Keeping a dog out of your garden can be a big job. Dogs love gardens. They love the smells, the soft dirt, and the cool places to rest. But this can mean dug-up plants, ruined flower beds, and damaged vegetables. It’s hard to have a nice garden and a happy dog sometimes. But there are ways to make it work. You can use different methods to protect your plants. This guide will show you proven ways to keep your dog from going into your garden areas.
Image Source: preview.redd.it
Learning Why Dogs Go There
Dogs do not go in your garden to be bad. They go there because it is fun or meets a need. Knowing why helps you choose the right way to stop them.
Here are some reasons dogs go into gardens:
- Digging: They might dig to bury bones or toys. They might dig to find cool dirt on a hot day. Some dogs dig because they are bored. Others dig because they smell something interesting in the soil.
- Exploring: Gardens have many smells. New smells are exciting for dogs. They like to check out new things.
- Resting: Shady spots under plants or cool dirt feel good to a dog on a warm day.
- Eating: Some dogs eat grass or plants.
- Playing: Gardens offer space to run or places to hide toys.
When you know why your dog goes into the garden, you can pick the best way to stop them. Maybe they need a place where they can dig. Maybe they need more playtime. Or maybe you just need a strong fence.
Using Fences and Barriers
One clear way to keep dogs out is to build a wall. This is like telling them, “This area is not for you.” Fences are a very good way to protect your garden. They create a physical barrier.
Types of Garden Fencing for Dogs
There are many kinds of fences you can use. What works best depends on your dog and your garden.
- Wire Mesh Fencing: This is often cheap and easy to put up. It stops dogs from walking through.
- Pros: Costs less, simple to install.
- Cons: Not very pretty, some dogs can jump over or push under it if it’s not high or strong enough. Digging dogs can go under.
- Wooden Fences: These look nice and can be strong.
- Pros: Look good, block the dog’s view (this can help some dogs), can be tall.
- Cons: Cost more, harder to build, need care (like painting).
- Plastic Fences: These are often light and easy to move. Some are temporary.
- Pros: Easy to use, lasts a long time in weather, many styles.
- Cons: Can be flimsy for big or strong dogs, not always tall enough.
- Ornamental Metal Fencing: These fences look very nice.
- Pros: Look great, last a long time.
- Cons: Very expensive, not always solid (dogs can sometimes get through gaps depending on the style).
Making Fences Work for Diggers
If your dog digs under fences, you need to plan for that.
* Bury the bottom of the fence a foot or more into the ground.
* Place rocks or buried chicken wire along the base inside the fence. This stops them when they try to dig down.
* Angle fencing material like wire mesh or chicken wire out from the bottom of the fence line, just below the soil. When the dog tries to dig near the fence, they hit this buried wire that slopes away from the garden.
Making Fences Work for Jumpers
If your dog jumps fences, you need a tall fence.
* How tall? This depends on your dog’s size and breed. A small terrier might need a 2-3 foot fence. A large or athletic dog might need 5-6 feet or more.
* Some people use angled extensions at the top of the fence facing outwards. This makes it harder for dogs to get a grip to climb over.
Using Low Borders and Edging
For flower beds or smaller garden areas, you might not need a full fence. Low borders can work for some dogs.
* Using rocks, bricks, or short decorative fences (1-2 feet tall) can create a clear line the dog should not cross.
* This works best for dogs who respect boundaries. It won’t stop a dog determined to get in. But it helps keep dogs off flower beds by making the edge clear.
Creating a barrier with garden fencing for dogs is a reliable step. It shows the dog clearly where they can and cannot go. It is a strong part of many dog proof garden ideas.
Using Scents and Smells
Dogs use their nose a lot. Strong smells can tell them where they should not go. Some smells dogs do not like. You can use these scents to keep dogs out of garden areas.
Natural Dog Deterrents
Many common things have smells dogs dislike. Using these can be a way to use natural dog deterrents.
- Citrus: Dogs often do not like the smell of lemons, oranges, or grapefruit. You can put citrus peels around plants. Or you can spray a mix of citrus juice and water.
- How to use: Put peels right on the soil. Mix juice from one lemon or orange with a cup of water. Spray it around the garden edge or on plants (test on a small part first). Reapply often, especially after rain.
- Vinegar: White vinegar has a strong smell dogs dislike.
- How to use: Soak rags in white vinegar and place them on stakes around the garden edge. Or mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the edges of the garden bed. Do not spray vinegar directly on plants as it can hurt them. Reapply often.
- Coffee Grounds: Used coffee grounds have a smell and texture dogs might avoid.
- How to use: Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the base of plants or along garden edges.
- Certain Herbs or Plants: Some plants have smells dogs tend to avoid.
