About Penny DiLoreto Expertise As a certified veterinary assistant and a dog breeder, with over 16 years of hands on experience, I am qualified to answer questions in the following categories; General pet health issues, dog grooming, puppy socialization, dog breeding, and basic dog training
Experience In accordance with the Veterinary Assistant program requirmements, I completed 200 hours of intern work under the supervision of a licensed Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine, and volunteered the Escondido Humane Society
Organizations AKC, ACA, and ABA
Publications I have several articles related to; dog grooming, dog behavior issues, and medical topics, printed on various computer websites and free article content sites. If you would like to preview my articles, links to those sites, and articles, are posted on my website located at www.puppies-dot-com.com
Education/Credentials I have a Certificate of Competency from the San Diego Country Regional Occupational Veterinary Assistant Program, and attained Occupational Competencies in the following categories: Animal Handling and Restraint, Vaccines and Injections, Health and safety, Veterinary Laws/Ethics/Industry Data, Biohazard Waste Disposal Laws, Medicating and Grooming Procedures, Medical Math, Breed Identification, and Parasitological studies.
Awards and Honors I received an Outstanding Student Award for my accomplishments in these studies from the ROP program.
Past/Present Clients A partial listing of my past and current clients can be viewed on my website www.puppies-dot-com.com by clicking on the Testimonial Page.
Expert: Penny DiLoreto Date: 3/14/2008 Subject: Dog training
Question I have an awesome German Shepherd, Bisingi who loves to dig and i have about 30 holes in my backyard. i have put his fecal in the holes but he just digs another, I filled them and he redigs. I've caught him and disciplined, scared him. and every time he runs. then i would take him back and say no bad dog. but i was also told that with the age he was (6months to a year) that they wont remember after running off. I walk him and everything. yes i did take him to training school. he will even dig to get out so now he is chained. i want to run around with his brother. who is toy bichon. what can i do, i don't want to have to get a shock collar but that seems to be my only option now. please help. your my last hope.
Answer Hi Debbie, Wow, after reading your question, I realize that you have tried just about everything to stop your dog from digging holes in your yard - obedience school, discipline, scolding, feces in the holes, etc.
Before giving up and getting a shock collar, you might want to try spraying him with either a water spray bottle, or the garden hose. Of course this will only work if you actually catch him in the act of digging.
Let's focus, for a moment, on the possible causes of his digging. You wrote that you take him for walks, so I am assuming that he gets enough exercise. You didn't mention where the holes are, so I'm assuming that they are in random areas of the yard, and not under the fence. If the holds are under the fence I would speculate that he's trying to escape.
You wrote that you would like him to be able to run around with his brother, a toy bichon. I'm wondering if your toy bichon is enough of a play partner for your bigger German Shepherd. A bored dog will do very destructive things when you are not around, and digging holes is one of them.
Ok, so what do you do with a bored dog that's digging holes? One trick is to occupy him with something that is more fun than digging. Most German Shepherds like water. Possibly you could purchase a child size wading pool and fill it with water. He may find that cooling off in the pool is more fun than digging.
If this doesn't work, fill the pool with sand and make him a sandbox to dig in. Place his favorite toys in the sandbox, and bury surprises under the sand (a few inches) for him to dig up and find.
When you see him digging in his "Sandbox" praise him, when you catch him digging in the yard, spray him with water.
If all else fails, you can decide one to two things; 1. Take away his yard privileges - with the exception of potty breaks, or 2. Let him dig - it's better than barking all day and having your neighbors complaining.
I hope I have been of some help with your question. Please feel free to contact me again if you have additional questions. Sincerely, Penny D.
