Digging - How to stop it?

by 31003
(Portland)

Ghost (half) sleeping.

Ghost (half) sleeping.

My great Pyrenees is constantly digging in one spot and nobody knows how to stop it! It would not be too big of a problem but he was exposing pipes and starting to damage the foundation. He sadly does not have a lot of room to roam outside and my family is too busy to take him on long walks or take him too the dog park. We tried pepper and hot sauce around the hole but we believe that his nose was damaged (his nose is a brownish red and was like that when we got him, also, he never uses his nose to find food and we have to keep his food in the same area, and he only goes to people who are eating if he sees or hears food). We believe he does it out of boredom but we can't give him puzzles or take him on long walks. He does have a big house to wander in though.

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Apr 12, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Exercise
by: Great Pyrenees Club

It's unfortunate no one has time to walk him. He really needs to get out and see the world to stay interested.

Pyrs dig. That's a fact of life. They dig to stay cool in summer or, if your dog's case, perhaps out of boredom. You can try putting big rocks on top of the hole but he will dig elsewhere. Set aside another spot for him to dig and redirect him to that spot when he goes to dig in the other spot.

If no one has time for him, have a dog walker come to your house on a daily basis to get him out. He also needs exercise to stay fit and healthy. Wandering through the house is not exercise and it's the same old every day.

He should be a part of your family and go places with you.
Apr 16, 2018
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starstarstarstarstar 		Digging
by: Nadine

I agree Great Pyrenees dig, that is what they do. It is to keep their belly cool in the summer heat. Plus they just love to dig holes. I have 3 Great Pyrenees and if one starts to dig a hole they will take turns enlarging that hole.....then they will compete for which of them gets to lie in that hole, then they rotate who is in the hole. If my dogs dig in a location I don't want them to dig, I keep filling those holes in....BUT I make sure I have a few holes open they can go dig in.

You have to let your dog dig somewhere, they just need to do that. I will even start some hollows for my dogs with a shovel, then let the dogs finish that hollow to lie in. I know that sounds crazy, but that way I can have more control over where the hollows are dug.

You have to have a sense of humour about your dog's digging. My 3 Pyrs, I truly believe have a sense of humour WHERE they dig. My girls dig under my patio tables, so when I am reading at the table or in the backyard at the BBQ patio table, they are close to my feet, keeping cool under the patio table and they are within reach for me to scratch ears. All good, until they start to expand that hollow under the table and the table leg falls into the now expanded hollow. The scented candles, flower center piece and wine glasses slide off the tablecloth into the larger hollow under the table and become dog toys. But that only happens at my house. LOL

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