I am wondering what is the current protocol for jobbing gardeners who do weekly maintenance in a garden that has dogs 'running free'? I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with? What would other gardeners do? Leave? Say something? Put up with it? Please help.

In article ,
Boo wrote:

I am wondering what is the current protocol for jobbing gardeners who do
weekly maintenance in a garden that has dogs 'running free'? I have
recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with? What
would other gardeners do? Leave? Say something? Put up with it?
Please help.

A fence.

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:04:30 -0500, "Dan L."
wrote:

In article ,
Boo wrote:

I am wondering what is the current protocol for jobbing gardeners who do
weekly maintenance in a garden that has dogs 'running free'? I have
recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with? What
would other gardeners do? Leave? Say something? Put up with it?
Please help.

A fence.

Charge extra for scooping? There are actually poop scooping services
out there - you could see what they charge and add on the fee.

On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:46:35 +0000, Boo
wrote:


I am wondering what is the current protocol for jobbing gardeners who do
weekly maintenance in a garden that has dogs 'running free'? I have
recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with? What
would other gardeners do? Leave? Say something? Put up with it?
Please help.

We have a local city animal control. But, they are lazy and want the
home owner to trap the dog before the come out. They go to the city
dog pound then put to sleep after a couple days.

In article ,
wrote:

On Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:04:30 -0500, "Dan L."
wrote:

In article ,
Boo wrote:

I am wondering what is the current protocol for jobbing gardeners who do
weekly maintenance in a garden that has dogs 'running free'? I have
recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with? What
would other gardeners do? Leave? Say something? Put up with it?
Please help.

A fence.

Charge extra for scooping? There are actually poop scooping services
out there - you could see what they charge and add on the fee.

When it comes to the flower gardens and lawns, I leave the poop alone.
After a good rain or two its gone. I always wear boots and garden
gloves. Gloves are a must. Not just cheap brown cloth gloves. Get gloves
that have a rubber like material covering the fingers and palms. I have
seen too many gardeners with nail fungus. Boots get a hosing before I am
done.

Vegetable garden should have a fence around it. Dog poop bad news here.

If you want to get rid of the poop, bury it.
As for charging more, it depends on how bad you need the job or money.

Enjoy Life ... Dan

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.

Thank you for your replies, however, I may have not been clear. The dogs belong to the person who owns the garden I am working in. All English back gardens are fenced. I don't think there is a scooping service in Sussex, UK. The person does not walk the dogs, but just lets them into the garden, hence the mess. I have done as Dan says, rubber gloves, and now I wear wellies, to keep my boots and trousers clean. It is almost not worth the effort, however, as I have plenty of work. Many thanks.

Being an owner of 3 big dogs I find it outrageous that you are expected to work on someone’s property that has been fouled by dogs.

Dog poo is not nice stuff, even to a dog owner, it contains countless bacteria that can affect humans. So why should you work in this persons garden with dog poo?

Even wearing wellies and rubberised gloves is not complete protection!

I have recently had builders in to remove some hedging and erect a fence along with laying a greenhouse base and erecting a greenhouse. I have also had tree surgeons in to remove some trees and lop back others.

On all occasions I have made sure there is no dog poo where they would work and the dogs have been fenced off to keep them safe and don't forget, not all builders or tree surgeons are happy around dogs, especially big dogs.

I would not want to work where there is dog poo so I would not expect anyone else to have too.

So if I was you I would ask the owner to clear it up or just don't work there.

All the best
Gardenjunkie

Boo writes:

Thank you for your replies, however, I may have not been clear. The
dogs belong to the person who owns the garden I am working in. All
English back gardens are fenced. I don't think there is a scooping
service in Sussex, UK. The person does not walk the dogs, but just lets
them into the garden, hence the mess. I have done as Dan says, rubber
gloves, and now I wear wellies, to keep my boots and trousers clean.
It is almost not worth the effort, however, as I have plenty of work.

If you feel that way, I suggest you talk to the owner.

Tell them they are the only customer where you have to deal with that.

If you want the extra work, (or money), offer to clean the stuff up
yourself for a price. Otherwise ask them to remove it before you get
there.

Personally, I don't think gardens and dogs work together.
I have a friend with a very large yard and 3 labs. The yard was
beautiful when they moved in. Now it's a wasteland with many holes
three or more feet deep and not a living plant in sight.

