I used to have a beautiful garden; then I got Murphy

He's nearly 10 months old and is still digging up plants/holes in the garden. I think its a 'take notice of me' problem but I do wish he'd stop digging the garden up. It used to be lovely and I know I'm going to have to start again but won't until he stops this - plants are too expensive to replace each year! Last year he dug up 3 newly planted heathers and is now starting on new shoots coming through. He's unearthed the Maple tree roots that are close to the surface and as soon as I replace the earth, he'll start digging again.

The holes seem to start because he can smell something and he doesn't stop digging in that same place until there's no soil left to dig or he can't reach any further.

Any ideas or will this habit stop with age?

Gill

It seems to stop somewhere around 18 months. If you think one cocker digging is bad think how bad 2 cockers and an IWS can make a garden look  Our three were 6 months in age apart and made our garden look like it had bomb craters!  Perhaps you could train Murphy to be a truffle hound?   

18 months! oh well, no garden this year either. I believe he'd make an excellent sniffer dog for customs/police but i'm not sure about truffles. Does Gold have a unique smell? LOL

Hi Gill, I agree that they do stop at about 18 months.  We too had a lovely garden, complete with watering system - which Ollie just assumed was for him and for ages we were finding bits of chewed tubing all over the place!!  Like you we tried to replant, but he'd watch us plant something, then a bit later bring it indoors for us

He will be 4 next month, and last summer we finally got the garden back to something presentable, but watering is now done by hand  

We have three cats that like to "go potty" in any bare earth, that was the start of Tegwyn's horticultural obsession. She is coming up to two and has now lost her interest in gardening.

we got rid all off our grass and went for the paved/stone chippings effect. Containers look great and no mud :-)

Thought it was just us.  Ollie digs the garden, nips off plants.  When he digs it is usually after stones or roots.  He will bring the stone in and just lie there - sometimes its half an hour before he starts rolling it around in his mouth and gives the game away.  He was obssessed with the frozen grass, would lie out there as long as we would let him and just munch, but then he loves eating ice cubes - open the freezer and he's there.  Even digs if we are out on a walk and on the lead and I stop to talk to someone, fortunatley not all the time.  May be some hope for us as he is just 18 months. Marc

beatifull gardens and dogs not a good marriage. I have taken to fencing bits off however, a bit of netting is still not piddle proof. If its not my dog its the badgers or green woodpecker turfing up the lawn or next doors cats

Any area with bark chip seemed to be a good digging area, I have stopped using it as it stains doggy feet. I'm growing to love weeds.

Hes making divets instead of whopping great holes now so maybe hes growing out of it.(nearly 2 yrs) makes for twisted ankles all the same.

I'd trade a well trained garden for a well trained dog and a shabby garden any day. Shame, the garden is easier to tame.

What a relief! I thought it was a Jack and Woody habit. They don't dig like they used to thank goodness, they are coming up to 2 years old. However plants, borders are not safe they think they can walk, sit and lie wherever they like in the garden. the other half has taken to planting thorny roses and more robust plants that can take a little punishment. (not that woody has noticed). I should of realised the day that we brought them home and they ripped up all the daffodils and ran round the garden at high speed that spaniels and gardens don't mix! Enjoy your gardens and your dogs.

With the Tollers there is also not much garden left ... 

Our three have no interest in our garden now  they don't like it and our cat hates it  I suspect the huge dog fox that frequents our garden may be the reason!

Just remember that some plants and cocoa mulch is poisonous! 

Simple  - get it told !!

Apologies for the delay in replying friends. Unfortunately we've had a family funeral and preparing for that was taking a lot of time.

Thank you to everyone who replied. It appears that either I have another year of no garden or I fence it off - one is cheaper than the other but then again replacing plants will be expensive. Oh decisions, decisions, decisions!   I am aware that some plants are poisonous but I think after his mishap at 8/10 weeks he now avoids certain smells. I'm no expert but he was very sick after eating 'something' in the garden and I can only guess it was poisonous. With love, attention and lots of water he got over it within 12 hours and the vet said no harm had come to him.

Will Murphy eventually stop bringing in stones and twigs and anything else that takes his fancy to chew on or is this pastime ongoing for life?

Take care all.

Don't know.  Ollie is just 18 months and will bring in stones and twigs, bits of plants.  Will keep a stone in his mouth for half an hour before he starts to roll it around his mouth on other occassions he will creep in, go behind the settee and come out the other side and then go back around again.  We think its attention seeking.  Ollie will also pick up sticks when on the lead and will munch them as we go along.  So not sure if this will stop.  Marc