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Could someone out there please tell me a sure fire way to stop a dog from digging up my flower garden. I have a very Large dog that digs very Large holes. Some holes are about 3 feet deep. He's a long haired dog so I guess he's digging to stay cool it's so hot down here (south Ms.) I bought him a pool but he want get in it.

You named the main reason why, especially since you 'showing' him that it's alright to dig there by you working (digging) in the garden yourself. Dogs will dig from boredom, frustration, and anxioty as well. To find the sure fire cure, it's imperative that you know the cause first. Training a dog can only be accomplished if you understand its' behavior. How much exercise is he getting on a daily basis? Does he dig all the time or just in the heat of day? Is he alone when he digs? Is his digging restricted to just the garden? Has he ever played or laid in a pool of water before? Perhaps he doesn't understand the concept of the pool or the texture of the bottom. Is there another dog friend that can spend time over - unfamiliar objects make animals weary unless they see others doing something. Throwing a favorite toy around and in the pool for a game of fetch can help. Get in the pool and call him in, when he does enter have him sit and lay down give lots of praise for each accomplished step. Motion sprinklers and water balloons can be useful allies in creating territorial boundries. Here again it is imperative that any type of discipline and/or praise be given at the proper time. Use his scenses in your favor when working with him, nose, eyes and ears and in that order. Stimulate his scenses with various toys created for that purpose.

Remember that habits were not made overnight and correcting bad ones are not either.

Great advice from CYTCapital. If your dog is digging because it's left outdoors for long periods of time, he/she is probably bored. A good long brisk walk before leaving him/her alone will go a long way to relieving that boredom. Just be sure there's plenty of fresh water. When my dogs were digging holes all over the yard, we started walking them more often and that stopped the boredom digging.

My dogs dig in two places where it's cool and shady. We have a doggie door so they have the freedom to choose when and where they want to be. They dug themselves two 'beds' under a shrub in the shade. I allowed this for them and we share the garden that way.

We also have a blind dog that digs to find the toads in the fall and spring as she can hear and smell them.

Newt