Hi
I've recently adopted a 2yr old lurcher (dog) and he is constantly digging in the back garden, which is obviously normal behaviour and I don't actually mind about the garden itself. The problem I have is that he digs 2ft holes around the lawn and finds allsorts of rubbish (glass, bones etc) which he chews on until I confiscate them. He then charges around like a mad man and he is tripping and slipping in the holes. I'm beside myself worrying about him breaking legs etc.
He is attending training classes and I've tried the usual stuff of making a loud bang/using a whistle to distract him and also tried burrying a bone and treat in another part of the garden where he can't hurt himself, which I though would encourage him to dig there but nothing seems to be working! I don't want to stop him going in the garden or take him out on a leash as he would be miserable.
Does anyone know of anything else I can try until he starts progressing with his training?
Many thanks
Michelle

Do you make the noise when you're visible? If so he'll learn it's not good for dogs to dig there - but only if you're around. When my dog discovered the pond I hid in the upstairs bedroom window and watched him 'unseen'. When he put a paw in the pond I shook a rattle bottle (not too loudly as he's sensitive, gently from a distance was enough for him). After 2-3 shakes he never went in again because it was the paw in the pond that caused the noise, not me.

Another thought might be to provide a sand box for digging. It might be easier to distinguish where digging was allowed if the substance to dig was different. Just some thoughts.

Actually yes I am always visible when I try to distract him. I'd not thought to do it hidden! I'll definately give that a try!
I'm off to B&Q now to get a sand box and see what happens. I actually live by the sea and when we go on the beach he never seems to dig which is a bit strange! I'll give it a try though! I'm willing to try anything.
Many thanks!

Ooh, also I have seen various products that are meant to repel animals from your lawn - do you know if these actually work?!?!?

Never tried anything for dogs, just cats. For digging in the lawn I have the advantage of a dirt area behind my shed. When the pup dug in the lawn I'd say no, not for dogs and take her behind the shed (sounds sinister!) and encouraged her to dig there. She's not so interested now and only digs occasionally at the beach, especially if I bury something interesting for her to dig up. :)

I do much the same with mine - I have a lot of diggable lawn but I also have an area behind my patio that's fairly loose earth, and any mis-diggings get interrupted and redirected there.

I also found last week that digging there myself encouraged the dogs (I was trying to remove a plant) - I had to stop in the end because River and Soli were both digging the hole for me!  Worked well until they both decided to lie in it :D