Dogs dig, it is what they do...
First of all, put the shock collar notion away. WHY would you want to cause pain to a loved member of your family? The best way to confuse a dog and give him a reason to dig under the fence and take off is pain.
OK, so that's done.
Dogs dig, its what they do. Instead of trying to "break" them of a natural instinct, work with it. Your dog wants to make you happy above all things. Even digging. Give your pal a place to dig and teach him to use it. You can create a dig spot in your yard by digging a hole (have doggie watch you do this, telling him this is THE SPOT). You can fill it with sand or some other loose material... and a bunch of toys, chews, cookies, whatever turns your dog on. You can get on the ground and show him what a GREAT place it is to dig. If you think its the only way to go, so will he. He wants you to be happy! OK, so your neighbors are going to think you are bizarre, but who cares? The point is, your dog is going to dig. He's a lab, they dig. Give him a place to call his own and let him go to town. When you see him digging somewhere else, go to his spot, call him and show him what to do. It won't take long if you are consistent.
With that said, I will admit that our backyard looks like a moonscape. Lack of consistency on our parts has led to our three Samoyeds to think they own the joint. Truth be told, they do. However, all three will go to a designated spot over and over if we hold to the plan.
You can also try other ways to keep him busy. A 2-liter pop bottle, lid off, with a handful of kibble or some broken cookies entertains our girls for hours. Giant kongs are good for that too.
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