It’s perfectly fine for your dog to occasionally chomp on some grass, as soon as they start going for your garden or house plants though, you’ve got a problem on your hands. It’s not only frustrating for you as your beautiful plants are being destroyed – but some plants can make your pooch extremely ill. So, this is not a habit you want to sweep under the rug. Here are some tips on how to stop Fido from destroying your beautiful plants.
Move Any Houseplants Out of Reach
A quick and easy solution to get yourdog to stop eating your plants is to make sure they’re always out of reach. Consider buying plant stands or highly raised tables. If you have any vine-like house plants, you’ll want to ensure they’re consistently trimmed to keep them out of your furry friend’s reach. The point is if your canine companion can’t see or get to your gorgeous houseplants – they can’t eat them!
There are a few different ways you can try to train Fido to leave your plants alone. First, try classic positive and negative reinforcement training. When you notice your pooch approaching one of your plants, firmly shout “no” to get their attention. If your dog starts to back away from the plant, immediatelypraise them with a kind tone, some treats, or even their favorite toy.
Another technique is to use motion-sensitive repellent. These devices will trigger anytime your pup approaches your plants – most likely frightening them, and reinforcing the idea that they want no part of your plants. The repellent sprayed at your dog is completely safe for both humans and pets, but your dog will still want no part of it.
Another similar way to deter your four-legged friend from messing with your plants is clicker training. Whenever your dog is getting too close to your foliage, you just click the clicker and reward them with a treat when they comply. Clicker training can also be used for a variety of different obedience skills.
Invest in Some Diluted Lemon Juice
Most canines can’t stand the smell or taste of citrus – that’s where diluted lemon juice comes into play and can be your best friend. Put the juice in a spray bottle and mist your plants. If you don’t want to spray your plants directly, you can also try cutting up lemons and placing them inside the pots as an alternative. If you do decide to use lemon wedges, ensure you change them out regularly, so they don’t rot.
Fencing off your outdoor gardens or covering your indoor ones can also serve as a solution. With smaller dogs, somesimple chicken wire may suffice, but if you own larger and stronger dogs, you might be looking at constructing a wooden or metal fence. When it comes to your indoor plants, a light bird netting around the circumference of your plant’s pot should be able to hold up against Fido.
Your dog is a smart animal, and even if you have successfully trained them to stay away from your plants, you never know if they may find a way to once again chomp down on them. Because of this, you should never keep houseplants that are toxic for dogs, that includes – Castor beans, Daffodils, Elephant Ears, Hyacinths, Narcissus, Oleanders, and Rosary Peas. You love your canine companions to ensure always taking the necessary precautions to uphold their health.
If your dog tries to eat plants, tell it "no" firmly. Distracting your dog quickly with another interesting stimulus, such as a toy, will help the animal to let go of its urge to eat them.
The interest in leaves may also be an indicator that your dog is bored and need something to keep their attention. Try purchasing chewing sticks to redirect their need to eat leaves. You can also try puzzle toys to stimulate your dog's brain and get them to engage with something other than leaves.
You have to be careful when spraying it around certain plants as it may be harmful to some, but when used on those pesky hard-to-kill weeds, they will disappear in two to three days' time. Combine a gallon of white vinegar, one cup of salt, and a couple tablespoons of dish soap to get the job done.
Strong citrus scents are unpleasant for your dog and may deter them from digging up your plants or specific areas in the yard. You can also use this tactic for indoor plants that your dog is digging around in. Citrus scents are excellent for deterring your dog from areas you don't want them to get into.
Ammonia and vinegar are most often heralded as the best homemade way to keep the dogs at bay. Here's the thing: both can destroy your grass, plants and flowers when applied directly on them. Therefore, ammonia and vinegar should be used only as a perimeter of protection.
This type of behavior is considered destructive, and frequently this behavior is due to compulsive digging. Compulsive digging is tied to denning habits, so often a way to correct this issue is to provide your dog with a comfortable place that they can consider home.
If you're not convinced your dog will avoid the plants 100% of the time, it's best to keep them off the ground, away from their reach. You may also try to spray the plants with lemon or vinegar as your dog will probably stay well clear, because the plant smells bad to them and a lot less appetising.
Coffee grounds scattered throughout the garden will have a similar effect. Spicy substances work to keep dogs at bay. Spread a mixture of spicy mustard and red pepper flakes around plants for protection. Dogs have a similar distaste for coffee grounds and bitter orange.
For dogs, citrus scents are the enemy. Citrus scents like lemon, lime, oranges, and grapefruit–especially in high concentrations often found in household cleaners or essential oils–can cause irritation to your pup's respiratory tract, so keep any fresh citrus fruits out of your dog's reach. You know–just in case.
To keep dogs from lying down in flower beds, simply drive some short stakes into the ground throughout the bed. Keep pets out of freshly mulched or seeded beds, or soft soil, by setting some thorny branches in the ground at regular intervals. Make a chicken-wire fence to protect entire beds.
When you take your dog for walks and they try to eat a leaf, you can tell them “NO” sternly or teach them the “leave it” command. When teaching your dog, try rewarding them with treats as this enables them to learn faster.
Hobby: Flower arranging, Yo-yoing, Tai chi, Rowing, Macrame, Urban exploration, Knife making
Introduction: My name is Madonna Wisozk, I am a attractive, healthy, thoughtful, faithful, open, vivacious, zany person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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