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nearly ready to kill the dog!
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Posted by ashke SA Aust (My Page) on Mon, Jul 11, 05 at 12:29
| I have a 9 mth old German Shepherd dog, which is actually quite good re the rest of my garden (doesn't dig, chew plants, etc) but for some reason, absolutely loves to knock over my terracotta pots. I have lost 4 pots already (they were the largish, squat type pots about 40cm across) which he tips slightly, letting it rock back, then tips it again, repeatedly. They eventually crack, then break.
He has lots of doggie toys to keep him amused (which I rotate to prevent boredom), is exercised regularly, etc so don't think that's the issue.
I've tried both the spray and gel type dog deterrents (citronella type) with no luck. Does anyone have any other ideas in order to keep him away from my pots? I'm steadily running out of pots for my bulbs and annuals! Help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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Could you group the pots together tightly? Maybe sit them on something that doesn't allow them to rock (hmmmm - like what she thinks?) Or dig them into the ground by about 1/3 of the pot? Or sit them all in white polystyrene boxes for now - I know - it looks ugly, but your dog will be much better behaved by the time he is 2 yo. He is still very much a playful puppy.
Cheers, Jan |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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Yes, maybe, if you can break the cycle like putting them into the poly boxes, he'll lose interest and then, with a bit of luck, he'll find something else to amuse himself with.
If you could work out something to put under the pot, so that when it was rocked, it made a loud noise that startled him, he'd stop??? (don't ask me what...haven't got that far yet)
Annie |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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My dog upends a lot of pots chasing garden lizards. Polystyrene trays here just get turned into beanbag material, sort of Christmas in July.
The absolutely best deterrent of course is to catch your pup in the act and deliver a stern and loud "NO!" and slap your hands loudly followed by a diversion to something else. But of course you can't be watching the pots 24/7.
See if you can make a temporary barrier round them with something that will stop them rocking - like bessa blocks you can sometimes get seconds or rejects off building sites and then re-cycle them somewhere in the yard when he's found a new game. Alternatively and depending where and on what they are sitting, hammer a metal rod or tent peg down through the drainage hole into the ground and that should slow him up a bit. |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by ashke SA Aust (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 12, 05 at 5:51
| thanks everyone...I'll pass on the polystyrene, they'll just end up in his new Xmas display , which currently consists of the foam and wadding from his two kennel mats. At the moment, I've placed garden furniture/chairs, etc around some of the pots, as I didn't have anything else available, but I have too many pots, and not enough furniture lol Unfortunately, all of the pots are sitting on paving, so I don't think the idea of putting a peg through the drain hole, or siting them partway into the ground is going to work. However I do like the idea of the besser bricks, etc...might start scrounging local salvage yards to see what I can find; as stated, I only have to wait about another 18 months before he grows up, and my pot plants can live in peace! lol BTW, are there any deterrent products on the market which are actually successful at keeping pets away from certain items? |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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| I dont have much faith in deterrents. A few years ago I tied dog repellant to my new trees and the dog ate the dog repellant. I found her frothing at the mouth She had to have her stomache pumped and spend a night at the vets. Cost me a fortune .True story! The only thing that has evr worked for me is to catch them in the act and use a big growly voice. time comsuming but effective pam |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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| Perhaps, as a flippant solution, you could get together with the person who has cat problems and then provide your dog with a cat to play with. I'm sure they'll get along well...*girn* |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by Liatris FraserCoast,Qld (My Page) on
Tue, Jul 12, 05 at 17:02
| Take him to obedience classes, or better still, find yourself a good puppy trainer and teach him the 'leave' command, with rewards when he learns to do the right thing. Most dogs live to please their owners, so it would probably take very little time, without having to be on lookout 24/7 for your dog to lose interest in the pots. Although he has plenty of toys, it doesn't sound as though he finds them as stimulating as your pots. |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by ashke SA Aust (My Page) on
Thu, Jul 14, 05 at 12:59
| lol MooQuack, he certainly finds cats entertaining as both neighbours either side of me have them, and he quite enjoys barking to get their attention! One of the horrible creatures sits on top of their pergola, peering over the fence at him, the other sits just outside my carport roller door, within sight/smell range. Liatris, he is enrolled already in obedience classes (in fact tomorrow night is graduation night from his first set of beginner classes). He does know the "leave it" command, and does so when told to...it's while I'm not there that he loves to "attack" the pots, and as I'm a shift worker, that can either be day or night, hence the desire/hope/wishful thinking about the deterrent. Younquinn...learnt my lesson re toxic type things, when he managed to get into the rat bait, and I'd only had him for 2 weeks...he has cost me heaps in vet bills/medication! But I do love him |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by Liatris FraserCoast,Qld (My Page) on
Thu, Jul 14, 05 at 19:57
| Ashke, what I was thinking was along the lines of taking the dog to the pots and specifically pointing them out, and telling him "leave" with the appropriate treat. Then having a casual stroll around the garden and every time he walks past the pots ignoring them, give him another. It shouldn't take him long to catch on. |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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| Just heard on the radio this morning about a deterrant thatDOES work - available only through vets. Apparently it is called 'Skunk Shot Gel'. Ask your local vet to see if it is suitable. (have a look on the web too) Cheers
Robyn |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by Mrs_B SA Aust (My Page) on
Sat, Jul 16, 05 at 4:00
| see if you can get some 2nd hand small tubes from a mtr bike or lawn mower shop - patch them and then blow them up and set the pots in them. Else tie ballons to pots, when they burst he will get a fright, although don't invite him to the next birthday party:o) |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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| "I have a 9 mth old German Shepherd dog, which ... absolutely loves to knock over my terracotta pots. I have lost 4 pots already (they were the largish, squat type pots about 40cm across ... I only have to wait about another 18 months before he grows up ... (complete sentence)" and then he will be able to knock over a brick ****house. |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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| How about spreading some cayenne or regular pepper around. Or even some chilli powder if he's actually chewing stuff. |
RE: nearly ready to kill the dog!
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- Posted by ashke SA Aust (My Page) on
Thu, Jul 21, 05 at 0:04
| kombi..i think if I had a brick **** house, he would have already tried to knock it over (or tried to climb on top of it!) lol he does love to climb up high (chairs,tables, etc) |
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