Dogs and the Garden

Dogs in the Landscape?  Grrr! Ha, it's definitely more difficult, but if you (or your family members) happen to be pet-lovers, you need to find a way to make it work!  Of course, the age and temperament of the pet makes a big difference.  An adult dog like the one above (Beau, now in doggie heaven) makes it much easier as they are much more willing to just hang out and take it easy on the landscape.  A puppy like we have now is a whole different story!  The wear and tear on the turf and shrubs can be brutal. We've tried all the recipes (hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic dog solutions, you name it! ) Our dogs like it hot!  So that was a wasted effort!  As a young pup, our golden retriever pictured above actually licked the cayenne pepper solution all the way along the cable TV wire as it was awaiting burial.  He would lick it up as quick as we could paint it on there!  So, we finally resolved that you just have to try to teach them as much as you can, and just live with the damage until they get older.  Of course, fencing like you see above also can be a valuable part of the landscape.

You will also want to make sure the plants that are within their reach aren't toxic to dogs.  For example, Foxgloves (digitalis; a heart medicine) would be a poor choice as well as "lily of the valley" among others. I also refrain from using any pesticides on the lawn unless I have an existing bug problem.  It's been years since I've needed to use grub control on the lawn, and I'm convinced that you're better off to just treat problem areas.  The same goes for weed control.  I only spot treat weeds, and don't go the crabgrass (Halts) or (Plus 2) method.  A good one gallon sprayer with a mix of "Spectracide for Lawns" does just fine.  Truth is that if you keep your lawn thick and healthy, you will not need to do much treating for weeds.

So, what have I learned?  I've learned that pets are a part of the family and I need to just figure out the best way for the dogs and the landscape to co-exist as much as possible.  Good luck with the pets in your own garden!