Question on a concrete slab (already poured)

[oldpops]

Hi Everybody! I hope all here are doing great! Anyway, I recently had a concrete slab poured in our backyard where we hope to build a shed (we were going to build the shed on pier footings but one of our kids has a connection and we got the slab for lower than the cost of the wood we would have used). I am wondering how to fill empty cavities that have appeared under the edges of the new slab?

A little back story to explain what I mean: We've always taught our kids to love animals, and GOD must know that because he keeps sending them to us. Recently, a GIANT German Shepard jumped into one of our daughter's car when she opened the door to get some things out. (I wouldn't have believed it myself until I saw the video on the security camera). In any event, aside from eating a LOT, this dog likes to dig! And he especially likes to dig under the edges of the new slab.

So now I have this new slab with a lot of the dirt missing from under the edges, sometimes a foot deep, I have tried shoveling the dirt back, but the GIANT dog thinks it's a game. Anyway, before we build the shed, I want to make sure that the ground is solid under the slab edges to support the weight (of the shed walls). I've thought about pouring some concrete in the really deep holes, but how do I make sure it completely fills the void under the shed slab? My son suggested the jacking foam, but I don't want to crack the new slab if it rises too much. And I don't even know if jacking foam would be strong enough to support the weight. Should I just shovel the dirt back under the slab and try to pack it in there?

So I thought I would ask the folks here for help, advice and suggestions on how to fix the problem. As always, thanks in advance for all assistance!!!

 

[KenC]

Some pics of the excavations would help, but I'll bet it's fine with just some dirt(or maybe gravel that he won't dig so easily) would be fine. Fill and water to compact.

 

[oldpops]

OK. We've already filled yesterday's holes, but the GIANT is still here. I don't know what his fascination is with whatever he is digging for under the slab.

 

[oldpops]

KenC: just to make sure I understand you correctly: I've never had this issue before so I am a nube when it comes to this. Do you mean keep jamming dirt into the voids, packing the dirt back in there as much as we can, then watering it? Over and over till the voids are refilled?

 

[Mikes61]

Put some of his dog poop in the hole and cover it with dirt. Your dog will find it and stop digging there.

 

[oldpops]

His poop is Gigantic - Just like the dog!. And the daughter who brought home this beast, is away at work while I try and keep an eye on the dog! WE are fostering it until the local German Shepard Recue can find a new home. But he's an older dog (8 years or so?), and he eats a lot!! And he's very powerful, (He pulls me around like a flea if he wants), so when he digs, he can create a big in hole in just a few minutes. Sometimes I feel like I take 2 steps back for every 1 step I go forward!

 

[dcg9381]

Put some of his dog poop in the hole and cover it with dirt. Your dog will find it and stop digging there.

We call our neighbors dog "the recycler". Doesn't matter if it's his own waste that's getting recycled.

OK. We've already filled yesterday's holes, but the GIANT is still here. I don't know what his fascination is with whatever he is digging for under the slab.

Bury a body?

As a GSD owner (and foster), I'd sprinkle something offensive around the edge of the slab. Cayenne pepper perhaps if regular pepper doesn't work... Something Mr. Giant does not want to stick his snout into. He'll know it's there well before he sticks his snout in there, trust me.

 

[Just_Steve]

Shock collar.

 

[Shiftless]

How about a ring of heavy stones embedded in concrete?

 

[Youngandfree]

Shock collar.

Stop leaving dog unsupervised with no correction

 

[dcg9381]

Shock collar.

I've always wanted to add one of those to a game of beer pong.

A dog that is that pervasive a digger around a shed foundation, bet there is something interesting living under there...

 

[Just_Steve]

I've always wanted to add one of those to a game of beer pong.

A dog that is that pervasive a digger around a shed foundation, bet there is something interesting living under there...

There is a whole youtube channel like that.

 

[1982fxr]

Jam some pieces of hog panel up under there?

 

[PCustoms]

Sounds like a dog problem not a slab problem....

Mine will occasionally dig if he's bored and I'm not watching him. Did it the other day to the trench I backfilled last year but didn't get grass established. I caught him and he knew, but doubled down and kept going. A stern "NO" and he sulked off to another corner of the yard.

