Totally ruined

This is how my lovely planter looked :-




This is how is looks when i got home from work today :(







:(:(:(:(:(:(


And before anyone asks what has done the damage ........ the dog !!!!!

The whole reason it was built so high was to stop her getting in it but yesterday I noticed when she was locked outside (while someone was fitting the new windows) she decided to jump into the planter to try and get in the window.

Today while i have been at work one of the kids decided to lock her outside while they went out and obviously she has again climbed in the planter to look through the window!!!

To say I am angry would be an understatement right now ...... but what I want to know is .... do I risk planting it all back up again with new bedding plants or buy something that is dog proof ?? Is there such a thing ??

She isnt usually too bad, although she does squash the odd branch here and there when squating for a wee ..... but I have never seen her wreck anything like this in the 10 years I have had here :(

Any suggestions on what I do next

 

Oh Sam what a shame. I really dont know what the answer is except maybe some extra training sessions or a good talking to.

 

That is a shame, but to be fair, she probably thinks her Mum built it especially for her to look through the window. The only thing is discipline, but if she has an excitable nature I don't think there is anything anyone can do-except maybe give Caesar a call.

 

Oooooh Sam I would be furious, wouldn't know whether to kick the dog or the kids or both (only kiddin) She seems a bit old to be doing things like this! My dog Cassy used to jump over our front wall when i walked her now there's a raised bed there she doesent bother, I shouted at her a couple of times at first tho cut the plants back and see if they will grow again and you can buy the cat/dog spray to keep her off your planter, just keep an eye on her and tell her off if she go's near..

 

Oh Sam, really sorry to see what's happened. I know nothing about dogs (chickens are easier to keep under control!) so I can't offer any assistance, except my condolences :(

I would be livid if it happened to me. Although I'd be tempted to punish the children too (I don't have any of them either!).

 

Can you string a couple of lengths of rope across from each side of the fence so as to make a temporary barier...... chances are after a week she will forget about it.

Otherwise squirt her with a water pistol as soon as she trys to jump up.

 

Thanks all - am still mad as hell !

Dog has been told off by other half. Kid has been told off and is now sulking up stairs! You would think she would know better (the kid) she is 17 !!

I just havent a clue why the dog has all of a sudden decided to do this. Its been there weeks and she has barely even looked at it ! Sadly think the dog at age 10 is probably a bit too old and set in her ways to do much with now though :(

I know she wouldnt dare go near it at all if Im out in the garden with her. She usually follows me like a shadow all day when im out there .... on the off chance she will get a nice cold drink out the hose

Problem is .... I cant be here all the time. Thats where I am stuck now.

If I plant more .... what happens when another kid locks her outside ? I would imagine now she would jump straight back in it again!

Just been out watering all the garden and was thinking ..... I could put some wire netting stuff over the top so if she did get back up, she would sit on that inside of the plants .... but then thats hardly going to look very attractive is it ?

Cant really fence it off as such as although we have fence one side, its brick wall the other so nothing to attach it too. Plus it would only take me to forget to put the rope across one day, go out and she will ruin it again!

Any suggestions for any squash proof plants ? Or is there not such a thing ?

It probably wouldnt have been so bad if it was the little jack russell. She hardly weighs anything .... but the collie x ...... pah !

 

Also meant to ask - how does the cat/dog spray stuff work .... and does it work ?

 

Hi Sam
oh dear, I feel sad for you. :( I would be so upset - could you stick some canes in the earth between the plants? I know it wouldn't look so attractive but I have had to do that to keep the fat pigeons off my plants.
I have used the dog/cat repellant but I don't think it would make any difference to your dog. Other than holly bushes, canes or sticks I can't think of anything else.

 

My Sis has been bothered with cats in her garden and she tried allsorts that didn't work, so she bought the spray for Cat/dogs and shes had no more cat Cr** in her garden.. im assuming it works for dogs and it does exactly what it says on the bottle It wasn't expensive either, about £1.99.

 

Have just had a read up about the spray stuff. Apparently animals return to the same place because of urine scents so the spray aliminates the scents to stop them returning ..... Sadly thats not what the dog is using my planter for so dont think it would work at all.

Canes might be an idea - will have to have a look see what I can get that will visually look ok too. Just been thinking about maybe some large hoop type ones all around the edges so that its too high for her to ever possibly jump ? not sure what that would look like though

Am sure I have seen these in the pound shop so might be worth a try. Get a couple of packs and see what it looks like. If it looks rubbish at least its only cost a couple of quid.

Dont suppose B & Q will have any of their big trays of bussy lizzies and begonias left now though. Think they were 3 packs for a tenner so am sure they will all be gone now.

 

What a shame. I'd be furious, but as angry as you will obviously be, you can't really blame the dog. They do all sorts of damage when they feel trapped or locked out.

As for squash proof plants, there are a few but I'm not sure how many produce pretty flowers. Thyme can take serious punishment, as can heathers. Thyme is sometimes used in pathways as they can withstand being walked on fairly regularly. I don't know any others off the top of my head, but I know there must be a few, because people sometimes create living benches, with mat forming plants for the cushion.

 

I'm sure they will Sam. Or something similar you can plant instead

If the dog has never done it before, then maybe it only happened because it was locked out by sulking daughter, so if the dog isn't locked out again, maybe it won't happen again.

 

Thanks clueless, will have a look at those suggestions

Your right though, its not really the dogs fault. She should never have been locked outside!! Obviously she doesnt understand so doesnt even know the damage she has done ... poor thing.

Other half took her to the planter and showed her what she had done. I havent dare tell her off cause I would be too cross at her to be honest and that would be unfair. Its not like she has done it on purpose !

 

Punish your daughter, not the dog!