the pit and bury its toy. When or if the dog quite digging, get rid of the pit by lifting the frame and spreading out th dirt and sand. The reason you mix the sand and dirt is so that it doesn't get too dry and hard ( if it's all sand) or muddy when it rains. I added a pic of the pit I made for my puppy.

After the dog digs a hole, fill the hole with water and stick the dog's nose in it (while saying "bad girl" or "bad boy," etc). That advice came to me from a pet expert many years ago and, with my dog, it worked like a charm. Only had to stick her nose in water two or three times before she got the point and never dug a hole again!

Thanks for all the advice.  
I think I am going to try a digging pit. My puppy is not left outside for very long but it doesn't take much to get her digging. We take her for walks, play, give her toys and love on her tons so she can't be too bored. I think some dogs just like to dig.

I think the digging pit is brilliant. Like a sand box for puppies.

Put a balloon in the hole and cover it back up slightly, next time the dog digs it will pop the balloon and scare itself. I have also used mothballs in the holes, again cover slightly so they can smell it. Both work great.

As they get older they dig less, mine used to pull bark of the trees as well as dig hole, some of the holes he made were for him to lay in.

My dog is a digger, she hates the sound of the 1 litre milk jug being hit. Step 1 say No, step 2 bang the milk jug (or anything that dog does not like, do not hit dog) dog stops behaviour its distraction and negative reinforcement bonus dog learns no as well good luck.

The digging pit is a good idea if you're dog is not just digging "lay holes" (when it gets super hot out and they dig in the dirt for a moist place to lay). The stake idea is interesting...I wish I had tried that for my border collie cross when he was a pup...but unfortunately we only noticed this year that he had been digging in our raspberry bushes, ferns, etc. and it's too much of a habit by now. He also digs right by the house, which pushes dirt above the foundation and can cause leaking in the basement. Citrus peels and coffee grounds work if they are reapplied often, but I can't eat that many oranges. I have had to lay bricks and rocks in all the places he likes to dig. Before anybody jumps down my throat, he has ample shade available, and also places where digging is "acceptable". I hope you can nip it in the bud before your yard resembles a land mine site: I sure wish I had