- Examples: Rue, lavender (some dogs), pennyroyal (be careful, can be toxic if eaten in large amounts), citronella grass. Planting these around the edge might help.
- Spicy Smells: Dogs do not like the smell of chili or cayenne pepper.
- How to use: Sprinkle cayenne pepper flakes around the garden edge. Be very careful with this method. It can hurt a dog’s eyes or nose if they get too close or try to lick it. Use only a little bit and watch your dog. This is less recommended than other methods because of the risk of harm.
Commercial Dog Repellent for Gardens
You can also buy sprays made to keep dogs away. These dog repellent for gardens sprays use smells or tastes dogs do not like.
- How they work: They usually contain things like bitter agents, essential oils (like citronella or eucalyptus), or predator urine smells (though this can sometimes attract other animals).
- How to use: Follow the directions on the bottle. Spray around the garden edge, on non-plant surfaces, or on stakes.
- Things to remember:
- Make sure the product is safe for plants and other animals.
- Check if it is safe for kids.
- Reapply often, especially after it rains or the smell fades.
- Dogs can get used to smells, so these might not work forever.
Tips for Using Scents
- Reapply: Smells fade fast, especially outside. You need to put them out often.
- Vary Scents: If you use the same smell all the time, your dog might get used to it. Try changing the smell sometimes.
- Combine Methods: Scents work best when used with other methods, like training or barriers.
- Safety First: Make sure any scent you use is safe for your dog, your plants, and other wildlife.
Using scents is one tool in your toolbox. It can help keep dogs off flower beds and other areas by making them less inviting.
Changing the Garden’s Feel
Dogs might go into the garden because they like how the ground feels. Soft dirt is great for digging or resting. You can make the ground less nice for them.
Using Textures Dogs Dislike
Some textures feel strange or unpleasant on a dog’s paws.
- Mulch: Rough mulch like pine cones or sharp-edged bark can be uncomfortable.
- How to use: Put a layer of rough mulch around plants or in beds.
- Gravel or Stones: A path or border made of sharp gravel can deter dogs.
- How to use: Create a border of gravel around the garden.
- Chicken Wire or Prickly Mats: Laying wire mesh or plastic mats with small spikes on top of the soil can stop dogs from walking or lying there.
- How to use: Cut chicken wire or mats to fit the bed. Lay it flat on the soil surface. Plants can grow through the holes, but dogs won’t like walking on it.
- Plant Thickly: Planting many plants close together leaves less open soil for dogs to walk or lie down on.
- How to use: Design your garden beds to be full of plants.
Using textures can help keep dogs off flower beds by making the ground less appealing than soft dirt.
Using Motion and Sound
Some dogs are scared or surprised by sudden movement or noise. You can use this to keep them out.
Motion Activated Dog Deterrent
These devices spray water or make noise when they sense movement. A motion activated dog deterrent can be a good surprise for a dog entering the garden.
- Motion-Activated Sprinklers: These connect to a hose. When a sensor sees movement (like your dog), it sprays water for a few seconds.
- Pros: Safe, surprising, covers a large area, works day and night. Most dogs do not like being sprayed with water.
- Cons: Can spray people too, need a water source, can be expensive for large areas, some dogs might get used to it or even play in the water.
- Motion-Activated Alarms/Sounds: These make a loud noise when they sense movement.
- Pros: No water needed.
- Cons: Noise can bother neighbors, might not scare all dogs, can be annoying for you too.
Other Sound Deterrents
Things that make noise when touched can also work.
* Putting cans or noisy objects near the garden edge that rattle if bumped.
Using motion or sound works because it is a sudden, often unpleasant, event that happens only when the dog goes near the forbidden area. This teaches them that going there results in a surprise they don’t like.
Dealing with Specific Behaviors: Digging
One of the most common garden problems is digging. Dogs dig for many reasons. To stop dog digging in garden, you need to figure out why they are digging and offer a better option.
Why Dogs Dig in the Garden
- Heat: They dig holes to find cooler soil to lie in.
- Boredom/Energy: They have too much energy and nothing to do. Digging is fun!
- Burying Things: Hiding toys or bones.
- Hunting: Trying to catch moles, voles, or other pests they smell underground.
- Escape: Digging under fences to get out of the yard (if the garden is near the fence).
- Anxiety: Some dogs dig when they feel stressed or worried.
How to Stop Dog Digging in Garden
Once you know why, you can try these steps:
- Meet Their Needs:
- Exercise: Give your dog plenty of walks and chances to run and play outside the garden. A tired dog digs less.
- Mental Fun: Give them puzzle toys or training games to tire their brain.
- Chew Toys: Make sure they have good chew toys to keep their mouth busy.
