GARDENERS WITH PETS NEED TO THINK "DOGSCAPING" AS WELL AS LANDSCAPING
By Liz Palika
As ice and snow melt and mud takes their place, the promise of spring appears with tiny green leaves on the trees. Nurseries begin stocking flowers and vegetables for those brave enough to put in a spring garden.
If you have a pet, however, gardening can bring a great deal of frustration. The owner of a Labrador retriever, who wishes to remain unnamed, planted 100 gladiola bulbs. When she was done, she went into the house to clean up -- while her dog dug up all 100 bulbs. Thankfully, the dog didn't chew on or eat the bulbs, as they are toxic, causing extreme salivation, vomiting and diarrhea.
With a little planning, though, you can have both a pet and a garden.
Design and Placement
Pets can foil gardening efforts by using the garden as a place to relieve themselves, a nap spot or by digging up plants. Plus, some common garden plants can be poisonous to pets. Did you know that the foliage of both tomatoes and potatoes is toxic? To keep your garden and your pets safe, the best idea is to make your garden inaccessible to them.
A raised-bed garden -- one elevated from the level of your yard with concrete blocks or wood planks -- works very well. You can build one in the size and shape of your choice, or seek out ready-made raised-bed gardens from online garden catalogs; all you have to do is find the right spot and put them together.
A fence is the best way to keep your best friend in your good graces. A short decorative fence at the top of the raised-bed garden can work, although if you have a garden in the ground, you'll need a taller, sturdier fence.
Think about the placement of your garden. Judy Macomber, a master gardener who is a dog owner herself, says to examine your dog's present habits. "Where does your dog sleep outside? Where are his paths for wandering the yard? Where does he find shade when it's hot?"
It's much better to locate the garden in an area where your dog hasn't already established himself than it is to change those habits.
Garden Issues
Gardens bring some potential dangers for pets. Many gardeners use a variety of products that can harm or even kill pets. Thankfully, safer alternatives exist.
Choose plants wisely. The ASPCA has a comprehensive list of poisonous plants on its website: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list. Print the list and take it with you when you shop for seeds or plants.
Pesticides can be poisonous to your pet, and long-term exposure has been linked to cancer. Thankfully, they aren't necessary in most home gardens. Instead, handpick insects off your plants or simply wash the plants with soap and water. A few drops of citrus dish soap in a spray bottle filled with water works well.
Herbicides have also been linked to cancer, especially bladder cancer, in dogs. Avoid them by simply pulling or digging up the unwanted plants. If that's not possible, pour boiling water on the weeds.
Chemical fertilizers can burn your pet's paws and are often toxic, but natural soil conditioners, such as those made from earthworm castings, are safe for you and your pets. Also, did you know that coffee grounds and tea bags make great fertilizers? Place several tea bags or some coffee grounds in a gallon of water, let them steep and then water your plants.
Many online resources offer safe gardening tips as well as pet-safe pest-control solutions. Macomber recommends www.mastergardenerssandiego.org.
If you have questions about gardening in your locale, a master gardener in your area should be able to help. Find one at the American Horticulture Society's website: www.ahs.org/gardening-resources/master-gardeners.
Guest columnist Liz Palika is an award-winning writer and certified dog trainer. She shares her home with three dogs who are well-behaved in her flower and vegetable gardens. For more, go to www.kindredspiritsk9.com.
Q&A
Trick training is
the cat's meow
Q: I want to teach my cat some tricks, but my dad says you can't teach cats anything. But what about those cats on YouTube who jump through flaming hoops or run agility courses? -- via email
A: I hope your cat didn't overhear your dad. Cats might like us to think that they can't learn tricks, but with the right motivation -- i.e., food -- cats can learn anything they feel like learning. Besides, training is good for them and for your relationship with them. It provides mental stimulation, a good physical workout and enhanced communication between the two of you.
Cats can learn fun tricks such as roll over, shake, wave, jump through a hoop and fetch, but you can also teach behaviors with a purpose: sit, come and walk on a leash. Kittens learn fastest, but even adult cats can pick up new behaviors. Training a cat requires nothing more than a clicker, some tiny, tasty treats, a good sense of timing, and patience. Here are a couple of easy tricks to teach.
To teach your cat to sit, hold a treat just above his head. As his nose goes up to sniff it, his rear automatically goes down, right into a sit position. The instant he's in a sit, click and give him the treat. Click and treat any time you see your cat sitting, whether you've asked him to or not. As you do so, give a name to the action -- "Sit" -- and praise him for it -- "Good sit!"
My husband and I easily taught our cats to come when called by whistling as we set their food bowls on the floor. Soon, all we had to do was whistle, and they would come running. If you can't whistle, ring a bell or jingle your keys. For more, look for "Clicker Training for Cats" by Karen Pryor. -- Kim Campbell Thornton
THE BUZZ
High life: How genes
and habitat intersect
-- Tibetan mastiffs have genetic adaptations that allow them to function with less oxygen at high altitudes. That's important in a dog who hails from "the roof of the world." The discovery was made by a team of scientists who compared sets of genes from 32 Tibetan mastiffs, 20 Chinese native dogs and 14 wolves, seeking variations. Tibetan mastiffs have genes associated with adaptation to high altitudes, including additional blood vessel formation and efficient metabolism so that less oxygen is needed to change food into energy. The information was reported last month in the Journal of Molecular Biology and Evolution.
-- Amber, a 2-year-old golden retriever, saved the life of owner Otis Orth after a snowmobile accident left him lying outdoors at night in below-freezing temperatures, unable to move because of a neck injury and dislocated arms. Amber snuggled next to him, head and paws covering his stomach, helping him to retain body heat. The next day, she alerted passersby to his plight. The 52-year-old Orth, a resident of Trapper Creek, Alaska, credits her with saving his life.
-- Fear of flying got you earth-bound? Some airports are providing therapists to help -- canine therapists, that is. Dogs are patrolling the halls of airports in Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., and Miami looking for people to pet them. Known as PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) in Los Angeles and the Wag Brigade in San Francisco, the dogs and their handlers are trained to provide stress relief and comfort and to answer questions. Training is provided by organizations such as Therapy Animals of Utah, San Francisco SPCA, Therapy Dogs Inc. and Pet Partners. Look for dogs wearing vests that say "Pet Me."
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.