Does anyone have any good tips, tricks, recipes, or remedies for keeping a rather large dog (100 lb., and bringing him in the house is out of the question) from peeing on, or eating, or trampling the garden?
Building a fence isn't an option for the garden in question, so something else will have to do. (I already have a fenced-in garden, but the other beds I'm trying to protect cannot be fenced)
hot pepper spread at the edge of the garden has kept my cat from going into the garden, it has to be spread the take the cat or dog to the area and let them get a nose full, they sometimes need two or three treatments to get the idea. good luck
I have multiple medium- to large-sized dogs. The garden that is fenced from the dogs contains the vegetable/compost/chicken run area. At one time, my husband and I tried a buried electric fence with collars on the dogs. The training of the dogs proved to be quite brutal. We threw the fencing away and I now landscape for my dog friends, not in spite of them. Good luck in your search. I think that when it comes to dogs and plants, you have to choose your friends wisely.
When planting new shrubs/trees, wrap and stake down pig fencing or similar gauge fencing around the perimeter of the plant. This way the plant has a chance to become established. Also, plant some rugged herbs (i.e., rosemary, thyme, mint family) as ground covers. After brushing past these herbs, the dog has a natural flea repelent.
Nathan: I've had dogs and gardens all my life. I allow my dogs into my garden each day when I enter it. I train my dogs to follow the path through the entire garden. I scold them when they enter a planted plot. After about 3 scoldings they are aware of what is expected of them. I once had a beagle that would pick cucumbers from my vines. I never got onto him for it because he would pick only what he would eat. Try working with your dog for a while. You can't be any worse off.
