Desperate..puppy digging up sprinklers

[sansian]

Our Jack Russel pup, about 8 months old now, love to dig up the sprinkers in the garden. She only does this when the sprinklers are on as far as i know.

For the last weeek I tried putting the sprinklers on at night, as about 3 am hoping she would be asleep. But alas no, she wakes up and goes and pulls all the sprinklers out. (the dog sleeps in the laundry that has a doggy door)

The only other thing I can think of doing is putting them on and making sure she is locked inside, but this could get hard to manage, seeing as we may not be home everytime.

I have also tried putting the sprinklers on when I am around and when she goes near them I tell her no, which she responds to. As soon as you tell her no, she stops and watches them, but you know she wants to go in an bites them.

Is this something she will grow out of??

I was told I could use pepper around the area, or tie balloons to the sprinkers. Has anyone had experience with this working??

Thanks

Ian

 

[my2girls]

I don't know about the pepper spray or the balloon thing, so I can't answer that. From everything I have read about training, it's best to distract them and keep them from establishing a bad habit. It's best to stop the behavior before it becomes a really big problem. I would suggest only turning the sprinklers on when you are home and able to tell her no. If telling her no works, then just like anything else she will learn that she can't do that even when you aren't around and then you can trust her. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would think it's the same type of thing w/ setting limits when they are chewing in the house, not housebroken etc... I hope this makes sense and helps!

Jamie

 

[bubbatd]

I bet when this was first done, you thought it was a riot and laughed your head off !! I would have ! Now it's a game for him. You'll just have to water with him in your arms..and try to explain the situation to him ....we humans have to undo some of our own doings.

 

[sansian]

yeah, the first time it happened i nearly cried i was laughing so hard. If i only knew then what i know now

 

[bubbatd]

Good luck !!!! LOL!!!!!!!