Question if you have a digging pit - what do you use? sand, mulch, etc.?

588 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by MrsJohnnyG, Mar 16, 2009

MrsJohnnyG

Discussion Starter · Mar 15, 2009

We're having the entire back yard landscaped with a big part of it designed as a playground for our puppies. They looooove jumping over hurdles (ditches, fallen trees etc.) so I've put a little hurdle course of four logs there for them to have fun jumping over. We're going to get some agility equipment too, just for them to play in.

Since they're puppies, they have a blast digging. I want to create a digging area for them where they can get out all their digging urges (rather than trying to uproot one of the 100-year-old oaks on our property

).

I'm thinking of building maybe a 6'x6' square, boxed in with some pressure-treated lumber. I know a lot of people recommend sand, but I can just picture my pups constantly needing to be hosed down from all the sand in their curly fur.

Has anyone used something like cypress mulch for their pets' digging area? any pitfalls to using mulch?

Of course I'll spend time training them to dig there (with positive reinforcement, burying toys and treats, and "leave it" when they start to dig in the dirt)... any other tips would be really appreciated... especially tips to make it as fun as possible for my sweet doggies!

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MrsJohnnyG

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 15, 2009

Hmm... okay, that's good since I already have about 8 bags of play sand (we were going to use it in a landscaping project last year and never did). Their fur is so curly I think this is going to be a nightmare, but it's all worth it for them to have fun!

(I also seem to remember that some kinds of mulch are dangerous to puppies and I'd hate to endanger them with harmful chemicals.) Thanks.

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MrsJohnnyG

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 16, 2009

Q: how deep would you make the sand? Would you put a base of anything (e.g. gravel?) underneath? We're thinking about doing the same thing since our dog loves to dig at the beach so much. What's your general plan?

I haven't figured all of that out yet... which is partly why I posted here!

I do want the sand at least a foot deep to give them plenty of depth to dig... and of course I'll bury little treasures for them. I hadn't thought about what kind of base to put underneath but am open to anyone's ideas!

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