Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jun 15, 2009 11:34 am Hey guys I have been trying to think up dog-friendly garden ideas for when my place is built. I have an american staffy (2yo) and a Kelpie x Blue heeler (1yo). The staffy is REALLY well behaved and will only chew her toys etc on her bed and doesnt dig or jump. The kelpie on the otherhand...don't even get me started! He digs, he jumps, he runs around (which tears up my grass) he pulls my plants out and runs around the yard with them (including well established palm trees) He's like a little devil child! I swear he TRIES to make me angry! This is not due to lack of exercise either - I take them for long walks twice a day when I can, but he still has energy to burn during the day while I'm at work. A few people have suggested running a cable along the fence line so he can only run up and down there but I really dont like the idea of tying him up. I'd like to try and work around it. Ive just had him desexed too, so hopefully he'll start calming down! (keeping in mind that my house wont be built until next year, so hopefully he'll be a bit more mature by then!) As for the yard, I'm thinking of having decking under the alfresco area which will have my pool table, bar and outdoor setting on. Just outside of that I wanted to have a bit of grass and probably a garden around the outside with a water feature of some kind in the centre. I don't know how my dogs will go with a water feature though. I know the staffy will be fine but I worry about the other one. Also, my kelpie gets rashes on his belly from the grass we have now, so I need to find a low allergenic grass for him. Any ideas?? Also, any ideas on plants? Or ways to keep dogs out of gardens? I have tried the sprays and pellets and all that from the pet shop that claim to keep dogs off your garden but they dont work. I've tried pepper etc to stop my rat-dog from digging but that doesnt work either. I'm running out of ideas! HELP! Nat Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 2Jun 15, 2009 12:35 pm I'm so sorry to hear about your "over-zealous" kelpie, a friend of mine had one, and she was an "energy-festered" little bugga too, and she never settled down with age. They had problems with barking too. Basically, my friend was upset that the person selling her the kelpie didn't say it was a working dog (albeit a tad energetic - to make things worse!) and that as such, she needed a big back yard (because they normally rome around farms etc). But anyways, that's life. So I fully understand your stress with the kelpie. I have no advice, sorry, just thought I'd share that storey with you. (Although I won't tell you what happened in the end... sorry)!!! But hey, everyone has a different situation, so good luck with getting other forumers to assist you with your yard! Annie A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 3Jun 15, 2009 12:45 pm NatB, we've had a few Heelers over the years. We've always had higher fences, and we always layed chicken wire in the garden beds. When they dig, they hit it and it hurts their paws. They soon learn. Just makes sure it is held securely, we would nail it to the bottom of the fence, then peg the other side into the ground. It's a PITA to lay it, but it always stopped our Heelers from digging. Annietom I'm so sorry to hear about your "over-zealous" kelpie, a friend of mine had one, and she was an "energy-festered" little bugga too, and she never settled down with age. They had problems with barking too. Basically, my friend was upset that the person selling her the kelpie didn't say it was a working dog (albeit a tad energetic - to make things worse!) and that as such, she needed a big back yard (because they normally rome around farms etc). But anyways, that's life. So I fully understand your stress with the kelpie. I have no advice, sorry, just thought I'd share that storey with you. (Although I won't tell you what happened in the end... sorry)!!! But hey, everyone has a different situation, so good luck with getting other forumers to assist you with your yard! Who buys a dog without understanding the breed, the nature and it's needs? Man that p*sses me off. A dog pays the price because a person was irresponsible. Sorry Annie, but your friend is just wrong, she should have known what she was buying. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 4Jun 15, 2009 12:54 pm This might sound extreme, but try an electric fence for where you don't want the dog to go. My cousin had a nice water feature and garden bed that he didn't want his new puppy destroying, so he got a lower powered electric fence type wire thing and ran it around the edge of the garden bed. He said the shock didn't hurt the dog, just gave it a bit of a buzz but after the first time the dog hit it, he never had to turn it on again, just left it there and the dog went no where near the wire. 