- Cool Spot: Provide a cool place to rest outside, like a dog bed in the shade or a cooling mat.
- Create a “Digging Zone”: Give your dog a place where digging is allowed.
- How to: Pick a spot away from the garden. Make a sandbox or loosen the soil in a small area. Bury toys or treats there to make it fun. When you see them digging in the garden, gently stop them and take them to the digging zone. Praise them when they dig there.
- Make the Garden Undesirable for Digging:
- Cover the soil with chicken wire (as mentioned before) or flat rocks.
- Plant ground cover that makes it hard to dig.
- Place their own poop in the holes they dig (this often makes the spot less appealing).
- Use scents they dislike near the digging spots (citrus, vinegar).
- Supervise: Watch your dog when they are outside, especially at times they usually dig (like in the morning or evening).
- Interrupt and Redirect: If you catch them digging in the garden, clap your hands or make a noise to stop them. Do not yell or punish them after they have already dug. This will just confuse them. Once you get their attention, lead them away and give them something else to do, like playing with a toy or going to the digging zone.
Stopping digging takes time and patience. It is a common issue when trying to protect your garden.
Protecting Specific Areas
Sometimes you don’t need to keep the dog out of the whole yard, just parts of it. Protecting vegetable garden from dogs or keeping dogs off flower beds are common goals.
Protecting Vegetable Garden From Dogs
Vegetable gardens are often tasty and have fresh soil, making them a target.
- Full Fence: A fence around the vegetable patch is often the best way. It can be tall enough to keep out jumpers and secured at the bottom for diggers.
- Raised Beds: Planting vegetables in raised beds makes them less accessible. If the beds are high enough, some dogs won’t bother trying to get in. You can also add simple netting or cages over raised beds to protect against dogs (and other animals).
- Physical Barriers within the Bed: Place stakes, small fences, or even prickly branches between rows of vegetables.
- Ground Cover: Use mulch or straw between plants to make walking less appealing.
- Scent Deterrents: Use citrus peels or commercial sprays around the edge of the vegetable patch, being careful not to spray edible plants directly.
Keeping Dogs Off Flower Beds
Flower beds often have soft soil and tempting smells.
- Low Borders: Use bricks, rocks, or short decorative fences to create a clear edge (1-2 feet tall). This works well if your dog respects boundaries.
- Thorny Plant Border: Plant rose bushes or other prickly plants around the edge of the bed. Dogs usually won’t push through thorns.
- Ground Cover: Use rough mulch, pine cones, or chicken wire laid flat on the soil between plants.
- Plant Densely: Fill the bed with plants so there is little open space.
- Scent Deterrents: Use scents dogs dislike around the edge of the beds.
For both vegetable gardens and flower beds, these methods can help keep your dog safe from plants (some are toxic) and keep your plants safe from your dog.
Training Your Dog
Training is a powerful tool. It teaches your dog what you want them to do. You can use training dog not to go in garden areas.
Teach “Leave It”
This command is very useful. It means “do not touch or go near that.”
* How to: Start with a treat in your hand. When your dog tries to get it, close your hand. Say “Leave it.” When they stop trying, give them a different treat. Slowly make it harder, like putting the treat on the floor. Build up to saying “Leave it” when they look at the garden. Reward them when they turn away.
Teach “Go To Your Spot”
Teach your dog to go to a specific place (like a mat or bed) when you ask. This gives you a way to get them out of the garden area.
* How to: Reward them for going to their spot. Make it a happy place. Practice asking them to go there from different places in the yard.
Reward Good Behavior
Catch your dog doing the right thing. When you see your dog playing nicely in the yard outside the garden, or resting in their own spot, praise them and give them a treat. This teaches them that staying out of the garden is good.
Be Consistent
Everyone in the house must use the same rules. If one person lets the dog in the garden and another stops them, the dog will be confused.
Never Punish After the Fact
If you find a hole or damaged plant later, do not scold your dog. They will not understand why they are being punished. They need to be stopped as they are doing the bad behavior.
Training takes time and patience, but it helps your dog learn boundaries and can fix the root cause of some garden problems (like boredom). Training is a key part of effective dog proof garden ideas.
Providing Alternatives
Dogs have needs. If you don’t meet their needs, they will find ways themselves, often in your garden. Giving them other things to do or places to go can help a lot.
- Designated Digging Area: We talked about this before, but it is important. A place they can dig satisfies that natural urge.
- Increased Exercise: More walks, runs, or fetch games can use up energy they might otherwise use digging or running in the garden.
- More Playtime: Spend time playing with your dog in the yard outside the garden. This makes being with you and the yard fun, without needing the garden.
- Chew Toys and Puzzle Toys: Give them toys to keep them busy when they are outside alone. A frozen Kong filled with treats can keep a dog happy for a long time.
