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I've heard that dogs dig when they're bored so lots of things to keep them busy and engaged would be my best guess. Maybe stuff a bunch of kongs with peanut butter and treats and freeze them overnight so they take longer to eat. Then you could hide them all over your yard for your doggies to find and munch on throughout the day. Also have lots of toys around for them to play with as well as the standard fresh water and a covered place to snooze.
We asked the vet and they suggested getting a sandbox. So that she can dig in a "dig safe" location. Every time she would start to dig we would redirect her to the sandbox. It actually worked. We have now removed the sandbox and she doesn't dig.
We actually do leave them a lot of toys and they have a designated digging area in our backyard (just a dirt corner of the yard we hids toys and treats in to release their energy). Maybe our real problem is the escaping, no the digging?
If you're worried about them escaping, I'd put in an invisible electric fence. It'll start beeping when they get too close and it'll shock them so then they can't dig around the fence.
Try burying their poop along the fenceline (shallow). Sorry, I know that's gross. Dogs don't like to dig through their own poop, so if you have problem spots, just pick up the yard and put their waste in the problem areas. All of our dogs waste ends up in the flower beds and under the hedges. Even my super-digger has stopped digging in the bad places!
Do they only do this when they are together? I had a dog who would only ever escape the yard when she was with her pal. If she was alone she stayed by the door.
Do you know if they try other ways to get out?
Is there something on the other side (like a dog walking by) that makes them want to get out?
bury there poop. i know it sounds so gross but if you dig down along the fence line just a little bit and bury it they will smell it and wont touch it. our dog used to dig out all the time and he hasnt once since we have done that.
also i told our neighbor about it for her 2 new puppies and it's worked for her too!
@MightySapphire: haha great minds!!!! I KNOW IT'S SO GROSS! But it really works.
i can definitely do the poop along the fence. good thinking.
our property backs up to an empty lot, so the probably hear or smell other dogs and people walking by and get excited enough to dig their way out. they also only do it when they are together, little trouble makers, lol.
@Mrs. Spring: Digging is an attempt to get out excess energy, therefore they revert to their natural ways of digging for a shallow bed like they would in the wild. The poop thing really works, but I'd walk them when you get home from work every day. A tired dog is a happy dog. And tired dogs don't dig haha.
I think it's not boredom, it's a social thing. If it was boredom they would do it when they were alone too. If there is a way to separate them in the yard, it will probably stop the escaping. If not, I hope the poop works! :-)
One of my dogs digs if I leave her in the backyard without taking her out to do something in the morning (i.e for a walk or to the dog park) so I think in her case it's definitely boredom.
She also will dig if the topsoil she wants to lay in is particularly warm, that I can't seem to break her off- she knows comfort =)
Oh and on the poo thing- that totally broke my boy dog of digging, but the girl doesn't care and I just end up cleaning up her pooey feet =(
@MightySapphire: Ugh separating them for even a few minutes results in a ridiculous amount of whining. They are hopelessly stuck together!
The bury poop thing makes me laugh because that would CAUSE our dogs to dig. They are both gross and eat their poop. I've tried a couple things to stop this to no avail.
Sounds to me like they dig to escape - the electric fence sounds good. Since you aren't actually using it on it's own you may be able to get a self kit and lay the wire on top of the ground outside the fence in most areas.
If we leave our dogs outside I know they'll just bark ALL DAY LONG. Silly boys seems to love sharing their crate all day though.
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Well, actually, our dogs don't normally dig, but if we leave them in the backyard while we're at work, we come home to hole under the fence and two missing puppies. :/ I would love to leave them out while once in a while (if they're inside the house, they are crated), but not at the risk of their destruction and escapes.
Any tips, tricks, etc...?