How can we keep our dog out of our flower beds?

He is a mut, probably a mix of lab and german shepherd, who we rescued from the pound 4 years ago. Is there any thing we can use to keep our big dog out of the flower beds? He doesn't really dig in them, he just uses them for a bed! He has a dog house, but rarely spends time in there. We spent yesterday mulching and want to keep him from laying in them. We wondered about spreading cayene pepper. Would that work or is there any thing we can buy at a garden center? Any ideas?

How can we keep our dog out of our flower beds?
You can fence that in using some sort of pickett fencing or what not. Cayenne won't bother your dog but will kill any insects living in there. If he was digging, I would say to put down chicken wire cause that hurts their feet but he is just laying there so fencing is probably your best choice.
Reply:Thanks everyone for your answers. We also called our vet who discouraged us from using the cayene pepper. She said it may cause gastrointestinal problems. So we are looking into these ideas and a few others that people have mentioned. Thanks again. Report It
Reply:Your flower beds offer a warm spot in the winter and a cool spot in the summer. Because dogs are creatures of habit, your dog has formed the habit. Now you need to retrain him.

One solution would be to lay chicken wire in all the beds. Another would be to allow him one spot and chase him out of any other bed.
Reply:I would not suggest putting pepper or anything like that in there for the simple fact that some products, even spices may have an adverse reaction for your plants and flowers.

Instead I would suggest buying some fine weave Metal fencing that you can still see through that is atleast 2 feet high

and placing that around the outside of the planted area.

If you are also concerned about wild animals that may wander into your gardens , I have used garlic plantings around the edges and also sprinkling human hair here and there within the bed. ( I know this sounds kind of gross) but it works because the scent of Humans deters animals and keeps them from eating your produce and plants.

I'm not sure where you live, I am In upstate NY and right now our flowers and things are just starting to flower, I've done all of the above, as we have possums, skunks, squirrels and other things that Love the gardens here.

Good Luck and remember, a good NO and shaking a can of beans or something Loud to startle him, may also do the trick when you catch him there. Dogs hate loud noises.

I am not one for tying a dog but if all else fails that may be your only option when you cannot monitor what he is doing.

Take Care.
Reply:I use, and have always used, cayenne pepper to keep my (9) cats and (1) dog out of my flowerbeds.



Cayenne pepper will not harm plants, even if it washes into the soil. It's "hot"; one snootful and your pet will move on, irritated but unhurt. I even use it to discourage armadillos, nature's most destructive plant-ripper-upper.



I sometimes use chicken wire on new beds, but dogs are smart. Once you remove the chicken wire (and you don't want to leave it there forever), the dog will return to the beds.



You might also consider making a nice mulch bed for your dog to lie in. Again, dogs are smart, and you may be able to train him to stay in "his" mulch bed.
Reply:Apart from planting thorny plants to deter him the only answer is a fence. Dogs and gardens do not go together well. It might be worth fencing off part of the garden for you and leave some for the dog!

facial treatment