Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in
from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living
room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:05:01 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:

Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in
from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living
room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

Pat

Well, my dogs do love the strawberries and forage for them!

Charlie.

"John DeBoo" wrote in message
...
Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in
from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living
room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:05:01 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:

[...]

Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

Well, yes, my cat enjoys it, but strictly for toilet purposes.

--

Persephone

writes:
Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in
from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living
room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

I had a two-foot tall fence around my garden just for that reason . . . to
keep my dog out of the garden. Because she had so much play area, she
made no attempt to go in but looked very abused when we were in the garden
and told her to stay our. (She was a bit spoiled.g) I had a dog this
year for a short time, she spent Sunday morning under the berry bushes,
laying there and enjoying dessert!

I have found the fence, even that short, discourages the cats from going
in the garden though it certainly doesn't have the ability to keep them
out . . . and there is no gate. They are either very smart cats or they
don't like the smell of tomato plants.

Glenna

On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:05:01 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:

Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in
from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living
room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?

I have that beat (unfortunately)... My first Black Russian tomatoes
were finally ripe. Seven beautiful dark brown tomatoes that I'd
waited months to try were lovingly placed in a basket on my diningroom
table. I proceeded to go ahead and make dinner. Next time I walked
by the table, I noticed THREE of my brand new home grown beloved
tomatoes were *gone*! No trace! Naturally, I suspected that they'd
become projectiles for two of my sons. I stomped into the livingroom
to find out who'd been throwing my beautiful tomatoes and where they
were.... and then noticed my little cat jumping on the table, putting
her head in the basket and grabbing one in her teeth! She then jumped
down and ran off.. I followed, (yes, just screaming) and found her
behind a chair, having a great time eating my tomato! There wasn't a
thing left of the others, either! I have since tried her on cherry
tomatoes and Better Boys, but she likes my Black Russians. Figures.

I now put the tomatoes away in the cabinet.

My lhasa and sheltie helped themselves to english peas one year. Wouldn't have
been so bad, but they pulled up the whole plants and left the parts they
didn't like laying on the porch..

I would never trust the lhasa around carrots, lettuce or tomatoes. He'll steal
them off the table.

Pat Meadows wrote:
On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:05:01 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:


Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in

from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living

room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?


Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

I tried the fence trick once but she got around it so I figured I
simply needed to plant enough for her and us. As for veggies in
general, she most think they are meat or something - she harvesyts
the garden, he just begs. I've not found a common veggie yet that
she or the male do not like. They beg at the counter for any we are
cutting. They eat pickles, onions, garlic (in small qtys), potatos,
celery, carrots, even green chili (really small qty here). The one
thing I've found that both do not like and run from is BEER. If
they get a whiff of it, they're history. Oh, and the female loves
moths and flies. I've watched her in the past harvest tomatos. She
slowly circles the plants, sniffs each tomato, selects the victim of
the moment and very delicately plucks it. At least she doesn't ruin
the plantG.

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 10:57:48 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:



Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

I tried the fence trick once but she got around it so I figured I
simply needed to plant enough for her and us.

We looked outdoors this morning and BOTH our dogs were in
the garden: they've learned to put their front paws on the
chicken wire fence, and bend it down. Then they step over
it. We know this because that's how they got OUT of the
fence, we saw it. Drat.

We're re-fencing in a week or two (for another reason) with
4' welded wire fencing, and will enclose the garden with it
- that will keep them out of the garden. That's what we
have for a perimeter fence, and so far, so good.


As for veggies in
general, she most think they are meat or something - she harvesyts
the garden, he just begs.

It's not unusual: lots of dogs will enjoy lots of different
veggies. We have one (a rough collie) who will eat
absolutely anything that people eat, with his favorite treat
being a piece of banana. Our other dog is selective about
veggies and fruits, but will eat quite a few of them.

Pat

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 10:57:48 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:

Pat Meadows wrote:
On Wed, 02 Jul 2003 09:05:01 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:


Our female MinPin has once again decided that our tomato plants are
in *HER* yard for *HER* dining pleasure. Nice green tomatos that
are lightening up are slowly picked by her, and enjoyed. I come in

from watering the garden last night and there she is in the living

room with a nice plump one under one paw and a look that said
"What?". Sure glad I have lots of plants so we can enjoy some too.
Anyone else have critters that enjoy us having a garden in *THEIR*
domain?


Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

I tried the fence trick once but she got around it so I figured I
simply needed to plant enough for her and us. As for veggies in
general, she most think they are meat or something - she harvesyts
the garden, he just begs. I've not found a common veggie yet that
she or the male do not like. They beg at the counter for any we are
cutting. They eat pickles, onions, garlic (in small qtys), potatos,
celery, carrots, even green chili (really small qty here). The one
thing I've found that both do not like and run from is BEER. If
they get a whiff of it, they're history. Oh, and the female loves
moths and flies. I've watched her in the past harvest tomatos. She
slowly circles the plants, sniffs each tomato, selects the victim of
the moment and very delicately plucks it. At least she doesn't ruin
the plantG.
My dog has developed a sweet tooth. She loves the cherry tomatoes
because the are sweet. She REALLY loves the strawberries,
blackberries and raspberries. She only picks the ripe ones!

