1st puppy inbound - potentially dangerous garden plants
Discussion
We have a Sprocker puppy inbound in 4 weeks time when she'll be 11 weeks old. We're regularly a dog hotel for friends and family but it'll be our first dog.
My wife has got it into her head we need to remove 3 small-ish Rhododendron shrubs as these could be dangerous to the puppy if eaten. A couple of family members with dogs have rhododendron in their gardens and aren't remotely concerned by it as their dogs ignore it.
I'm unsure where on the scale of complete removal, remove 2 (1 hasn't looked healthy for a couple of years, and the other would open up the garden a bit) and fence the other initially, or ignore and see the dogs traits before we do anything is the right answer.
Any there any words of wisdom from the PH collective?
My wife has got it into her head we need to remove 3 small-ish Rhododendron shrubs as these could be dangerous to the puppy if eaten. A couple of family members with dogs have rhododendron in their gardens and aren't remotely concerned by it as their dogs ignore it.
I'm unsure where on the scale of complete removal, remove 2 (1 hasn't looked healthy for a couple of years, and the other would open up the garden a bit) and fence the other initially, or ignore and see the dogs traits before we do anything is the right answer.
Any there any words of wisdom from the PH collective?
Pets at Home Dog Play Pen Black Small
https://www.petsathome.com/product/pets-at-home-do...
Over the many years of owning a series of 4 dogs we have acquired a sizable collection of these barriers which have been either separated or joined together and have been used to block entrances, block garden features and block fallen fences. Good to have available for unforeseen emergency situations.
Don't tell the dogs but they could probably jump over if they tried. But they never tried.
https://www.petsathome.com/product/pets-at-home-do...
Over the many years of owning a series of 4 dogs we have acquired a sizable collection of these barriers which have been either separated or joined together and have been used to block entrances, block garden features and block fallen fences. Good to have available for unforeseen emergency situations.
Don't tell the dogs but they could probably jump over if they tried. But they never tried.
We have had puppies and rhododendrons. They gave never eaten them. The only veggies they like is plain grass when they have an upset tum.
I wouldn't worry. I am presuming the pup won't be left unattended for long periods at first anyway. Once it is a year old you will know if it has any plant chewing tendencies and can remove or not any plants then.
With an energetic dog like a Sprocket I would worry more about anything spiky which could cause potential injuries if hit at speed. One of our Standard Poodles broke her tail running at speed through undergrowth. Luckily no long term effects except a permanent kink. Presumably why some hunting dogs had their tails docked at one time.
Enjoy your new pup.
I wouldn't worry. I am presuming the pup won't be left unattended for long periods at first anyway. Once it is a year old you will know if it has any plant chewing tendencies and can remove or not any plants then.
With an energetic dog like a Sprocket I would worry more about anything spiky which could cause potential injuries if hit at speed. One of our Standard Poodles broke her tail running at speed through undergrowth. Luckily no long term effects except a permanent kink. Presumably why some hunting dogs had their tails docked at one time.
Enjoy your new pup.
Edited by irc on Saturday 6th July 16:29
Edited by irc on Saturday 6th July 16:29
Most PH sprawling estates are awash with rhododendrons (thank goodness for spell checkers) and the dogs are just fine.
An unrelated tip someone gave me when I got my lab x springer was to put whole carrots in the freezer and give these to the pup to chew on. My pup (now 15yrs in Sept) loved 'em and she never chewed any furniture such as chair legs.
An unrelated tip someone gave me when I got my lab x springer was to put whole carrots in the freezer and give these to the pup to chew on. My pup (now 15yrs in Sept) loved 'em and she never chewed any furniture such as chair legs.
Yep plenty of rhododendrons, daffodils, ivy, foxgloves etc here and no issues with our free roaming dogs.
One eats grass occasionally but otherwise as lurcher crosses they're far more interested in things that move - frogs, moths, mice, rabbits, deer, birds that dare to fly overhead, all fair game.
One eats grass occasionally but otherwise as lurcher crosses they're far more interested in things that move - frogs, moths, mice, rabbits, deer, birds that dare to fly overhead, all fair game.
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