Protecting plants from dogs

Polaris · March 2023

I got a rescue dog a few months ago and while she (thankfully!) doesn't dig, she does crash through the borders chasing birds or just running around like a maniac. I knew my garden was going to suffer when I got a dog, but does anyone have any advice on keeping her away from certain plants?

It's only a small garden so I can't really fence anything off, but I was wondering about using plant supports to stop her breaking stems. I'm not sure what to do about seedlings or young plants though because they get trampled.

I'm particularly worried about a small acer I have in a pot. If she leaps over that and snaps it, it will take a long time to grow back!

Wild_Violet · March 2023

I have three dogs but only one is a garden thug. She tramples over everything determined to catch whatever it is she can smell - most often nothing!
I have many of my best plants in large pots (not caught her jumping into them yet) and use decorative fencing panels to protect precious new borders. She digs, she chews and at six years of age, I doubt she’s going to start being good.

I wish there was something scented we could put around borders / where plants are that would deter her.

MikeOxgreen · March 2023

Taser.

Jenny_Aster · March 2023

I grew 100s of marigold plants from seed last year, and they were on the whole (I think), successful in keeping my 40kg boy from wreaking too much garden havoc. The plants were dotted in drifts throughout the beds. They were also planted in front of tomatoes to stop him cocking a leg and piddling on the toms. I'll be doing the same again this year.

Dogs don't like the smell of marigolds.

Bit of a warning, if a dog is silly enough to eat them they'll be sick with an upset tummy, it's reported marigolds are mildly poisonous to dogs, just like many plants. Our Rusty kept his distance from them.

bédé · March 2023

If you can't have both dog and plants, you have to think through your priorities.

Puppies can be trained but a rescue dog often comes with problems and takes longer.

alexryzawlskiqBU-X4OF · March 2023

I've got a 5 year old dog and a pup. The older dog used to dig as a pup (but has grown out of it) and the new one just charges and tramples stuff. To stop this I've used chicken wire. It doesn't look the prettiest but not horrendous. It has worked for both dogs. I suppose you could train peas or nasturtiums up the wire to make it look nice. The chicken wire is also handy in the garden as a trellis for other things, I grow runner beans up a wall using it. Win win.

Loxley · March 2023

I just watch mine like a hawk when he's in the garden... although by and large he doesn't race around very much. In summer I left the back door open a lot, and just in case he decided to have a little dig while my back was turned, I blocked the main part of the garden off with some timber slats propped on garden chairs. Could you rig up a sort of temporary fencing solution, perhaps something a bit more purposeful than mine but something you can dismantle and stash away when not required?

Protecting plants from dogs

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