They may be our best friends, but let’s face it; dogs can be a pain in the backside sometimes. I mean, how many times have you found your furry friend in places you don’t want him to be in, like your newly manicured garden?
If you are finding it hard to keep your dog out of certain areas of your yard, you shouldn’t lose hope as there are some effective and amicable ways of doing that. We talked to several professional dog trainers and got some valuable insights on how important it is to keep your dog out of the garden and how to go about it.
Why You Need to Keep Your Dog Away from The Garden
Yeah, having your dog running around peeing and pooping all over your garden is a lawn management nightmare, and is probably the reason you want to keep him away. However, that’s not the only reason you should keep him out of the yard.
If you have some sago palms or any cycad or ornamental plants in your garden, you may want to keep your dog far away from the garden. These plants are highly toxic (mainly affecting the liver) and can cause varying degrees of pain and illness and even death when ingested.
Most of the pesticides in the market are also toxic and may cause irritation, stomach problems, and other issues if the dog comes into contact with them. So, to keep safe, try to use pet-friendly pesticides and also avoid letting your dog go near the yard a few days after spraying it.
How to Keep Your Dog Out of The Garden
The main method of doing this is to fence the entire garden and install lockable gates for entry. And since dogs can be stupidly cheeky, it is best to keep the fence at a reasonable height and make sure it doesn’t contain any openings where the dog can stick his head.
With dogs being dogs, however, fencing probably won’t work by itself. You will need to train the dog to not go to the garden by treating him when you find him playing away from the garden and admonishing him when you find him playing by the fence or gate.
How To Stop Your Dog from Peeing in The Garden
Your dog making a habit of peeing in the garden can cause the grass and other plants to wilt or turn yellowish due to the excess ammonia. Thankfully, the habit can be stopped with consistent training and positive reinforcement. Basically, any time you see the dog headed towards the garden to relieve himself, call him out and redirect him to a different place. If he obeys your directions, give him a nice treat, rub his ears, and voice out your pleasure. Over time, he will learn to stay in your good books.
How to Prevent The Dog from Destroying the Garden
Doggie paws are cute and all, but they can be quite destructive in a garden, especially if you have some flowers and small trees. If your dog has a habit of digging holes and burying plants, the best way to correct it is to provide him with an alternative place to do the dirty work because, let’s face it, an energetic and mischievous dog will still play whether you like it or not.
If you don’t have much garden space, you can fill a large basin, or a kiddie pool with play sand and try to playfully dig with your dog watching, and it won’t be long before he joins. For more fun, bury a few of his best toys and treats and direct him to ‘save’ them.
