[Zoopie]

Dexter is not a huge digger. By that, I mean he doesn't dig holes all over the place. He just concentrate all his best works in one particular place. Sadly for me, such place is under the balcony. He can dig a huge hole all the way under the house and under the foundations of the balcony.

I've tried filling the hole with big rocks. Like rocks so big I had to make an effort to lift one with both hands. He still manages. I've also tried wood planks, but he just digs around them until he can push them away. I know he just wants a good cold spot under the shade. He does have a dog house, but he has never set foot in it (even with sausages inside!). I've tried building a house around the balcony, but he was then refusing to go under (and I don't want to deprive him of his shade).

Anything I can put in the hole to make sure it stays filled before the balcony collapses or before I find an entire skunk family living under my house?

(and the funny thing is, I hear him having fun digging the hole back as I type....grrrr)

 

[hanksimon]

Get a large piece of chicken wire and place it just under the ground anywhere that he wants to dig. Dogs usually don't like the feel of digging on chicken wire.

 

[Zoopie]

Get a large piece of chicken wire and place it just under the ground anywhere that he wants to dig. Dogs usually don't like the feel of digging on chicken wire.

Yeah I've heard of that trick....except I don't live in a place where chicken would survive so no one has chicken wire I could ask for and we don't have any stores nearby (like in a 620 km radius). I've asked around if anyone has old window screens in case that'd do the trick, but no luck so far.

My best option is anything I could find in the woods, at the municipal dump (seriously....it's considered a place to shop) or basic materials.

 

[Roloni]

Try placing a vaccuum cleaner near the foundation of your home...
Many dogs are afraid of vaccuum cleaners and this is the training method we use.

 

[Bordermom]

Chicken wire, hardware cloth, section of chain link, plywood.... all can be used to block the digging. Refill it when he's not looking (so he doesn't think you're just helping him dig) too. And most dogs detest digging in their own poop, so put that where you'd rather he not dig.

You can also provide a wading pool, sprinkler or mister if he's hot. Or a sandbox for him to dig in that works for you, and bury goodies in there away from the diggin' hole he's picked out. And tired dogs tend to not have the extra energy to dig too.

 

[trainingjunkie]

I'm surprised you can't get chicken wire from a garden center. People use it to keep rabbits out of their plants. Works wonders. Any fencing will work the same.

 

[Zoopie]

I'm surprised you can't get chicken wire from a garden center. People use it to keep rabbits out of their plants. Works wonders. Any fencing will work the same.

We have one small store, which is the gas station, the general store and the grocery store at the same time. A garden center is not yet a part of it (especially since grass doesn't grow here).


He's not TOO hot...at least he can't be so far. I mean it's like 5 C, 10 at the maximum lately. And he has a solid 2 hours of exercise a day. I now remember I tried the poop thing a few years ago and it worked. I just need him to poop a lot in the next few days to fill back the gigantic hole (or can I use the neighbor's dog for this? My neighbor is not great at cleaning up....Would it work with another dog's poop or just make him dig it up?). I'll try adding some plywood to protect the foundations too.

Big, big thanks, as always

 

[hanksimon]

Don't use the poop method... the chance of a large dog learning to ignore the poop is high, and the results are not pleasant

But the other materials may work as substitutes.

If he is too persistent, and it really is critical, you can set up a shock collar, altho I don't recommend it...