My horse of a lab seems to have a problem staying in our backyard during the day. She's broken through the wood part of our fence (she literally barreled right through it and busted a big hole in it) and dug a big hole under the chain link part. We don't have the best fence in our yard, but we can't really afford to update it yet. The only thing I can do to keep her in is chain her up, and I hate that... Any suggestions?
beer... Im just being silly get the dog drunk so it can not run.. but you dont wanna do that. how about you chillout with the dog for about an hour, Run it run it run it play fetch or what ever it does to burn energy.. dont let dog rest even when it says tired after 10 minutes. believe me its not tired,, Its messing with you.. let dog drink water if it wants, but run it some more. "Play with me" its asking you. Since you dont wanna play / im assuming enough with dog its finds entertainment on its own. Now it has your attention.. Grab dog by the tuff of hair, back of neck and say NO!! point in direction of broken fence. Reinforce NO as often as possible.. Do not hit dog! Do not make fun with dog after NO is enforced for at least 15minutes . dogs have a short memory span if you allow fun to happen to quickly after a command... but a long term memory span for being told No and enforced properly.. feed dog correctly one time a day, so its fuel is reserved for the work time, for instance feed early so its energy can be used when your around to play, not the other way.. dog eats food, needs to burn it off.... there is also a product called "RID" you can put this along your fence line it may deter your dog, it may not.,, Smelly soap powder will work also, red pepper on a dry day.. it should not harm your dog. just make it irritating to nose not to go there.
We run her a LOT. I might try the red pepper thing though, that's a good idea for where she's digging holes.
Sorry to hear that about your dog--I hope she didn't hurt herself in the process! Is she still intact (what I mean is, is she spayed?)? If she hasn't been spayed, it would be a good idea to have that done--maybe she's got a case of the wanderlust and if she's in heat, she's probably looking for someone to mate with, which is why she busted through your fence and dug out from under it--or maybe she's reacting to something that happened recently--like a move (didn't you used to live in Missouri? I think I remember seeing that on your previous posts here on HipForums!)--I've heard of animals who've moved with their owners and they get out and try to make their way back to where they used to live! I definitely wouldn't chain her up--I hate to see any dog chained up--besides, I wouldn't feel right doing it, and I'm sure you feel the same! Anyway, I thought I'd throw in my two cents' worth--hope things work out!
what is it she wants so bad? if you can entertain her so that what is outside the fence is not as interesting, she'll stay home. if you are gone all day, she wants to be with you...do a recording of your voice, maybe? and play it all day.... otherwise, i would run an electric fence charger around at 'lab nose height'. my dogs will not go near the electric fence line...they can 'feel' the charge in it. it has got me a couple times mowing...no one with sense would touch it. if an electric fence will keep livestock in, it will keep a dog in, unless there is a spot with no 'electric', in which case, your lab, being smarter than you may think, will find that spot. they sell some low powered ones pretty reasonable at most farm supply, and maybe online, too. if you start with 'but that's cruel', then i'm going to laugh at you. some of what might happen to her outside the fence is cruel...keeping her in is not cruel. she simply misses you, and wants to be wherever you are.
Dog may also wants to be cool. Is it any different type soil there as compared to other areas?. If so you can move the soft soil it likes to dig in to a place shady/ along side the foundation house, tree and safer place not to get out, it will like that better.. And if you make the other hole digging area inhospitable to her liking. my husky dog is a bulldozer, but dont dig along fences. he likes them in the middle the yard so you trip in them. lol....
She's not spayed, we probably need to get that done because the lab we wanted to breed her with doesn't seem to like her. Ya know, I think maybe the move is the thing. Not that she's trying to get back to Missouri, because she always comes back to the front door after a little bit..but she's used to our old back yard, which wasn't fenced in and was out in the middle of nowhere on the river. She's used to just running out the back door and jumping in the river. Overall, I think she's just looking for some love. I wouldn't mind, but I don't want a bunch of puppies popping out, and we live near a high traffic highway. It scares me, thinking she might end up under a semi.
lots of dog psychology is involved here. perhaps she needs a therapist? being jilted by a lover can break a girl's heart...and god knows, girls want to have babies and be appreciated. the cat definitely needs its hair combed, though. i've had a dog run over. it sucks. keep her in a lock box if you have to or you'll be sick to your guts.
could you get her fixed without breaking the bank?.. Many counties have spay programs in the spring around here. could be as little $45.00
I don't know about a dog therapist. I'm pretty in touch with my dogs. She's my souldog. I think the electric wiring is the most logical choice for us. we've had it before and it worked pretty well.
I hate it. I have to tell myself.."she's within comfortable reach of shade, water, food, and toys. The cord almost gives her full range of the yard. she's only ever out there for 3 hours at a time..." to keep myself from just calling in to work to stay home with my dogs.