 

[oldpops]

Thanks everyone! I sat outside yesterday with the Giant (now called Bear) and watched him run around and play. When he went over to the slab and started doing anything that looked like digging I told him 'NO'.. He stopped and moved on to something else, including dragging around an old piece of a car seat we have in a junk pile. Talked to our vet and she laughed and said, 'that dog has a lot of pent up energy & anxiety & needs a way to burn it off!' She says we should be taking the dog out on walks and running him. LOL, I can barely stand without falling, and other than getting a saddle, but we'll have to get him out on walks (just have to remember to carry a 55 gallon trash bag and a shovel for when he poops). Now, I don't know who had the dog before (and just cruelly abandoned him ) but I think they taught the dog that dragging humans behind is a fun game! I was just told by my daughter that she may have a future home for him so please cross your fingers.

 

[PCustoms]

Post a pic of the puppy!

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/lets-see-your-garage-dog.50697/unread

 

[dcg9381]

I think they taught the dog that dragging humans behind is a fun game! I was just told by my daughter that she may have a future home for him so please cross your fingers.

Leash training is a thing. GSDs that were not taken care of (probably never walked) - it's much harder to do that with an 80-100 lb dog than it is a puppy. Pretty much every dog has "bad leash manners" to start with.

You might look at "pinch collars" (they look concerning, but the GSD people swear by them). They're known as "power steering for dogs". They can help with the pulling without injuring the dog. But if you can't really stand on your own, I don't know that I'd recommend walking an 80lb+ GSD.

Thank you for fostering, especially an older dog. Clearing that dog out of a shelter means that there is a slot for another dog that might be put down otherwise.

 

[Old tool guy]

Hi Everybody! I hope all here are doing great! Anyway, I recently had a concrete slab poured in our backyard where we hope to build a shed (we were going to build the shed on pier footings but one of our kids has a connection and we got the slab for lower than the cost of the wood we would have used). I am wondering how to fill empty cavities that have appeared under the edges of the new slab?

The voids under the slab were caused by the too-good-to-be-true deal you got on the slab. Slap up some forms … is it even level? … dump in some cheap low psi concrete, smooth off the top surface. No attempt to vibrate the concrete to fill the corners.

 

[Maddog3355]

Get a harness and let him drag around a tire!!! lol. Dogs are smarter than people give them credit for. A good stern deep voice and if that doesn’t get it a slap with a leash on the head is all that’s needed most times but there are hard heads out there.

 

[Firebrick43]

A good electric training collar with remote will train the dog. Watch the dog and the second he digs a well timed shock will cure him. Same with the pulling. After a few shocks only the beep/tone is needed. They have worked great for 4 dogs so far with us and one yellow lab was exceptionally incorrigible due to previous owners that could not handle his power and hyperactivity.

For the slab get crushed stone with fines and push/pack it back under with a tamping bar. If we’ll packed it will make it more difficult to

 

[JJ Quick]

A tired dog is a happy dog.
Put a collar and leash on Giant and go for a long w-a-l-k. Some words we still must spell at my house.
Use a prong collar if needed. Properly sized to the animal they are both safe and effective.
Sounds like Giant lacks good leash manners. Do some research on how to train leash manners, not that tough.
If Giant is living outside, that is likely much of the problem. Dogs are social animals and need to be near their pack. You and your family are now Giants pack.
Shock collars? There are many downsides to them. Not recommended.

Full Disclosure; I am a huge GSD fan.

 

[Firebrick43]

Use a prong collar if needed. Properly sized to the animal they are both safe and effective.

Shock collars? There are many downsides to them. Not recommended.

Lol.
The same PETA/SPCA/RSPCA nutters that think shock collars are bad also think pronged collars are bad(along with nearly everything else). And with all those points rotating in and constricting around the neck, are they right?

Only if you think the worst of every person is a sadist and instead of finding the lowest level of correction that functions (current dog is 8) and instead the sadist turns it to level 18 and uses their every time, never using the tone only? The same sadist can do immense damage with a pronged collar as well