Pat Meadows wrote:
On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 10:57:48 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:



Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

I tried the fence trick once but she got around it so I figured I
simply needed to plant enough for her and us.


We looked outdoors this morning and BOTH our dogs were in
the garden: they've learned to put their front paws on the
chicken wire fence, and bend it down. Then they step over
it. We know this because that's how they got OUT of the
fence, we saw it. Drat.

We're re-fencing in a week or two (for another reason) with
4' welded wire fencing, and will enclose the garden with it
- that will keep them out of the garden. That's what we
have for a perimeter fence, and so far, so good.



As for veggies in
general, she most think they are meat or something - she harvesyts
the garden, he just begs.


It's not unusual: lots of dogs will enjoy lots of different
veggies. We have one (a rough collie) who will eat
absolutely anything that people eat, with his favorite treat
being a piece of banana. Our other dog is selective about
veggies and fruits, but will eat quite a few of them.

Pat


It's pretty bad when we have to 'get up early' to stay ahead of the
critters. Kids, another story, but critters? How come they are
getting so smart?

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 13:23:04 -0400, Pat Meadows
wrote:

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 10:57:48 -0600, John DeBoo
wrote:



Well, no. But only because we fenced them out of the
garden.

Our two large dogs would otherwise be very happy to eat
tomatoes and lots of other veggies. They wouldn't leave
much for us!

I tried the fence trick once but she got around it so I figured I
simply needed to plant enough for her and us.

We looked outdoors this morning and BOTH our dogs were in
the garden: they've learned to put their front paws on the
chicken wire fence, and bend it down. Then they step over
it. We know this because that's how they got OUT of the
fence, we saw it. Drat.

We're re-fencing in a week or two (for another reason) with
4' welded wire fencing, and will enclose the garden with it
- that will keep them out of the garden. That's what we
have for a perimeter fence, and so far, so good.


As for veggies in
general, she most think they are meat or something - she harvesyts
the garden, he just begs.

It's not unusual: lots of dogs will enjoy lots of different
veggies. We have one (a rough collie) who will eat
absolutely anything that people eat, with his favorite treat
being a piece of banana. Our other dog is selective about
veggies and fruits, but will eat quite a few of them.

Pat



I had a Siberian Husky that would try to eat anything he saw me
eating and would pick beans and ate the centers out of my nice chinese
cabage and other veggies I had growing, but try as he may, he couldn't
eat oranges or tangerines. It's not that he didn't try, but the first
little bit and he would have to get it out of his mouth. I think it
was the sour that he didn't like.

James Mayer wrote:
snipped

I had a Siberian Husky that would try to eat anything he saw me
eating and would pick beans and ate the centers out of my nice chinese
cabage and other veggies I had growing, but try as he may, he couldn't
eat oranges or tangerines. It's not that he didn't try, but the first
little bit and he would have to get it out of his mouth. I think it
was the sour that he didn't like.

Oddly enough, the MinPins like oranges and other fruits. I was
surprised when I gave them each a section and they scarfed it down.
Four legged garbage disposals would be a better name I think.

Glenna Rose wrote:

I have found the fence, even that short, discourages the cats from going
in the garden though it certainly doesn't have the ability to keep them
out . . . and there is no gate. They are either very smart cats or they
don't like the smell of tomato plants.



Though many may think its mean,
Two strands of high tensile with a small solar fence charger will spook
away almost anything small, at least we have found. Our siberian husky
used to LOVE tomatoes but has since lost his flavor for them it seems.
Now he just loves to bomb through the garden like a wild bull with no
regard for the isles, or vegetables. We live on a farm so he is used to
bounding through meadows of tall hay so row of carrots or onions means
nothing to him.
Our cat is addicted to catnip so badly that we have taken to planting
it inside the fence and delivering him a metered dose daily. He will
obliterate a large catnip in short order. He now stands outside the
fence like he is in line at the methadone clinic waiting for his few sprigs.
The small solar fence charger delivers only a couple joules and it only
took a couple hits for both of them to steer clear. Now the dog comes
charging down the field aiming right for the gate to the garden like its
not even there, at the last moment he must get a flashback and clamps on
the binders and starts a hard left banking turn to just miss the fence.
Quite amusing to watch.
We still let them in the garden as there is enough for them to trample
and it will still be ok but its nice to be able to keep them out when
needed.
We have gone to a 5' 5 strand fence with 3 of the strands being
electric. We then ran a single strand of white clothesline around at 8'
and other than the occasional rabbit who jumps the wire 4" off the
ground we havent had a single animal in the garden.

Mark

Mark & Shauna wrote:
snip
Our cat is addicted to catnip so badly that we have taken to
planting it inside the fence and delivering him a metered dose daily. He
will obliterate a large catnip in short order. He now stands outside the
fence like he is in line at the methadone clinic waiting for his few
sprigs.

So cats actually eat the plant? When I was younger we had cats and
their catnip was always inside a cloth ball or sock so I assumed
that they got hyper from the scent or residue as opposed to eating it.