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 5Jun 15, 2009 1:40 pm don't be sorry joles, i thought similar things. I think they did ask some questions, but obviously not enough! I think they were told that if they walked her every day the dog would be fine, but really, that isn't how it panned out. No matter how much exercise they gave her, she still barked, ran around crazy all the time and so on... I can see myself falling for that "she'll be right if you walk her once a day" too, it just sounds like it makes sense, but sometimes, the dogs need more, and a dog seller won't say that... Needless to say she was really very upset about it. It is sad. A thankful person is a happy person. [/color]My hobby design blog: http://aviewondesign.blogspot.com/ Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 6Jun 15, 2009 3:11 pm Thanks Joles, I'll have to try the chicken wire trick - I hadn't even thought of that! And its got to look better than the jumbo mesh we used to fence of my pretty little garden before...until I got too trusting and took the mesh down....that garden no longer exists We had to get 1.8 metre fences in the place we're currently in, but that was because the staffy was jumping the old one (who knew staffys could jump!?) If all else fails, I guess I could always try the electric fence, although I dont like the thought of zapping my pup! I guess he will learn not to go over there though! Thanks guys, you have been very helpful! Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 7Jun 15, 2009 3:34 pm NatB We had to get 1.8 metre fences in the place we're currently in, but that was because the staffy was jumping the old one (who knew staffys could jump!?) hahah I know staffys can jump. We have a staffy x cattle. 10 years old. And talk about jumping.................. she has springs in her legs!!! We made the fence higher 1.8m to stop her. she still kept getting out. We hid in the bedroom one day and peeped out the window to see how she was getting out. turns out she would knock over the garbage bin, stand on that, and then jump over the fence. Dont underestimate staffys they are CLEVER and NAUGHTY !!!! Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 8Jun 15, 2009 3:39 pm The chicken wire will look fine. We just buried ours a little bit... couldn't even be seen. And once they know it's there and get sore paws, they just don't bother and it stays covered up! I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 9Jun 15, 2009 3:41 pm Haha thats exactly what we did! Hid and then spied on her! Then she got smart and used to push off the rail that runs along the inside of the gate and pull herself up and over, so we had to turn the gate around so the rail was on the outside. Now she just cant be bothered! The worst thing I saw was standing in the kitchen one morning looking out the window. I watched the kelpie (who was only about 6mnths old at the time), push their kennel (which I struggle to move!) over to the pool table, so they could jump up on the kennel then on to the pool table! I was NOT HAPPY!! Brand new pool table with little muddy paw prints on it! I had to go buy a hard cover for it just incase they find a new way to get up there! At the time it only had a leather cover on it which my darling kelpie decided tasted good! Didnt last too long! He's a little terror, but hopefully one day he'll grow out of it Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 10Jun 15, 2009 3:44 pm NatB Haha thats exactly what we did! Hid and then spied on her! Then she got smart and used to push off the rail that runs along the inside of the gate and pull herself up and over, so we had to turn the gate around so the rail was on the outside. Now she just cant be bothered! The worst thing I saw was standing in the kitchen one morning looking out the window. I watched the kelpie (who was only about 6mnths old at the time), push their kennel (which I struggle to move!) over to the pool table, so they could jump up on the kennel then on to the pool table! I was NOT HAPPY!! Brand new pool table with little muddy paw prints on it! I had to go buy a hard cover for it just incase they find a new way to get up there! At the time it only had a leather cover on it which my darling kelpie decided tasted good! Didnt last too long! He's a little terror, but hopefully one day he'll grow out of it Hahahaha naughty little puppies!!! You could try the citrus spray stuff. Similar sort of stuff to what they use for cats. the dogs dont like the smell so wont dig cos they dont like it on their paws. Worked for the staffy. BUT not for the sharpei x lab. apparently he likes citrus . so much he will eat whole lemons!!! Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 11Jun 15, 2009 3:47 pm I was going to suggest nasty tasting/smelling stuff where you don't want them to go too... then I remembered my dog happily licked all the curry powder I put on something to stop him chewing (must to our disgusted amusement)! Renovating a post-war house in Brisbane | On the first rung of the property ladder Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 12Jun 15, 2009 3:50 pm Haha yeh my lab used to like trimming back the lemon tree for us! I was thinking about one of those citrus collars that stop them from barking. Apparently they activate when the dog barks and a little spray of citrus comes up from the collar and distracts them. Have you ever used one or heard anything about them?? I'm keen to try one but theyre around $300 so I want to make sure its going to work. It wont stop my digging problem, but it will keep the neighbours happy! I wonder what it is with dogs and citrus? Will have to pay a visit to the pet shop and bunnings on the weekend to get some citrus spray and chicken wire. At least I feel like I'm getting somewhere now - I thought I had tried everything! Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 13Jun 15, 2009 3:53 pm We had one of those collars for our Bluemax sheppard that wouldnt stop barking. He made the most awful noise when he barked and it squirted at him. Im sure it wasnt painful but he was definately uncomfortable. I felt awful. Didnt stop him barking though just made him aggitated and an unhappy dog. He wasnt the same. I ended up taking it off him. Its better to just find why they are barking and remove that. Eg we found a hole in the fence he was looking through and could see kids playing, so we covered the hole and he stopped! Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 14Jun 15, 2009 4:03 pm Ahh I see. Mine may not be as easy...I think my dog might be a bit 'special'! For example he barks at the wall, or he'll look at my handbag and bark or just walk over to me while Im watching tv and start barking at me! I think he just likes the sound of his own bark! Building 'The Kingston' (with 'Boston' elevation) through Blueprint Homes in Hocking, Perth **PCI complete 06.02.10** My Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17607 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 15Jun 15, 2009 4:07 pm NatB Ahh I see. Mine may not be as easy...I think my dog might be a bit 'special'! For example he barks at the wall, or he'll look at my handbag and bark or just walk over to me while Im watching tv and start barking at me! I think he just likes the sound of his own bark! yeah might be worth a try then with the citrus. Barks at your handbag>????? what a wally!!! Living in Caloundra Thread****** Lovin my house all finished!!! Now tackling the HUGE task of the Garden- viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14782 Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 17Jun 15, 2009 5:48 pm The citronella collars work on some dogs but not all. A lot of councils hire them out so that you can try them before buying them. I would say you need to tire out your dogs mind rather than his body. Skip one of the walks each day and do obedience over that period instead. Try playing Hide and seek - the dog has to stay while you hide a toy. Then needs to find the toy once you "release" him. Start easy, hide it in plain sight and work up until the dog needs to really "think" and check every hidy spot to find it, and is staying put while you hide the toy in different rooms. Using his brain will tire him out a lot more than a run. Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 18Jun 15, 2009 6:05 pm Want to swap Amstaffs? We have one too but she is certainly not what I would call well behaved We are going to have to dog proof our backyard too, she has already chewed through the a/c wires to the outside unit in our current home, ate parts of the clothesline and bit through parts of the decking. She has also eaten all 4 of the beds we got her It is very common for the bull breeds to chew/eat things, a friend of ours had a bull terrier and they had to take it to the vet to get its stomach cut open and the contents removed - some of the things in there A seatbelt, the kids toys, a golf ball.;.. The vet said 90% of the dogs they had to cute open for ingesting things were bull breeds.... No advice sorry My karma ran over your dogma Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 19Jun 15, 2009 6:14 pm it seems that the dog is just bored and it doesn't matter how dog proof you make the garden, they'll always find something to do and to damage. I agreed with the last poster, try to engage the dog in some brain activities together with exercising. Kong toys are very good too, especially if you put frozen food in it, it will take ages to get the food out... You can also have an area in your garden just with sand where the dog is free to dig. Other options are getting a dog walker or a dog minder that can play with the dog while you're at work so that they won't be thinking all day about destroying the garden. You can have water sprinklers in certain areas where you don't want the dog to go (water restrictions permitting and as long as the dog doesn't like water). I definitely would not recommend the electric collar! Re: A Dog Proof Backyard 20Jun 15, 2009 6:18 pm I don't think it could all be a boredom thing - why would one dog be bored and not the other if they have the same lifestyle? Amstaffs are not exactly quiet/placid dogs so I would figure if a Kelpie was bored than the Amstaff would be too.. Our Amstaff gets walked twice a day, played with all the time and comes inside/outside - but she is just FULL ON! Hardly sits still, she is also a pup so I guess that doesn't help My karma ran over your dogma Have look at your house plans and you will probably find that brick articulation joint has been missed. 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