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.

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 ,
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.

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

"gardengal" wrote in message
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
______________________________________________
Of course dogs and gardens can compatible, but that is not what has been
described by the OP.