Backyard transition advice: 2 little diggers

[daisyandduke]

Hello - I am new to the forum and I own 2 boxer pups 6 months old. We usually keep them in the house and have let them out in our backyard more often. We usually do not leave them unattended...recently, they discovered DIGGING! They only do it when we leave for a few minutes, then we come back and we see that they have been digging a hole. EEK! So, here is where I need help. We have a pretty big backyard, and they loooove going out there to play so we let them run around and chase each other (supervised of course), but we also have a little side-yard/kennel where we want to eventually transition them to stay during the day-time. Our dilemma is....the side yard is made up of dirt....and I am afraid that once we transition them to their kennel outside, they will dig a hole to China (maybe strike oil???jk) ! Any advice on what to lay or put back there to prevent them from digging? Maybe fake grass or sod? Anyone else had similar experiences? Thanks so much for your help.

[LILYLARUE]

I will tell you that boxers are not well behaved dogs when left along when young or left outside when older. A bored boxer is a bad boxer! LOL I would highly suggest NOT kenneling a boxer in an outside pen. Not only will they become bored and figure out a way to escape, but you have a lot of added problems that can arise from it. Kenneled dogs can become fence aggressive - barking and fence running because they can't get out to chase the cat or squirrel that is on the other side. They may be protective and learn to bark at people or other animals, hence annoying the heck out of your neighbors.

Dogs really should be in the home, where they are safe, comfortable and out of harms way. Outside they are trapped and open to any dangers that may occur, nature or humane causes.

Please reconsider kenneling outside when you are not there to watch them.

Now on to the digging problem.......you already answered your question. When you are not there, that's when they dig. At 6 mos. of age, you need to watch them all the time! They are crazy, carefree and careless at that age, and you have several more months to go before they truly can be trusted to be alone for a few minutes. Probably another year or two til they can be trusted completely. Boxers are absolutely smart and know how to entertain themselves. If you are not there to guide them, they will get into anything that you find bad behavior.

So hang in there, be diligent on guiding them to proper play and behaviors, and in another year or two, you will have two amazing, well behaved, and trusting dogs. Until then, you will go crazy with their badness, their wit, their smarts and their sneakiness. Trust me, we've all been there and are here to help you along the way.

[mjelahi]

6 month old Boxers are hilarious but trouble makers. I have a male who is almost 1 year old and we've just started to keep him outside in a large area. I do agree with the previous member who said you need to keep an eye on the Boxer puppies at all times but I don't agree that dogs must stay indoors. Obviously, you don't leave a dog outside in the winter or extreme heat or if you live in a tonwhouse where your neighbors have to put up with the barking, or if it's an unsafe area. But, if the weather is right, the neighborhood is ok then go ahead and leave them with plenty of water, food and toys and let them relax outside. REMEMBER, You HAVE to maintain regular excersise AND socialization. Just because they're outside doesn't mean they don't need long walks or trips to the dog park. As far as the aggression goes, they don't become aggressive because they're kenneled or outside. They may if they are kenneled 24/7 but 4 or 5 hours a day isn't going to harm them, again, weather/situation permitting. The notion of aggressive bacyard dogs comes from pitbulls who are chained outside by irresponsible owners who shouldn't be dog owners in the first place. As for the digging goes, mine digs once in a while but the holes aren't deep at all. Maybe 3 inches deep. It seems as though he stops once he get's bored or sees no point in digging. He's done it less and less as time goes on so I think yours will grow out of it also. Good luck.

[LILYLARUE]

I did not say "they WILL" become aggressive. I said they "can" and "may". Every dog is different.

I also do NOT believe any dog, any breed, should be left alone for long periods of time. I work rescue and heard too many horrific stories of dogs left alone to ever be comfortable with leaving a dog alone on their own, outside with no protection. A cage is not protection.

Dogs have been attacked and killed by a swarm of bees and wasps while contained.
Dogs have been poisoned while contained.
Dogs have gotten stuck while trying to escape pens and suffocated.
Dogs have been attacked and killed by other dogs while contained, and yes, within a kennel.
Dogs have eaten something and choked to death.
Dogs have been tormented and tortured while contained.
Dogs have been dognapped while in a LOCKED kennel.
Dogs have been shot and killed while contained.
Dogs have dug out of kennels and have been killed by cars, and shot by police for being an at-large dog.

Pitbulls ARE NOT the only BREED that becomes unsocialized and aggressive from being contained outside. Don't play into that myth! Boxers are also a breed that will become aggressive without proper socialization. They are a bully breed!

It only takes one mishap to turn a dog into a psychological mess. Why risk it? Ask those who have had a trauma or tragedy with their dog to get a response "I just didn't think it would happen". Dogs to me are no less important than a child. Would you allow your child to hang outside, contained within a fence all day, with no thought to what could possibly happen? I sure wouldn't.

Lastly, Boxers are human dogs. They love their people. They are also very sensitive. I believe they as a breed would much prefer to be comfortable INSIDE when alone and enjoy the OUTSIDE with their people.

[daisyandduke]

Thanks so much! Yes we have decided to keep our Boxers inside most of the time and at night so they can be with us at night. They will have a place inside and outside....how they love being outside.

Yes, 6 month boxers are hilarious....they do need constant supervision when they are outside....geesh, they get into all kinds of stuff!