You might try laying chain link fencing material under the soil a few inches if you don't want to get rid of the lawn. You could also try an electric fence to create a barrier around the area you want the dog to stay out of. You can buy them for about 30.00. I saw them at the local feed store. You have to supply the wire and poles. I think the shock is adjustable. After a few experiences with the "correction" you could probably turn it off.

My ex husband lives in the inlaw unit of a house whose owners have 3 large yellow labs. The entire back yard was a disaster area until they put up the wire two feet of the ground to keep the dogs out of the grass and flowerbeds. Worked like a charm.

Eileen

As for the digging, I have a large lab who is a digger. Most of my yard is pool and concrete but there are flower beds and a small patch of dirt that was once grass. I covered all the flower beds with river rock on top of landscaping fabric around the plants. No more digging. In the patch of dirt I put down several inches of gravel. The dog still dug through the gravel so I had it raked aside and put down more landscaping fabric and a layer of chicken wire and replaced the gravel. So far, this has stopped her!

You could put down chicken wire or chain link and put dirt and sod over it in her pen. She sounds very bored. A tired dog is a good dog. make sure she gets enough people attention and exercise.

i used to have 2 dogs the loved to try to dig out the the kennel. When I placed the wire fencing underground they quit digging. one figured out how to open the kennel door, but that's another story that 2 gate latches didn't fix. i'm sure some dogs only think about how to get out of a kennel.
the most interesting part was the kennel was divided into 2 parts with a gate between. I didn't bury the fencing between the 2 halves. this is where the dogs tried to dig out!!:)

-dkenny

idecipher, in your case, I would guess your dog is bored! I would suggest something like a peanut butter filled kong, etc..to entertain her.

Our dog's a Labradoodle, which means she's a water dog on both sides. We bought a cheap kiddie wading pool for her, which she loves, and it doubles as a water dish she can't tip over when we're out....so a wading pool may be an option for a bored dog....I agree solutions that work with a dog's way of thinking (re the natural den thing) are best...

The other possibility is, dogs will dig themselves a 'wallow' to keep their bellies cool, on the bare soil - make sure in the warmer weather, he/she has shade, also, see the wading pool idea....but sometimes it IS boredom.

How I solved it:
1, got another dog...Princess 2...couldn't believe it would help but everyone said 2 easier than 1 and this proved to be the case
2, put the radio wire system around the beds...worked great, I would alternate necks with the collar, they had 3/4 of the yard to rampage and I had flowers and dogs

If this is a daily emotional hassle for you, invest in one of the radio systems (light weight kind, not the heavy duty invisible fence product)...it will be a terrific investment. Also get another dog if yours is bored/lonely. Peanut butter kongs don't last all day.

my labs, and most of the other dogs i have owned, have always dug to get cool. they dig a shallow hole and lay in it. when the dirt warms up, they dig further. simple solution was to put a 8.00 plastic kiddie pool in the yard. no more diggin.

now this does nto work in all cases, but it works great with mine. my current lab won't lay in the water though, he just gets his feet wet!

2 dogs really ARE easier than one.. they entertain each other rather than the human having to do all the entertaining.

Working dogs -- KNOW YOUR BREED. know what breed you have (or its mixes - try to identify them if possible). A dog needs a job.

The Denning Instinct: Evolution has provided dogs with an instinct to dwell in a protected area. If such shelter is not provided, the dog will dig to obtain it.
2) Temperature Control: In extreme environments, dogs may use earthen dens to control body temperature. Some dogs dig dens to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Providing a protected, warm area in the winter and plenty of liquids, shade and occasional sprays with water in the summer can help eliminate this need to dig.
3) Hunting: Some dogs, such as terriers, are relentless diggers. Such breeds have evolved to use digging as an essential part of their hunting repertoire. Underground there arecountless bugs, dead animals, old trash pits and live game.
4) Self Care: Occasionally digging will be an instinctive expression of self-care, such as stashing bones or surplus food. This behavior keeps the dogs' living areas clean and prevents interference from scavengers.
5) Exploration and Territoriality: Dogs often dig because of their instinct to explore. There is a high survival value associated with being intimately familiar with the territory. Thus, dogs may dig to locate potentially dangerous or useful items. This usually is a temporary phenomenon; however, owners should try to avoid ground disturbances because they may elicit additional investigations.
6) Mimicry: The technical term for this is "allelomimetic behavior." Dogs often will imitate other animals, as well as people.
7) Reproductive Behavior: Walker explains that females in the wild will dig series of dens. This nesting behavior is quite common, and providing a proper whelping box typically will address this sort of digging. Dogs also may dig to escape from the yard and attempt mating. Neutering, of course, provides a permanent solution for this digging.
8) Aggressiveness and Frustration: Digging, especially at a fence or gate, usually is associated with frustration. Being pack animals, dogs want to join others (human or canine) and feel stressed by their isolation and confinement. Male dogs also may display aggression in response to human teasing or canine challenges. Neutering may help reduce this intermale aggression in some cases. Restricting the dog's mobility in order to avoid close proximity to gates or fences also may be helpful, as would persuading your neighbors to stop their children or dogs from teasing your dog.
9) Social Interaction Needs: Some dogs require a home range much larger than a fenced-in yard can provide, and they may attempt to escape simply to increase social contact. Walks, a canine companion and a fence that allows a greater range of visibility may help. Smaller breeds, spayed females and older dogs may be more appropriate for limited ranges, and neutering may be considered for males that wander continually.
10) Attention-Seeking Behavior: Digging, as a random exploratory behavior, may become an entrenched habit if a dog is "rewarded" with considerable negative attention because of its digging. Ignoring the digging while giving positive attention for an incompatible desirable behavior generally is the best approach. Barrier techniques also might be used in conjunction with this form of contingency management. Many barrier approaches exist, such as filling the hole with water, rocks, the dog's own feces, thorny branches, repellents, fencing, chicken wire or cactus plants.
11) Lack of Stimulation: "Dogs will also dig out of boredom",
12) Anxiety, Trauma and Threat: Dogs often dig when feeling sick or especially anxious. "Dogs that are extremely ill will sometimes go off and try to dig a hole in which to lie and die," Walker says. Likewise, when dogs are feeling threatened or insecure, a den may provide comfort and help them relax. When digging is related to trauma (often separation) or a genetically anxious temperament it may become an obsessive tension-reducing mechanism that usually provides only temporary relief. In such cases a veterinarian should be consulted to consider possible anti-anxiety medication.

My dogs don't dig because I don't want them to. I have three beagles (two of them quite old) and a fenced-in yard.

My dogs respect the boundaries we give them, which includes not destroying our property. To help the youngest keep his
"promise" we make sure he gets plenty of exercise - just running around in the backyard with the other two is NOT enough - and has toys that he likes. In addition, my dogs are never left unattended outside for more than a few minutes at a time; it is a lot easier to prevent undesirable behavior if you are there to see it coming and express your wishes at the moment they start leaning in a bad direction.

I know this is a really old thread, but I've had plenty of experience with "stubborn" dogs (LOL) and exercise and supervision really are the key. There's just no substitute for that.