Hello

1) Create a Barrier: Creating a barrier between your dog and the flower bed usually works very well. This can be done a number of ways. It isn't difficult to create something that is functional, affordable and very appealing. One way to do this is to use different fencing options to border the flower bed. You can also build raised beds for your outdoor plants, using stone, bricks or pea gravel for ground enhancement. Container gardens can be another solution to the problem, and they make maintenance a snap.
2) A Place of His Own: Give your dog his very own play area, where he is allowed to dig and roll round whenever he wants. Use landscape timbers to create a large sandbox and teach your dog to go there when the urge to dig hits. Don't use lumber treated with CCA or preservatives, as these substances have been associated with disease. You can also use iron, retaining blocks, stone or a number of other materials to construct your dog's special area. Fill it with wood or bark chips, leaves or another type of mulch. Dogs love to dig in sand, so you can use a mix of sand and soil, but be careful not to use too much sand as this will take away the "cool dirt" feeling your dog loves.
3) Home Remedies: Many times, using herbs or spices will deter your pet. Sprinkle red pepper and cumin throughout the flower garden, or use a spray mixture of cayenne pepper and rubbing alcohol. This causes him to sneeze and will be a good discouragement from getting into the flowers.

Thanks for reading

On Nov 26, 4:15*pm, Balvenieman wrote:
Boo wrote:
I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with?

* * * * In my view, the presence of dogs in the garden is a clear
indication of their owner's regard for the garden as well as for the
person who tends it. It's time to move on and to be very clear about
your reasons for doing so.
--
the Balvenieman
Running on single malt in U.S.A.
Peninsular Florida,
USDA zone 9b

What is this, the anti-dog forum?? Dogs and gardens can be perfectly
compatible as long as the dogs have ben properly trained and the
owners accept the responsibility for their pets. I've gardened for
years with an assortment of dogs and most of my gardening firiends and
acquaintenances are dog owners as well - none of our gardens are
moonscapes with dead or ripped out plants and giant craters from
digging. In fact, dog-friendly garden design is a large portion of my
design practice - at least in my area, dog-owning gardeners are the
majority rather than the minority and it certainly does not mean they
have no regard for their garden. What a preposterous attitude!

If the dog waste is offensive, simply tell the owner it is and ask to
have it cleaned up before your scheduled arrival. If they can't/won't
accomodate, take your business elsewhere. As mentioned previously, it
breaks down quickly into inoffensive components just like any other
garden waste and if the dog is healthy/well-cared for, there will be
no heath issues.

Thanks everyone,
Some of you have made it quite clear that you would move on. I think this is probably the answer. I will finish this year (can't be long now!) and decline to attend in the Spring.
Many thanks.
Boo

gardengal writes:

On Nov 26, 4:15*pm, Balvenieman wrote:
Boo wrote:
I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with?

* * * * In my view, the presence of dogs in the garden is a clear
indication of their owner's regard for the garden as well as for the
person who tends it. It's time to move on and to be very clear about
your reasons for doing so.

What is this, the anti-dog forum?? Dogs and gardens can be perfectly
compatible as long as the dogs have ben properly trained and the
owners accept the responsibility for their pets.

Yes, I'm anti-dog. All it takes is a few dog bites to develop that
attitude.

But just for my information, as I understand it, a large dog needs to
run when let outside. If the dog runs on the grass, in a few days the
grass will be gone.

What kind of training do you use for dogs in your backyard? Do you
train them not to run at all, or just in selected places?

In article
,
gardengal wrote:

On Nov 26, 4:15*pm, Balvenieman wrote:
Boo wrote:
I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a
client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with?

* * * * In my view, the presence of dogs in the garden is a clear
indication of their owner's regard for the garden as well as for the
person who tends it. It's time to move on and to be very clear about
your reasons for doing so.
--
the Balvenieman
Running on single malt in U.S.A.
Peninsular Florida,
USDA zone 9b

What is this, the anti-dog forum?? Dogs and gardens can be perfectly
compatible as long as the dogs have ben properly trained and the
owners accept the responsibility for their pets. I've gardened for
years with an assortment of dogs and most of my gardening firiends and
acquaintenances are dog owners as well - none of our gardens are
moonscapes with dead or ripped out plants and giant craters from
digging. In fact, dog-friendly garden design is a large portion of my
design practice - at least in my area, dog-owning gardeners are the
majority rather than the minority and it certainly does not mean they
have no regard for their garden. What a preposterous attitude!

If the dog waste is offensive, simply tell the owner it is and ask to
have it cleaned up before your scheduled arrival. If they can't/won't
accomodate, take your business elsewhere. As mentioned previously, it
breaks down quickly into inoffensive components just like any other
garden waste and if the dog is healthy/well-cared for, there will be
no heath issues.

