Border Lover

Thanks every one for your advice. I'm going to get stuck in this weekend and dig some mesh into the area he digs. With his digging pit that I have made, should I have sand or dirt in it?? I have sand in it, and no matter what I put in it, he's not interested. Should I fill it with dirt or is this too similar to the garden? I have started not giving him breakfast and giving him a kong instead, I guess it is occupying him for a little while!

Ok thanks I train him daily for about 10minutes, and he starts an obedience course in February. He has been to puppy school for the socialisation. I was told by my vet not to play fetch games because they are really bad as they are growing. He said ball chasing etc can damage their bones and is a common cause of cruciate ruptures in dogs? He digs in a few different spots in the garden, but never in the lawn. There is one area he persists with which is near the fence, and I wonder if he is trying to get to the dogs on the other side? He cant see them through the fence, but they bark a lot and he can hear them. I also take him to a dog park, but dont want to let him off the lead yet to run, as I'm scared he wont come back. I am working on the "Come", but am a bit worried. Do you think I should let him off to run??

Thanks for that. I have tried fencing the areas off with trellace, but he just manages to pull it over or push through it. I will definitely try the chicken wire, even if I put it in the bottom of the holes it might work. I have tried a kong, but he isnt interested. I will try and not give him breakfast and then see if the kong occupies him. So how much exercise is too much??? He doesnt tire, and after an hour walk, he goes straight in the yard and runs around for ages! I dont want to over do it, would it be damaging his joints or anything?

How old is your dog?

Hi guys, My Border Collie pup is 4 1/2 months old. He has a fetish with digging. I have tried a lot of tips, but nothing seems to work. I exercise him with hour walks twice a day, he has heaps and heaps of toys, a digging pit that I bury things in, but he doenst like it. I put bricks in the holes where he digs, but he pushes them aside, he seems to like it better with a brick. (hehe) I tried faeces in the holes and citronella. He digs all the time, whether I'm home or not. I catch him in the act often and dicipline him, he seems to know he is doing the wrong thing, I lock him up for time out for a while, but as soon as I let him out he's back to digging. I train him often, with everything else he is very well behaved. With any thing else, if I discipline him he stops straight away. There are some dogs next door, and often the holes are along the fence line, maybe he is trying to get to them???? But I cant really keep him away from that side of the fence. Does anyone have ANY other suggestions. PLEASE HELP, my garden needs me. Thanks guys

There is a good book called "Give your Dog a bone" written by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, which outlines everything you need to know about feeding your dog/puppy, and what foods are harmfull etc.

It is true that if you desex a dog before puberty ie 6 months of age then its growth plates do not close and you do end up with a longer legged dog. If you desex female dogs too young, incontinense can become and issue when they are older. If you desex your bitch after its first season then you have the risk of pyometra (uterine infection) and if they have phantom pregnancy and come into milk then they have the risk of developing mammary cancer at a later age. The best age to desex is around 6months of age, and they cope better with an anaesthetic at that age, rather than younger. If you do not use your dogs for breeding purposed then I think you should have them desexed. There are risks of cancers, prostate problems, infections, unwanted pregnancies, wandering, aggression and lots more. I am all for desexing if it is done properly and at the right age.

I believe you pay for what you get. I find with the more expensive foods they tend to contain a higher quantity of meat rather than cereal products. With the more expensive brands I find you have to feed half the amount as the cheap supermarket foods to get the same results, so really in the long run they are not that much more expensive. I also believe you should supplement your dogs diets with raw meaty bones, and other raw food, which is so cheap and great from the butcher and you can see exactly what you are feeding. What do you guys think.