Bad Dog!!!

Question
How do I get my dog to stop digging up the back yard, and eating the dirt out of my plants...well if not eating it, from spreading it throughout the house.  I have a  yr old basset hound X collie...I know weird combo.

Thanks for you advice, Larissa

Answer
I am hardly one to ask about digging; my dogyard in the back looks like the surface of the moon! LOL!

Seriously, though, if you put a bit of his stool in the spot where he is digging, he will probably quit (and dig somewhere else, most likely<G>) Any chance you have moles or something out there? That is why my dogs dig.

It is hard to do this when we are finally having some nice days and the dogs want to be outside, but if you only let him outside to potty (and watch him so that you can holler at him if he starts to dig), and then bring him back inside, he might get over his urge to dig (unless it is motivated by critters). I have heard of some building "sandboxes" for their dogs and teaching them that they are allowed to dig in there and nowhere else; something else you might try.

Now the houseplants are a real problem. Anything (nasty-tasting) you might try to put on there to discourage his snacking would probably hurt the plants. My plants are all smaller and are elevated so the dogs cannot get in them. What about making some sort of cardboard cutouts that will fit on top of the pots and around the plants? (Now you COULD spray Bitter Apple on that cardboard!) And be sure you correct him every time he goes over there and LOOKS at the plants as he must learn they are off-limits to him. Also crate him when you are not around to watch him.

Also check to make sure none of your plants are poisonous in case he decides to change from dirt to greenery on a whim one day. http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants/

You might try getting him one of those Kong toys and filling it with treats or part of his daily food ration to keep him occupied while you are not able to watch him. Also walk him on a regular basis; a tired dog is a good dog!

Karen