HE IS MAKING ME MAD

• HE IS MAKING ME MAD Vic Zurbano Posted : 6/16/2006 9:48:17 PM When ever I let out my 5 yeard old Alaskin Huskey out in the back yard, he goes right to the gate that opens and closes for the boat, he starts diging and breaking a hole in the bottom of the fence, and it keeps getting bigger. I just walked outside 10 minutes ago, and his head was outside the gate, but the rest of his body was in.   I yelled at him, and put him in time out, and thats were he is right now.   I can't cover the gate with anything, becuase i open it alot to get out the boat and the trailer. What should I do? Please reply fast [] LIKE 9 REPLIES 143 VIEWS LAST POST SPIRITDOGS Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• sierra2002 Posted : 6/16/2006 9:53:06 PM I've never owned an alaskan breed before so this may be way out on the left field... but couldn't you fasten some sort of chicken wire or something to the ground around the perimiter of the fence? May be lay a foot (width) down all around the fence and fasten it to the ground with stakes or something. Depending on how determined he is to dig, I suppose he may just try to dig through it and hurt his paws. I'm sure others will also have some solutions to help solve the problem. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Vic Zurbano Posted : 6/16/2006 10:21:08 PM I don't know about that, because, he digs were the gate opens and if I put chicken wire, i would have to un-do it verytime I wanted to open the gate - here             0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Sherry Posted : 6/16/2006 10:53:49 PM My hubby said you should dig down and do a small concret pad there to stop him. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Vic Zurbano Posted : 6/16/2006 11:04:34 PM Sounds like a good idea angels, But what about the chewing of the fence? Here is a pic Sorry about the blurryness, I took it quick - I don't know why :-S 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Sherry Posted : 6/16/2006 11:07:26 PM Hub said try some thing like fox urine should be a temp fix for the fence. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 6/17/2006 5:43:27 AM I think you need to look at the bigger issue of WHY he is doing this.  Is there something particularly enticing on the other side?  Squirrels maybe?  Or is he out there alone so long that he's getting bored?  I guess I'd opt for replacing the fence slats, burying some chicken wire so he stops digging and staying outside WITH him for the next few weeks and gently correcting anytime he goes for the fence...habits take time to break and you can't do that unless you are physically with him.  Dogs live in the moment and if you catch him a minute or so after he finishes, he has no clue why he's in time out. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 6/17/2006 5:58:45 AM Yelling at the dog accomplishes nothing.  There are a couple of ways to deal with this, and Glenda's suggestion about determining the reason for the activity is a good one.  If your dog is alone when he does this, is it separation anxiety, or boredom?  Is it a desire to get to a valued resource? (Squirrels, children, other dogs?)  Is it to dig a cooling spot? (I doubt it, since that would not be any reason to destroy wood.)  Digging, on its own, is a different problem than destructiveness based in separation anxiety, and is handled differently.  Pouring a concrete footing will not stop a dog with separation anxiety.  It may not stop the bored digger either - he will just learn to dig in another spot.  Grab a copy of Patricia McConnell's book, "I'll Be Home Soon" and see if it reminds you of your dog.  If so, the protocols might help. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xerxes Posted : 6/17/2006 8:16:07 AM The dog is a retired racer and he's not getting enough exercise.  Period.  I think Vic posted on another thread that he's had the dog for only a few days.  This dog is anxious, in need of exercise and is under alot of stress.  I think he's digging so he can escape and go back to his pack.  It's very hard to turn a strictly working dog into a family pet right away.  Especially one with the endurance that Vic says this one has.  Vic, get this dog running, playing, or otherwise mentally occupied or you're going to have a long tough road on your hands.  Rig up a harness and walk him with a sled or wagon behind him, he has a need to pull a sled...fulfill that need and you'll see a huge difference in behavior. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 6/21/2006 6:16:43 AM Xerxes is right.  The closer you can come to approximating the "job" your dog was designed to do, the happier he will be.  A tired dog is a good dog.  And, you must be patient.  You are expecting way too much from a dog that has just been ripped from his pack, plunked into yours, and is unsure if you even like him or not.  Get in to some classes soon - I would recommend clicker training.  It works wonderfully well on dogs that already like to move, because it gives you behavior to shape into something you would like the dog to be doing, and you can substitute preferred behavior for the behavior that is irking you. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login