- Shade and Water: Make sure they have a cool, shady spot and fresh water outside. They might be going into the garden just to cool off.
By giving your dog safe, fun, and approved ways to meet their needs, you make the forbidden garden less appealing.
Bringing Ideas Together: Dog Proof Garden Ideas
The best way to keep your dog out of the garden usually involves using more than one method. This is how you create truly dog proof garden ideas.
Think about building layers of protection:
- Layer 1: The Main Barrier. This might be a full fence around the garden or yard. This is the strongest step.
- Layer 2: Area Protection. Use lower borders, chicken wire on the soil, or raised beds within the fenced area to protect specific beds (like the vegetable garden or flower beds).
- Layer 3: Deterrents. Use scents around the edges or motion-activated sprinklers to make the area less inviting.
- Layer 4: Training. Teach your dog commands like “leave it” and reward them for staying out.
- Layer 5: Meeting Needs. Make sure your dog has plenty of exercise, toys, and maybe a place they can dig.
Using these methods together makes the garden a difficult or unpleasant place for the dog to be. It also makes staying out of the garden easy and rewarding.
Be Patient and Consistent
Keeping a dog out of the garden does not happen overnight. It takes time.
- Patience: Your dog needs time to learn the new rules. There will be mistakes.
- Consistency: Everyone in the home must enforce the rules the same way, every time. Do not let the dog in the garden sometimes but not others. This confuses them.
- Observation: Watch your dog. Learn their habits. When do they try to go in the garden? Why? This helps you adjust your plan.
Celebrate small wins. Every time your dog chooses to stay out of the garden on their own, give them praise!
When to Get Help
If you try many things and nothing works, or if your dog shows signs of stress or anxiety related to the garden, it might be time to get help.
* Professional Dog Trainer: A trainer can help you teach your dog commands and work on behavior issues like digging or running into forbidden areas.
* Veterinary Behaviorist: For serious issues like anxiety that causes destructive behavior, a vet behaviorist can help figure out the cause and create a plan, which might include medicine.
Most of the time, using a mix of barriers, deterrents, training, and meeting your dog’s needs will solve the problem.
Conclusion
Having a dog and a garden you love is possible. It just takes some effort to show your dog where they can go and where they cannot. By using things like garden fencing for dogs, natural dog deterrents like scents, physical barriers to keep dogs off flower beds, and tools like motion activated dog deterrents, you create clear boundaries. Training your dog not to go in garden areas and giving them other fun things to do helps them learn and be happy. Addressing specific problems like how to stop dog digging in garden with tailored solutions is key. Putting these proven ways together helps you protect your vegetable garden from dogs and keep all your plants safe. Be patient, be consistent, and enjoy your garden and your dog.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
H4 Are dog repellent sprays safe for plants?
Most commercial dog repellent for gardens sprays are made to be safe for plants when used as directed. However, you should always read the label carefully. Some natural remedies, like strong vinegar or cayenne pepper, can harm plants if sprayed directly on them. Use these on borders or non-plant items like stakes or rags.
H4 How long do natural scent deterrents last?
Natural scents like citrus or vinegar fade quickly outside, especially in sun or rain. You may need to reapply them every day or every few days to keep the smell strong enough to deter dogs.
H4 Will a motion-activated sprinkler scare my dog too much?
Most dogs are just startled by the sudden spray of water and learn to avoid the area. It is generally considered a safe and humane deterrent. A very sensitive or anxious dog might be overly scared. Watch your dog’s reaction. If they seem truly terrified, this method might not be right for them.
H4 My dog just walks through low garden borders. What else can I do?
Low borders work well for dogs who respect visual cues. If your dog ignores them, you need a stronger physical barrier like taller garden fencing for dogs. You can also add textures they dislike (like chicken wire on the soil) or use scents just inside the border.
H4 How long does it take to train a dog not to go in the garden?
Training takes time and depends on the dog’s age, personality, and how long the behavior has been happening. Some dogs learn quickly in a week or two, while others might take months of consistent work. Be patient and celebrate small successes.
H4 Can I use my dog’s poop to stop them from digging?
Yes, placing your dog’s fresh poop in a hole they dug can often make that spot less appealing for future digging. Dogs usually do not like to dig where they eliminate.
H4 What if my dog is eating plants in the garden?
Eating plants can be a sign of a nutritional need, boredom, or just curiosity. First, make sure your dog is getting a balanced diet. Then, use barriers (fencing, raised beds) and deterrents (scents) to keep them away from the plants. Make sure they have safe things to chew on instead. Research if any of your garden plants are toxic to dogs and remove them if needed or ensure your dog cannot reach them at all.