Dog run/kennel, digging, puppy boredom

[cordeliandemon]

Tomorrow I'll be disassembling my 10x10x6ft dog run and will be joining it on to a disused horse stable in our old farmyard measuring roughly 20x15ft inside give or take. I'll be doing this because despite demons regular exercise he has the puppy crazies and I need somewhere safe where he can play while I'm busy as he's still too small to be trusted outside with koda unsupervised.
The inside stable has concrete floors so I'll have no worries there but are Dutch shepherds prone to digging? I have enough slabs to cover the outside run but I could just put a layer of one or two around the perimeter to prevent escape instead.
I would greatly appreciate tips on what to put in there to keep him occupied and how to help him get comfortable being left in there alone (I don't imagine him being in there much longer than 20-30 minutes at this age while I take a tea break/clean newspapers ect) there will also be a padlock on the door as the neighbouring stable rooms are used and I don't want anyone disrupting my training when I'm not there or him getting the idea that strangers are his friends.

[Raven]

A lot of dogs/pups will dig for something to do (boredom) or as a replacement behavior. The DS, until trained, will find things to keep themselves busy if you don't provide the activities. If he's only going to be in his new digs for 25 minutes, are you able to give him an exhausting workout beforehand, so when he goes in, he naps? (As a younger dog, he wouldn't nap long, anyway, I wouldn't think. Adult DSs think sleep is highly over-rated.)

Concrete is one of the materials (along with gravel, etc.) that can injure their pads (in some instances, splinter nails) if they are relentlessly digging from boredom, to burn energy and/or in attempts to get out. A lot of working dogs are kenneled in run with concrete without incident. Just sayin'...he's a young pup, untrained, energetic, etc.

As for what to put in there to keep him "quiet," exhausting him first would be ideal...and treat dispensers (as long as you know how he handles them--example: that they aren't hard/big enough that he can lock his jaws around them or so small and useless they're no challenge and/or he'll tear and swallow). I keep several different types of Kongs on hand for dispensers.

[cordeliandemon]

Giving him excercise beforehand won't be a problem, I've learned by now that it's endless walks and runs or sheer destruction! He'll have a bit of grass and dirt on the outside run aswell but maybe I could throw some straw down inside for him to dig around in and prevent him going straight for the floor? He has a few kongs but I might get him one of those big robust eggs that wobble away in random directions. It would be after his walks anyway as the routine at the moment is a puppy nose under the blanket at dawn, water and breakfast (usually dosnt eat it) then a walk, setting him loose in the farmyard for five minutes followed by another walk and bringing the pup back up to finish his meal.

[Dutchringgirl]

If he is only going to need to be safe for 30 minutes while you do stuff, cant you put him in a crate to nap? Yes, they will dig and if he digs on concrete you are going to have bigger problems.

[Raven]

Here's my experience with the Egg--which is a wonderful idea in theory. For some dogs, it might work. It didn't work out for me. (I think it wouldn't work on any dog with a high prey drive.)

I bought the largest size and my boy was determined to get that Egg in his mouth right off the bat. Which he did with plenty of puncture holes to prove it. Thing is, I was worried that his jaws might "lock" around it. His determination was much bigger than its size.

There was no point in buying a smaller one since it'd be easier for him to clamp his jaws around it, defeating the whole purpose of something that is designed to continually squirt out of a dog's mouth. And while the plastic seemed hard to me, it was like papermache to him.

Just my experience and

These dogs....

[cordeliandemon]

Thank you for the replys ! I can't really imagine demon trying to dig through solid concrete when he has a soil alternative a few feet away, but then again demon is my first DS (: I doubt it could do much damage as it's a smooth surface worn down by horse shoes over the past 300-400 years and there'd be no way of him getting a grip on it, I'll definitly moniter him in there anyway.
I also really appreciate the advice on the egg! I'll look for an alternative, he's a pretty self contained dog especially for a puppy and seems to prefer playing with his toys without my interference so hopefully he won't get too bored. Failing that I'll just have to tire him out with the agility equipment that should arrive any day, I've tried to train my dogs for agility before and they were so sloth-like they would collapse before they even made it to the jump! I'm Looking forward to trying it with him.

[LyonsFamily]

Odin digs, but I encourage it in "safe" spots. He has one hole in the middle of the dog yard, and I know if he's digging there, he won't dig out. He has another massive hole in our back property, but we're out there with him if he's in it. He's not one to leave the property though. If he did dig out of the fence, it would just be to go around to the front window and peak in until someone felt sorry for him and he could join his humans. He knows place very well now at his age though, and is rarely put outside by himself unless he wants to play or sunbathe.

For busy activities, a Varsity or Boomer Ball would be a good alternative to the egg. It's solid, so can't be punctured. The only thing to look out for is after chewing on it for a while, it can scratch up and cut their nose. I just inspect it and take sandpaper to anything rough and it's fine. In the summer, a kiddy pool with some kongs or rubber balls in it is a good option and a spring pole might work for you. If it's just a half hour, a crate may be a better option though if you're concerned about escaping.