I am gone all day at school and my dog will dig holes and chew on our small and dying trees, i have tried punishing her for this but she just doesnt get it. I cant wait and catch her in the act because shes too smart for that, even if i look out a window or something, plus im gone all day. She gets lots of excersize, and she has pleanty of toys to chew on. Shes just over a year old and a golden retriever and i just cant figure out how to get her to stop digging and biting the tree branches. Any help will be great!

my dog used to do this it is a attention thing(she may be feeling a bit unloved haha) but never fear I have a few tricks. Put her droppings in her holes and fill over. This sometimes works and sometimes doesn't the best thing is make sure you walk her everyday I found with my dog the best cure was a run in the morning and at night!(plus I lost weight) With the trees put something on them that tastes nasty you can buy a crib biting treatment(horse stuff) that I would assume would work on a pup as I have tried it and it's not nice. Good luck I hope I helped it's a hard situation my dog got me kicked out of my last house for this behaviour but *touch wood* since moving we haven't had one hole dug yet(been 3 months)

and she didn't stop until she was 2 1/2. I have 2 akitas now and they have never chewed up a thing. I stay at home so they never get lonely. When they were little I would kennel them if I had to leave. You can't correct them if you are not home. My only suggestion would be to get a kennel to keep him in while you are away. Golden Retrievers are high energy puppies and they get bored easily. Have you had him in obedience training??? The key is to make sure he is good and tired before you leave the house.

The only disadvantage with kenneling I found was then my dog barked all day then as soon as he was out and my back was turned he'd start digging. But I'm not saying this isn't a good solution but it didn't work with my pup but he has issues with being in a kennel as he was a pound pup so if I lock him up for any reason he gets panicky.

Do please let us know how it goes

My dog used to dig holes too. One time I saw him digging a hole at the backyard. I was curious of what he was doing so I grabbed a garden tools and helped him dig. I was shocked. I saw a dead birds burried under the ground. Lastly, I found out it was my neice who burried that bird secretly. I scolded my neice for killing the bird. I guess your dog have a strong sense of smelling. Observed your dog, who knows there's a hidden treasure on the ground.

Thanks for your help guys but i tried putting the poop in the holes she digs, she digs up another place.. and i tried exorsizing her first thing in the morning today, she still dug up a hole and chewed up a bush again. Ive tried spraying Chaynne pepper on the trees but she likes the flavor and ive tried tempting her to jump up and chew on the trees while im around (but not encouraging) by putting a ball in the branches, and then scaring her when she jumps up, but nothing is working!! Does anyone have anything else i can try before she ruins the yard?

I would try using a spray bottle with a mixture of water and cayenne pepper. Spray around the base of the trees and where the digging is being done. or sprinkle cayenne pepper straight on the ground. Dogs don't like it at all Good Luck

I heard that rubbing Irish Spring Soap over the trunk will stop the dog from chewing. I haven't confirmed this but plan to try it!

[lil mutt]

Originally Posted by tucsonmissy

I heard that rubbing Irish Spring Soap over the trunk will stop the dog from chewing. I haven't confirmed this but plan to try it!

this is the first time i heard someone using soap... I havent tried it either but I think squirting lemon juice on the tree will be a good idea.

let your dog dig. it's the nature of some breeds to dig because it's one of their exercises. chewing plants? that's actually healthy. vegetarian dogs are very rare.

You could try making up a kong for her. Stuff it with whatever then seal the end with a half inch or so of peanut butter and freeze it to make it harder.
My dog used to dig then he turned two and most of the obnoxious behavior stopped.