Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely love dogs. In fact, I have two of them that always keep me on my toes!
But many years ago, before I adopted my first dog, I lived in a small house with a medium-sized lawn. And while I didn't think I was ready to have one of my own, my neighbor's Rottweiler Butch would always keep me company.
I saw that boy as a pup when my neighbor first got him, and we practically raised him together. But, just like babies have the "terrible twos" phase, so did our boy Butch. At the tender age of two, he became a menace, for the lack of a better word.
He would run through my garden, ruin the flowers and sometimes even pee on the veggies (which obviously made it hard to consume them). This got me wondering how I could keep him out effectively without hurting him. And after some trial and error, I got it!
If you are also tired of reading endless articles about how to keep dog out of garden, take a look at my guide.
Now, let's get into the details!
How To Keep Dog Out Of Garden
1. Construct A Barrier
Dogs, much like us, do not like being poked by anything sharp. And while I highly discourage barbed wires or something similar since it will harm them, having a rose bush or cactus as a barrier will help. In case you are not looking to build something pokey, you can use chicken wire as I did.
The only thing is that chicken wires need to have strong structural support. That is the mistake I made the first time around, which Butch took advantage of (happily too, I suppose). Make sure the chicken wire is held up with thick wooden poles or metal ones.
2. Use Everyday Kitchen Stuff
As vague as it sounds, it is pretty simple. Multiple kitchen items can be used to keep curious dogs like Butch out of the garden. Items like chili flakes and mustard powder can be used. All you need to do is sprinkle it around the garden, just enough that the dog can smell it.
Since dogs do not like to smell spice, one whiff is all it takes for them to run the other way. It can be sprinkled around the garden, creating a boundary of sorts. Another smell they do not like is vinegar. Pouring some of it into coffee filters and placing them around the garden will also keep your four-legged friends away.
3. Setting Up Decoys
A very interesting product I was told about by a friend of mine, as I complained about my ruined veggies, were bright eye animals. These were little statues with red eyes that mimicked the eyes of other animals and effectively kept dogs and squirrels out. Since dogs don't like other critters at night, they tend to stay away.
It is like having a scarecrow for dogs. However, they can be a bit expensive, considering the same can be done with a cheaper light. For DIY bright eyes, you can build one with solar-powered LED lights.
- DURABLE ALL-WEATHER DESIGN - NOT CARDBOARD - Constructed from corrugated plastic (not cardboard) with a steel spring for long-term outdoor use. Built to withstand sun, wind, rain, snow, and seasonal temperature changes.
- WHY A DOG? A CONSISTENT PREDATOR SIGNAL- Dogs naturally chase geese for sport, making them a more consistent perceived threat than predators like coyotes that typically hunt only when hungry. The dog form helps reinforce a persistent danger signal that geese learn to avoid.
- DAILY POSITIONING MAKES A DIFFERENCE–For best early results, move the decoy to a new location each day during the first week and follow the included setup instructions carefully. Small adjustments to placement, height, or orientation can significantly improve effectiveness.
- EFFECTIVE VISUAL DETERRENT- Mimics a predator’s presence with lifelike, wind-activated movement that may help keep geese, deer, seagulls, rabbits, and more away from your property.
- DURABLE CORRUGATED PLASTIC DESIGN - Made from sturdy, weather-resistant corrugated plastic (not cardboard) with a steel spring to withstand sun, wind, and rain for reliable long-term use.
- HUMANE & ECO-FRIENDLY – Chemical-free solution that helps protect your yard, garden, or commercial space without harming animals, pets, or the environment.
4. Sprinklers
Not all dogs like baths, especially the ones that happen unannounced. This is why having automatic sprinklers helps keep dogs away from the garden. Not only can it be used in the general upkeep of your lawn, it is also a fun sight to watch as dogs try to dodge the water.
Since dogs are fast learners, they will know to not go to a certain area unless they wish to be sprayed.
5. Keeping Toys
This one is the most effective when your dog is still in that learning stage. Keeping its favorite toys in another area of the house will lure it to that spot instead of the garden.
With Butch, I bought him some nice toys and started to call out to him any time I saw him head to the garden. With an established play area, soon it was where he would dart to.
6. Positive Reinforcement
In continuation with the previous point, offering a treat always helps. Not only is this great during the training phase, but can also be incorporated later in their life. Giving the dog some treats if you successfully direct them into another space will lead them to associate that part of the house with treats and toys.
This way, every time the dog listens, it knows that it will be rewarded. However, I advise you to slowly phase out the treats not to create and encourage dependency.
- Zoom Room Dog Training (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 180 Pages - 04/02/2019 (Publication Date) - Callisto (Publisher)
- Book: the big book of tricks for the best dog ever: a step-by-step guide to 118 amazing tricks and stunts
- Language: english
- Binding: paperback
Some Tips
If you are dealing with this sort of behavior from your dog, it will help to establish designated areas from the start. Since I first learned the importance of this with Butch, I incorporated these measures while raising my dogs. So now, they do not go into the garden, on the bed or in the pantry.
If your dogs don't spoil the garden but like to walk through it, creating a path will help. This way, they can walk to their hearts’ content without spoiling the veggies or the flowers.
If you don't have a garden and are not going through with it because of your dogs, planning the layout will help. Planting veggies at an elevation and securing it off with a boundary of flowers can help set the tone for your furry friends.
Final Words
Regardless of whether you have a garden or not, training your pets is highly essential.
This helps in ensuring that in the future, there isn’t any difficulty in setting boundaries. With the proper training, dogs can be taught to avoid certain areas, and that knowledge stays with them for the rest of their lives.
It is not necessary to implement all of the points, but a combination of 2 or 3 will definitely do the trick. With that, I conclude my guide on how to keep dog out of garden. I shall be back soon with many more such guides.
Until then, stay safe and pet your furry baby for me!