Re: Help....

 

Chris,

I think I can relate.  I have a 13 month old Catahoula Leopard Dog (american breed for cows and boars) who simply cannot contain her Greyhound heritage.  In the past I have had a Corgi and Corgi cross.

With the Corgis I was able to just scold them "Get out of the beds" and follow with a "good dog" when they happened to land all four feet back on the paths.  Those two dogs were adults before the irises came along.

The Catahoula is different.  Initially, she was just too unfocused in general to even hear a command, so she was just tied nearby, but out of reach of the irises.  She did grab a freshly planted rhizome out of the dirt once when she was allowed a little liberty.  When that happened I brought down a hellfire and brimstone of disapproval on her AND sent her to her crate in the house.  Since she is very people oriented anything that gets her sent to her crate gets her attention.  Since then if I catch her so much as sniffing a rhizome she gets a very harsh scolding.  Now, she's big enough that she's earning the priviledge of roaming the area around the iris bed at liberty.  I've gotten lucky, she's found a few large bones as she roamed around.  Then, near the iris bed, but not in it, becomes a really nice place to hang out and enjoy the find. 

Over the long run, your disapproval, and very clear boundries are going to be the best tactics.  If the puppy is getting to the iris beds before you can, then just use a leash when you go that way.  Or if the garden is in his space just use the disturbed rhizomes as the proverbial "rolled up newspaper", or "rub his nose in it".  What are you doing to keep him from chewing shoes?  Apply the same logic.

Christian

From: Donald Eaves <donald@eastland.net>
To: SpaceAgeRobin@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Fri, September 3, 2010 11:08:20 PM
Subject: Re: [SpaceAgeRobin] Help.... [1 Attachment]

 

So, Chris. How's it going with the puppy? He's probably is a lot more than
15 pounds now, but I'll bet he's still very much a puppy! Chewing, romping
and playing. Lot's of pleasure to be had. Unfortunately I think you're
going to find that a cat is a lot more congenial in a garden than large
dogs. That's the downside. The photo shows the rocks (and they're larger
than the photo indicates) that were dug out and then got put back to keep
the dogs from digging. I have a lot of iris beds littered with big rocks.
Sadly, the rocks aren't nearly the worst of it. I also have lumber laid
across the beds, lots of clay pots strategically located, a couple of
leftover sections of bull wire fencing, assorted plant cages and metal
stakes stuck around and about, and finally, worst of all, some rusty metal
lawn chairs stuck in the iris beds. All to discourage the dogs from
digging. The location is always remedial on a place they've chosen, either
as a shortcut or a digging spot. Still it's never enough. They haven't
been kind to me this summer. And I had another use intended for those
rocks! Oh well. :)

Donald Eaves
d*@eastland.net
Texas Zone 7b, USA

----- Original Message -----
From: "broue2002" <c*@videotron.ca>
To: <S*@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 19, 2010 8:56 PM
Subject: [SpaceAgeRobin] Help....

> Evening all,
>
> I have a problem. Our new 8 week old Golden Retriever pup is eating all
> of my Irises. He rushes to the garden the first chance he gets and rips
> off all the fans, he even pulls the rhizomes out of the ground.
>
> Can anybody offer any assistance?
>
> Thanks
> Chris
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>


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