Tips for Puppies for Orchard?

11 years ago

Hey,

I have two 8 month old hound puppies running around my back yard. Sadly, this is also the same area that encompasses my orchard / berries. I was wondering if there are any tips/suggestions to what I can do to keep them from eating toxic fruit, or what trees/bushes I should really look in to moving. I have apple, pear, plum, peach, cherry, grape, blackberry, and raspberry bushes, in addition to the regular garden.

I'll be re-landscaping the yard shortly, so the apples and a couple pear will have to stay, but I plan on relocating the blueberries in the yard itself. I don't have too much land in the front of the house for plants, but it'd be better than the puppies dieing from gorging on deadly items. The one already has ate a few peach pits she dug up from prior years drops. They spend the majority of their day running around the back yard, so I'd hate to fence off a section, or leash them, as they love the exercise.

I'll take any suggestions/thoughts on this topic. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

fireduck
11 years ago
It is all about choices...puppies chew. You might consider wrapping trunks with chicken wire to keep them from chewing them. They will do damage...that is what pups do.
Kevin Reilly
11 years ago
Well, grapes are a problem for many dogs. I buy those cheap green posts & PVC wire mesh and make temporary fences where I don't want my dogs to go..
Related Discussions
Ultimate Farm/Orchard Dog
Q
Comments (26)
There is some useful info on this old thread and I thought I'd add some info I found in my own search for a short hair farm dog: Some excerpts from the USDA web site: "Livesock Guarding Dogs Protecting Sheep from Predators" "It is important to understand the distinction between herding dogs and guarding dogs. Herding dogs (border collies, Australian shepherds, and others) move sheep from one area to another by biting, chasing, or barking at the sheep. Herding dogs work according to signals (verbal and hand) from a handler, and they are generally not left alone with the sheep. Guarding dogs usually do not herd sheep, are discouraged from biting, chasing, and barking at sheep, and act independently of people. In 1986, the University of Idaho conducted a survey of approximately 400 people who used livestock guarding dogs. These individuals reported on 763 dogs, 95 percent of which were recognized guarding breeds. Great Pyrenees (57 percent) and Komondor (18 percent) were the most common, followed by Akbash (8 percent), Anatolians (7 percent), Maremmas (3 percent), and others (7 percent). The rate of success among the breeds was not different, but behavioral differences were noted. More Komondors bit people than did Great Pyrenees, Akbash, or Anatolians, and fewer Great Pyrenees injured livestock than did Komondors, Akbash, or Anatolians. In a recent evaluation of yearling livestock guarding dogs, Great Pyrenees were rated significantly higher than Anatolian shepherds (83 percent of 59 Pyrenees versus 38 percent of 26 Anatolians rated as good). Anatolian shepherds were rated lower primarily because of their higher tendency to injure or kill sheep. Most dogs in the 1986 Idaho survey were aggressive to predators and other dogs, although Great Pyrenees seem to be somewhat less aggressive to dogs than other guarding breeds. The Great Pyrenees comes from France and Spain, and the Akbash comes from Turkey. The Akbash comes in both a short hair and long hair line.
...See More
Extreme pruning for backyard orchard culture - does it work?
Q
Comments (44)
Here is a bit of an update on my on highly pruned trees. I have 4 sweeet cherries, all pruned to less than 7 ft tall, all started as whips 4 or 5 years ago. Last year they bloomed but no fruit due to a late frost. Here are photos with 2 of those trees now, one is blooming well and the other is almost open. The others are either blooming or almost blooming. I also have several apples, a pear, and figs, which have been pruned with a similar philosophy, but it's too early to post photos from this year's flowers or fruits. The apples and pear look like they'll also have lots of flowers. Maybe it does work. We'll see. Since there are lots of flowers now, maybe there will be lots of cherries this summer. There is still some room for more growth, I can let them get to 7 or 8 foot without a problem, but plan to continue the somewhat drastic summer pruning as we have done so far. These were from a big box store and it did not state what rootstock, other than 'semi dwarf'. I did not use to multi-trees per hole method because I was not aware of it at the time, but otherwise am doing the summer pruning as described for backyard orchard culture.
...See More
Tip about orchard tubing
Q
Comments (1)
RG, Thanks for the info. Aloha
...See More
Shih tzu puppy questions, and help with puppy training
Q
Comments (8)
I was wondering what is crating? I could mean different things to different people. As a short term ( couple of hours) home while a person is away. Maybe a night time sleep area. That's what crating is to me. It would be cruel to crate up a dog or cat all day, everyone knows that but how to you crate a puppy learning to potty outside? I've heard of too many dogs going potty in their crates that have been left in to long. That's not a good owner either. Several of my friends use the crate as I stated above. I hope they have never forced a dog to hold it for the sake of a clean floor. I know I have to go when I have to go. A few hours of holding pee is not healthy nor would it make me happy, so I can't see it would be good for my pet either. Limiting water consumption in the evening might be beneficial. Of course going to the bathroom right before bed. Puppies can't seem to hold it well at night and if they wait in their crate to long, well that can't be healthy. I used to get up, about 4 am and let the pups out to go. Like a new parent, it was hard to keep up! I've had big and little dogs and the littlest ones were always the hardest to potty train and feed. Currently I have two smaller dogs inside and the smallest can only eat regular dry dog food or she throws up or worse. In tiny amounts she can eat turkey, beef, veggies and rice/pasta. Now on the other hand my mom will make her tiny dog, food and keep it in the fridge until she needs it. Works for them but I do think the dry dog food is better for teeth. I think your going to have to find out how your dogs works and go with that. Every dog breed has its quirks, as every dog does too. Teach her ques and repeat your commands so she will quickly know what your asking of her. It doesn't take long to learn her name but the potty command, that always takes longer than we want. :)
...See More
Schlemoc
Original Author
11 years ago
I was considering setting up a temporary fence for when the grapes are in season. So far they have not chewed the actual trees themselves. They avoid them for the most part. I'm more concerned with toxicity from eating the fruits, along with the issue of their solid waste being around.

