Protecting Your Pooch and Your Garden With Expert Care, Part 1

Summer means blooming plants and beautiful gardens. It also means more time spent outdoors with your pooch. The last thing you want is a bearing garden and an overly energetic dog. Seeing your dog trample and dig up the vegetation you worked so hard to plant is enough to ruin your week. Lucky for you, keeping your pooch out of your garden is not an impossible task.

If you start training your dog from an early age, then it is much easier to achieve the desired behavior. When training your dog to respond to commands, throw in additional orders like "no garden" or "out." In addition to command training, let your dog know early on where he can and cannot go. Do not allow him near your garden, even if you are present. Letting him pass through the garden during your daily walk will only teach him that the path is okay. Until he learns the desired behavior, make sure you do not leave him unattended where he can access your garden. Dogs are curious, and a whiff of a delicious fruit may cause him to react in an undesirable way.

When you are spending time in your garden, do not allow your dog to watch you or to be near you. The best time to do this is when he is inside eating, sleeping, or spending time with another family member. If a dog sees you planting, then he will think that it is okay to dig. If he sees you pulling weeds, then he will think it is okay for him to help pull up the plants. Watering your garden should also be done when your pooch is not around. If he likes to play or drink from the water hose, then he may be tempted to play in your wet garden. Do not forget that your dog likes to spend time where you are. If he sees you spending large amounts of time in an off-limits area, then he may break the rules just to be near you.

Remember that your pooch is probably not destroying your plants out of spite. He either saw you do it, or he is lacking something else. For instance, if a dog does not get enough attention or exercise throughout the day (especially working breeds), then he may resort to digging as a way to release built up energy. To combat this behavior, make sure you spend an adequate amount of time exercising with your dog. In addition to a walk, he may need a good run or long play time to get rid of the excess energy. If left unattended for long periods of time, your dog may look for something to relieve his boredom, and your garden is awfully green! Make sure you do not leave your dog alone for an extended amount of time. If you must leave him, then make sure he is safe and secure with plenty of toys to relieve his boredom. During the warm months, dogs often dig to create a cool spot to lie down. Make sure that your dog has adequate shade when he is outside. If he likes to dig, then provide him with an area where digging is okay. You can plant shrubbery around his digging holes to make them less noticeable, or you can plant additional trees around his lot.

If your pet enters or destroys your garden, it can be hard to discipline him. If he does the damage while you are gone to work, then punishing him when you get home will only confuse him; he won’t understand why he is getting in trouble. The best thing you can do for both your garden and your pooch is to spend time training your pet. It may take awhile, but it will be worth it every time you see your favorite flowers in bloom.

Keeping a dog out of a garden can be a pain. Proper training is the best way to ensure that your garden will remain beautiful throughout the season. Try not to let your pooch see you spending time in the garden, because it will only make him want to join. If he digs, try to find the cause. Often, going for a longer jog or planting a new shade tree can help combat the digging problem. This article was provided by PET-SUPER-STORE.COM a site featuring dog training products from PetSafe, Innotek and Tri-Tronics.