Sharing a garden with dogs that are bred to dig

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I really can't recommend having dachshunds in your garden. As a breed, they're diggers. Digging is what comes naturally to them, so discouraging them from doing it takes some work. It can be done, but it takes patience, and vigilance.

When I got my first doxie, over thirteen years ago, there was a lot less temptation for her. Yes, I had a garden, but nothing as elaborate as what I have now. I kept an eye on her, because I could see her all of the time, and if she started digging I would discourage it simply by gently turning her away from it.

My new pup, who has been here for only a few months, has been good, but of course I've seen some digging. I've also seen some chewing, and I'm doing the same thing I did for the older doxie - simply watching and correcting immediately. I will physically take her away from things she shouldn't be doing (she only weighs four pounds) or a sharp "no" will stop her. I also have the squirt bottle, for distance corrections.

I'm encouraging the dogs to spend time away from my watchful eye, and of course there are the random holes dug when I go do an inspection. No, of course there's no correction (dogs don't remember doing something like that, they're not like people) so I refill the hole and move on. Something that I've discovered this year is a dog and cat repellant, which is simply granules of pepper, which I sprinkle into the hole before I fill it, and then sprinkle a little bit on the top. Safe for animals, but they dislike the smell. Works great, but it's not a magic cure, I still have to be there, and watch.

Caring for a garden and caring for dogs is a lot of work, and takes a lot of time. It's a labor of love.

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