Best way to keep dog out of plant?

loratliff · 09-22-2008, 12:44 PM

I'm about to kill him! Not really, but if I have to sweep up potting soil one more time, who knows what I'll do?

It's not so much the plant itself, which is non-toxic FYI (dwarf royal palm), but he loves the potting soil. In fact, I don't even think he likes to eat the soil; he just likes to go over and stick his face in it. This wouldn't be so bad if he didn't have a beard, but the beard means that he tracks it all over the floor.

Obviously, I reprimand him with a sharp clap and a "NO!" when I see him near the plant, but he doesn't seem to get it. ARGH.

GroovyGroomer777 · 09-22-2008, 12:52 PM

I have the same issue with one of my dogs and the garbage. Let me know when you find the answer.

Can you move the plant to higher ground?

BTW, Iggy Pop is a real looker!

pamperedpups · 09-22-2008, 12:54 PM

Groovy - Dogs getting in the trash = Best reminder in the world to take the garbage out!

loratliff - I would try thinking of someplace else to put the plant, or work on a "leave it" that makes leaving the plant alone more reinforcing than not, then crating Iggy when you can't be around to watch him.

GroovyGroomer777 · 09-22-2008, 12:56 PM

LOL yes ... why didn't I think of that?

pamperedpups · 09-22-2008, 01:02 PM

I come home to the trash gone through every few days or so because I'll forget to take it out before I leave. I used to get all frustrated picking it up again and grumbling about what "bad dogs" I had and how they needed to STAY OUT OF THE TRASH! The dogs would clear out of the way and watch me looking sad, but the next time I was away and the trash was left they were at it again. I started taking the trash out more often and didn't spend nearly as much time frustrated as I had been picking it up. Every now and then I'll forget and now that I know I could have prevented the mess, I simply clean up after the "Dog Party," take it out and look at it as a reminder to do my job.

loratliff · 09-22-2008, 01:06 PM

If you have a big pantry, storing the trash in the pantry works great!

I don't want to move the plant (sorry, my design sensibilities at work here.

) and he never gets into it when I'm away. In fact, when I'm gone, he lays in his crate. He only bugs the plant when I'm around and working, as it's near my desk.

I guess I'm in for a long road of treats and "leave it's".

starry15 · 09-22-2008, 01:24 PM

I'd suggest you teach your dog the word "leave it" instead of no. Two months ago my dog didn't know that word and would pull things out of the grabage and start getting into popporie/candles that my mom had sitting around the room. It was annoying and scary because I was afraid that he would swollow something that would kill him. I had always told him "no" but that didn't do no good. Once I taught him leave it he learned.

To teach leave it you have to let your dog do the bad behavior. Once your dog is in the garbage or plant you walk over to them and say "leave it" and give them a little wack on the nose. Not a hard wack but enough that they know you mean to leave it alone!! They will test you and keep going back and you have to be consistant and give them the wack on the nose and say leave it. Eventually your dog will learn leave it means don't touch it or a wack on the nose. My dog will still get into the garbage but as soon as I say leave it, he backs away knowing that he did wrong.

pamperedpups · 09-22-2008, 01:54 PM

There is absolutely NO need to whack a dog on the nose to teach him "leave it." Doing so you are likely to either end up with a head shy dog and/or one who will snap defensively.

starry15 · 09-22-2008, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pamperedpups

There is absolutely NO need to whack a dog on the nose to teach him "leave it." Doing so you are likely to either end up with a head shy dog and/or one who will snap defensively.

Note I said NOT HARD. Just a little thump on the nose. It isn't out of fear your teaching your dog that way. Your teaching your dog that if you said leave it and he don't leave it he will get a consquence which is a little thump on the nose. There is a big difference there!! I've used that with my dog and he isn't hand shy around me. He gets one warning and if he don't listen then he gets the thump. My mom did the same thing to me, if I misbehaved as a little girl I would get a spank on my butt and I can garentee you it was alot harder than a thump on a dogs nose. It don't even hurt the dog! Just a correction form for your dog to understand.

kelliope · 09-22-2008, 02:08 PM

Get some mexican beach stones (or other smooth stones) and cover the dirt on the top of the plant. Not only will it help keep moisture in the plant and reduce watering, but it will not be so attractive to your guy.

Worked wonders for my dog. He now doesn't dig at all. Even if there are no rocks.

pamperedpups · 09-22-2008, 02:37 PM

I did note that you said NOT HARD, but the correction would have to be hard enough to be effective (punishing) and that is determined by the individual dog. Some dogs may roll over and pee submissively after being flicked on the nose, while still others may be able to take a hard swat like nothing ever happened. Then there are dogs like your own who will take a whack every now and then and continue to do the behavior anyway every now and then. That doesn't sound very effective to me at all, especially when I can train "leave it" positively as a cue, not a command with a negative consequence attached to doing it "or else."

Check out: http://www.clickertraining.com/node/57

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1785

loratliff · 09-22-2008, 09:01 PM

I'm not going to physically touch the dog. Sorry, but that's out of the question, particularly with this dog. He is already very shy by nature. I'd hate to see how he'd be if I ever laid a hand on him. He does know "leave it," but "NO!" is a bit stronger than "leave it" in his book.

Thanks for the suggestion with the beach stones, kelliope. I think that will work best (and look decent too!).

klip · 09-23-2008, 05:11 AM

loratliff - do you think he may be using this plant thing to get your attention? Even if its bad attention ("NO!") a dog still prefers that over being ignored. Does he do it when you are busy with other things?

You may find you will need to challenge your design abibllity to find a out of reach place for that plant

Otherwise he could learn some really bad habits.

My dog used to do that - I think there is something very nice smelling in potting soil- but she got over it when she was older.