Make sure your fence is in line with local property laws. Ask neighbors or go to city hall and check in with officials. Fences can be an expensive option, but might be worth it if the dogs are not easily deterred. For small dogs, a 16-inch fence border will do. It costs roughly $29 for six feet. However, if you have larger and high energy dogs getting into the garden you might consider caging your garden in a chicken wire fence with a top enclosure. [1] X Research source Installation can be tricky, particularly if you’ve never put up a fence solo before. You could consider hiring help, but that can get costly. How-to articles and videos are available online and you can always seek out the help of neighbors, friends, and family members. If the problem dog belongs to a neighbor, you could politely ask them to chip in some for the cost and help get the fence up. Keep the gate closed at all time and routinely check for holes and other wear and tear.
There are a variety of dog-proof plants. That is, plants that are sturdy and tall enough to withstand a dog’s attempt to infiltrate the garden. These include peony, verbena, cone flower, black eyed Susans, Russian sage, and Mexican primrose. If you want other options, ask at your local greenhouse. Shrubs are another option for a plant barrier and may provide a more solidified boundary. Laurel, evergreen, huckleberry, and escallonia are good shrub options. While thorny or prickly bushes, such as holly and barberry, might seem like a good idea for deterring dogs be wary. These can cause harm to dogs when they attempt to get into the garden. You do not want to accidentally injure a neighbor’s pet.
There are a variety of mulches available at hardware stores and greenhouses. Select a mulch that will be uncomfortable for a dog to walk over without harming the dog. One made from pine cones or pine needles is a great option. Decorative gravel, preferably with sharp edges, can also be purchased at hardware stores and greenhouses. Dogs will avoid walking on gravel because of the discomfort it causes to their pads. However, the one downside to gravel is that many people find it ugly. If you’re unsure of using gravel due to aesthetic preferences, you can try to build a rock garden instead. However, the intended effect might not be as great as dogs can more easily navigated loosely collected rocks and stones.
Pick a shaded area. Dogs prefer to stay out of the sun if possible. Make sure there is adequate room for dogs to run and play, and provide toys, food, water, and treats to entice the dog to enter that area over the garden. Use a dog-friendly surface, like wood chips, bark chips, or leaves. A mix of sand and soil is a particularly good option as dogs love digging and such a mixture is soft and easy on their paws. Use positive reinforcement. Praise dogs for entering the doggy zone and reward them with treats.
Soft, dog-friendly mulch can be used to make the path. A spare piece of carpet, if you have it, is also a good choice, as is a soil/sand mixture. [2] X Research source For a choice that’s pleasant for dogs and adds beauty to the garden, you could try stone steps or colorful tiles. Cement pathways are also a popular choice, and can be used by humans as well as dogs. The only downside, however, is making a cement path can get costly and installation may be difficult. [3] X Research source
Clap your hands loudly to get the dog’s attention and interrupt his actions. Say, “No,” and immediately direct him out of your garden. If you have a designated dog-friendly zone in your yard, redirect the dog there. If not, take him to the street and allow him to relieve himself himself on a curb or sidewalk. Get your neighbors on board. If you have a neighborhood where dogs run free, and they seem to have chosen your garden as a bathroom, discuss this with your neighbors. Ask them politely to join you in your efforts to discourage the dogs from using your garden as a restroom.
Dogs react strongly to new smells and odors, and may be put off if a smell suddenly changes. This can signal to them that another animal has potentially infiltrated their space. Switch up with fertilizers you use periodically to make dogs wary of entering your garden. Organic fertilizers are great, but can sometimes contain smells that attract dogs. Look up information on the fertilizer you’re using online to see if anyone has had issues with a particular fertilizer in terms of it attracting dogs. Oftentimes, people are tempted to use rabbit or deer repellents in conjunction with fertilizers to keep dogs at bay. The problem is, such repellents often contain coyote urine and this attracts dogs. Avoid such repellents when trying to keep dogs out of your garden. [4] X Research source
Dog’s often pee in the same places they defecate. Dog urine can leave burn marks on grass and plants, so douse the area with a hose shortly after removing the feces. This neutralizes the acidity of the urine and lessens its effect on the garden. You can also rake compost into the area, which contains soil organisms that balance soil biology and chemistry. Just be sure to move any compost bags well out of a dog’s reach. Throw any fecal matter into a closed dumpster, after sealing it in a plastic bag. You don’t want the smell to attract more dogs to the area.
Garlic, olive oil, and almond oil have been known to keep dogs away when sprinkled on or around plants or in the soil surrounding a garden. [5] X Research source Ammonium and vinegar provide small smells that drive dogs away. Placing ammonium or vinegar soaked cotton balls around the garden, especially in places where dogs have defecated previously, may be effective in keeping pets out. [6] X Research source Oftentimes, home remedies are hit or miss. There are specially made dog repellents, sold online or at pet stores, that are environmentally safe and not harmful to dogs or other animals. Some can be quite expensive, in the $60 to $70 range, while others sell for about $12. [7] X Research source Some sites recommend citrus and cayenne pepper as a deterrent. This should be avoided. Citrus can be potentially harmful to dogs. While not every dog will have a negative reaction to citrus, it has caused health effects for some dogs in the past so it’s best to err on the side of caution. [8] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Cayenne pepper causes irritation in a dog’s face, skin, and paws. You do not want to inadvertently harm your own dog or a neighbor’s dog in attempt to keep them out of the garden.
