It was a quiet Sunday morning as my significant other and I sat and enjoyed a coffee on the front porch with all three dogs peacefully lazing around.
All of a sudden, speaking their silent language, all three dogs' heads snapped in the direction of the spruce tree and I swear I heard them shout, "SQUIRREL!!!" All three then bolted like lightening to the base of the tree, barking, trying to climb the darn thing and carrying on like a pack of hyenas.
In the midst of the mayhem I saw my garden gnome get toppled with such force the poor thing would have suffered a head injury if it weren't made of concrete.
My ornamental deer made of twisted willow branches was body checked and landed at least five feet from its original position. And my poor hosta - trampled. It looked more like something my horse would eat than the delicate shade-loving plant it is.
I sighed. My significant other laughed and said those words you hate to hear: "I told you so!" He was right though. I had messed with instinct, tried to change the natural order of things. I attempted to divert my dogs' natural squirrel-chasing path to accommodate my plants.
You would think I would have learned from experience not to fight the will of a dog, but those hostas looked so beautiful hugging the base of the spruce tree. So I surrounded them with objects I thought would block the flight path, or at the very least divert it a few feet to the left.
First I put up garden fencing, but the dogs just jumped over it and landed feet first on the plants. Then I put up the ornamental deer thinking a large object would convince the dogs to choose a different route, but they just shoved the deer aside. Then I placed the cement garden gnome, which the dogs used as their personal latrine before knocking over.
I wasn't about to give up and hand my garden over to the dogs, so I made some changes by recognizing their route and reluctantly moved the hostas.
It is possible to have a pretty garden and dogs at the same time. There are just a few things to consider before you put on the gardening gloves.
Dogs are creatures of habit and rarely change their route as they traverse the yard. Don't plant delicate plants on or near that route or you will be cursing under your breath - or loudly - at your dog's destruction. To make the route of travel pretty, maybe create a path using decorative stones.
Typically, digging in the yard or garden is a sign of boredom from a dog left alone without supervision. The digging dog needs to get more exercise beforehand if it is to be left in the yard and not dig. But sometimes when this habit starts, it is hard to stop. A dog sees digging a hole as a neverending source of fun. If your dog is a digger, give it a spot of its own to dig. Find an area you are willing to sacrifice. Dig a hole and place a toy in that hole. Bring your dog to this spot and help it dig up the toy for the first time. Once the dog finds it, replace the toy and cover it again. The reward of the toy will encourage your dog to return to that spot.
Male dogs urinate up high. Observe where they mark territory and place plants/shrubs in those areas that can tolerate the urine instead of being scorched to death by it. Or place garden gnomes, gargoyles or elevated potted plants. Female dogs urinate down low, on the lawn. There are new products on the market that neutralize urine marks on grass. You can also teach your dog to urinate in a designated area.
With a little creativity and flexibility it is entirely possible for our dogs to cohabitate with our gardens in a mutually rewarding relationship.
Joan Klucha has been working with dogs for more than 15 years in obedience, tracking and behavioural rehabilitation. Contact her via her website k9kinship.com.