As long as it is a decorative, and not a vegetable, garden.

It is hard to imagine that the owner of the garden wouldn't want to curb
his dogs from using the garden as their toilet. A dog toilet garden is
something that s/he and his/her friends could enjoy from a far.

If you are cleaning up after the dogs, you should keep track of the time
that it takes you and the additional expenses involved (plus the time to
calculate it and add it up) in this aspect of your work.

I don't know if you are being paid hourly or are salaried, but you
should inform your employer you need to be reimbursed for additional
time and materials that fall outside of your job description as a
gardener.

I have dogs and I use tomato cages to protect plants and to direct the
dogs to paths that I want them to use. When I find them in the garden, I
yell at them ad chase them out. As for un-composted doggie doo, I'm
against it in the garden (vegetable) or on the paths, so I clean it up
myself. If I couldn't, I'd get rid of the garden, or hire someone to
clean it up.
--
³When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.²
-Archbishop Helder Camara

http://tinyurl.com/o63ruj
http://countercurrents.org/roberts020709.htm

On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:05:43 -0500, wrote:

gardengal writes:

On Nov 26, 4:15*pm, Balvenieman wrote:
Boo wrote:
I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with?

* * * * In my view, the presence of dogs in the garden is a clear
indication of their owner's regard for the garden as well as for the
person who tends it. It's time to move on and to be very clear about
your reasons for doing so.

What is this, the anti-dog forum?? Dogs and gardens can be perfectly
compatible as long as the dogs have ben properly trained and the
owners accept the responsibility for their pets.

Yes, I'm anti-dog. All it takes is a few dog bites to develop that
attitude.

But just for my information, as I understand it, a large dog needs to
run when let outside. If the dog runs on the grass, in a few days the
grass will be gone.

If the yard is adequate for the dog, there's no problem with the
grass. I have dogs and grass and several gardens. I mow less every
year as I expand the garden areas.

What kind of training do you use for dogs in your backyard? Do you
train them not to run at all, or just in selected places?

You can teach dogs all kinds of things with praise, non praise sounds
and repetition. Boundary training can be taught beginning with a leash
and gradually weaning off the leash. Mistakes are good, because then
you can let them know that's not what you want.

Sorry you got bitten a few times. The more I learn about dogs, the
more I'm amazed more people aren't. It seems so normal for parents to
let their children pat dogs they've never met on the head or hug them,
placing their faces right next to the dogs mouth, full of teeth. Dogs
do not like to be pat on the head by strangers and they usually don't
like being hugged by anyone. They're canines, not primates.

My biggest problem with dogs in the garden is tomato stealing.

In article ,
wrote:

On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:05:43 -0500, wrote:

gardengal writes:

On Nov 26, 4:15*pm, Balvenieman wrote:
Boo wrote:
I have recently had a problem with a large amount of dog mess in a
client's
garden and wonder if it is just something we have to put up with?

* * * * In my view, the presence of dogs in the garden is a clear
indication of their owner's regard for the garden as well as for the
person who tends it. It's time to move on and to be very clear about
your reasons for doing so.

What is this, the anti-dog forum?? Dogs and gardens can be perfectly
compatible as long as the dogs have ben properly trained and the
owners accept the responsibility for their pets.

Yes, I'm anti-dog. All it takes is a few dog bites to develop that
attitude.

But just for my information, as I understand it, a large dog needs to
run when let outside. If the dog runs on the grass, in a few days the
grass will be gone.

If the yard is adequate for the dog, there's no problem with the
grass. I have dogs and grass and several gardens. I mow less every
year as I expand the garden areas.

What kind of training do you use for dogs in your backyard? Do you
train them not to run at all, or just in selected places?

You can teach dogs all kinds of things with praise, non praise sounds
and repetition. Boundary training can be taught beginning with a leash
and gradually weaning off the leash. Mistakes are good, because then
you can let them know that's not what you want.

Sorry you got bitten a few times. The more I learn about dogs, the
more I'm amazed more people aren't. It seems so normal for parents to
let their children pat dogs they've never met on the head or hug them,
placing their faces right next to the dogs mouth, full of teeth. Dogs
do not like to be pat on the head by strangers and they usually don't
like being hugged by anyone. They're canines, not primates.

My biggest problem with dogs in the garden is tomato stealing.

I have dogs and chickens ... My dogs are trained not to bother the
gardens. Chickens ... those gals really know how to mess up a garden

Enjoy Life ... Dan

--
Garden in Zone 5 South East Michigan.