Trick training. This will definitely give him tons of mental and physical stimulation depending on which tricks you teach! Look up clicker training and I would start teaching him some fun tricks.

As for the digging – in a situation like this, I would never allow this dog to be outside unsupervised. This way you can prevent him from digging/hurting himself.

 

kennel dogs are in their own heads.. no development, no stimulus withing the confines of a kennel day in and day out. that is what your starting with in this pup.. they don't know what you are for, they don't know how to learn, they don't know what other dogs are for, .. Taking away their set boundary of safety to endless possibilities can be very un nerving to them. I taken kennel dogs in, and just let them rest in their new environments still baby gated off, or kenneled. putting them on a daily routine to start how to learn with me how to connect with me, by doing the same thing over and over again everyday.. like meal times and potty times.. just sitting with them in their area or kennels. most of them wont approach you at first, less want to be on a lead.. but that comes in time .. They don't know to give direct contact so you not reaching them when you speak to them.. learning to give eye contact and learn focus is the first break through of making a connection with them so they can start learning and bonding with you.. Takes time... but I've seen them all make progress, bond, learn to play and respond..

 

Patricia, I found your post to be very insightful. He has been out of that situation for 3 years, but that was the first 4 years of his life. I do think he has trouble connecting, learning, etc. He won't ask for affection, but whenever it's offered he loves it! He presses into your hands and makes this grunting noise, we call it his dog purr.

 

My dog had very little human interaction and spent so long in a crate his ribs were flattened on one side from always having to lay down. He does the purr thing, too. We call it a grumble. He really likes people, he's just not really sure how to connect with us because nobody ever taught him. It took me a year to get him out of his shell and he'll never be a "normal" dog, but he is a great dog nonetheless.

I've managed to train him to some stuff with lots of treats, very low expectations and tons of repetition. He's never going to light up an agility course, but he can do some things.

As for the chewing, have you had his teeth x-rayed? We never knew our dog had 4 teeth that were cracked off below the gumline, until 2 other teeth went bad and he went in for them to be removed. (They ended up taking out 8 teeth total, the 4 we didn't know about, the 2 we did and 2 more that were kinda suspicious and they were taking out teeth anyway.) They were causing him far more pain than we knew and the dog we ended up with after his gums healed up was a whole new, far more playful, dog. So if you haven't, get that checked out.

 

Am glad it was helpful... Am glad he is a happy little guy and enjoys affection.. They don't know they can make things happen. not much in a kennel but sit and wait.... the digging can be frustration and self rewarding like chewing... even having all those dogs they don't know how to interact. really work on getting eye contact and working on attention span. They may be sitting in front of you facing you, but they not connecting to you, that your talking to them..that you are giving them information.

J my little kennel dog,, she is 11 years old now.. smartest little thing in the world , knows my thoughts and is flawless side kick.. she was a happy little goer and doer, she have her head down never focused on anything just going and doing.. I use to have to stop and kneel down eye level to her and cup her little face to work on eye contact to start introduce talking to her about what we doing .. going to the barn, going to the house, where's the goats.. and she picked it up... You can start with the simple look at me having them follow your hand finger pointing to the corner of your eye.. praise be happy for them and your done... and when they comfortable with that.. go a little bit deeper with it.. see if they really looking into your eyes.. spend time with them touching and putting names to things for them to investigate.. ( your working on their attention span and focus) that you showing them something.. introducing easy to do interaction skills on a one on one level.. silly stuff but very effective in building ability you can expand on...

 

Here are some additional "capture the dog doing good things" exercises:
1. In the house, in a boring room, ignore him until he is Not looking at you. Then, say his name, and if he looks at you, praise and give or toss a treat. Repeat frequently throughout the day. This will teach the dog to look at you when you say his name.

2. After a week, In the same boring room, ignore him until he gets bored and Sits. Just before he Sits, say Sit when his butt hits the floor, and then Praise and treat.

These two exercises will help motivate him that words have meaning, and may help with training.