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Re: Can a Dog Eat Your Plants??

Doreen Howard wrote:
>
> Every night something has been eating various plants that are in
> pots on my deck---even in freezing weather when the pots were covered
Snip
  My question--does anyone have a marigold, parsley,
> Christmas cactus, lettuce, cilantro, daisy and Hens & Chickens eating
> dog????  Could it be Brandy?????
> Doreen
     I'd almost bet on it, because it is not at all unusual.  Dogs will
eat your plants because they are bored, because they feel a need for
something in their diets or just because the plants are there.  You can
stop her doing this by punishing her for doing it.  There is more to
punishment than just beating the bejezus out of the dog.  You can only
change a behavior, using reward or punishment, WHILE the behavior is
going on.  Dragging Brandy back to the scene later and thumping on her
body will NOT stop this.  Booby trapping the plants will.  I suggest you
try one or more of several approaches.  Mulching your plants with
cayenne pepper might work, unless your dog is tex-mex.  Setting several
dozen mouse traps in the area, sort of making a mine-field out of it
might work.  Grouping your plants together and surounding them with a
hot wire will definitely work.  And then, of course, not giving your dog
unsupervised access to the deck will also work.
     Lots of folks don't realize that our dogs are omniverous and also
need fiber in their diets.  It's a good idea, a couple times a week to
give your dog a can of string beans or carrots in place of her regular
kibbles.
     Hope this helps.
                                  Dick
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