i believe I read elsewhere that since fruits are not like garden vegetables that the poop should not affect anything, but I'm not sure if this applies to blackberries / raspberries.

I have a temporary fence up guarding my garlic. The nice thing is a friend is bringing in a large backhoe and cutting steps in to the hill so I can maximize the space a bit more, and better organize the bushes. The prior owner had a great idea going, just a bit ... mishappenly designed.
drew51 SE MI Z5b/6a
11 years ago
Grapes are really the only concern. None of the other fruit is toxic as far as I know. Also garlic is not good for them, but it certainly will not kill them. My dog has eaten plenty of garlic. Grapes yes could kill them. My vet said he never seen any problems with onions or garlic, but has seen problems with grapes and chocolate.
I use chicken wire. I have an aussie, PVC fence he would just push down. I use heavy gauge wire, the light weight stuff, he figured out he can just push it over. He ate one of my blueberry plants, down to one cane. I doubt it's going to make it!
I have to use a bungee cord to keep the gate closed, and him in the backyard. He seen me flip the latch up to open the gate, so he will just flip the latch up with his nose and stroll around the house. He still has not figured out (yet) how to detach the cord.

This post was edited by Drew51 on Mon, Apr 22, 13 at 15:00
Schlemoc
Original Author
11 years ago
Oh MY! That poor blueberry bush... My puppies have not ate teh blueberry bushes but they are mostly mature 5-7 year old plants. However... I am putting in about a dozen new ones to complement the existing supplies...

Thanks for the input. I am considering removing the grape vines, or at least isolating them now.
johnmclaren
11 years ago
You can't help it, that's what puppies would do and you cannot stop them from it if they manage to go near the plants and trees in your garden. All you can do is restrict their entry from the backyard.
sautesmom Sacramento
11 years ago
Whatever you do, don't use "cocoa bean mulch" as it is VERY toxic to dogs.

Carla in Sac

Tips for Puppies for Orchard?

Comments (7)

fireduck

Kevin Reilly

Related Discussions

Schlemoc
Original Author

drew51 SE MI Z5b/6a

Schlemoc
Original Author

johnmclaren

sautesmom Sacramento

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Tips for Puppies for Orchard?

Comments (7)

fireduck

Kevin Reilly

Related Discussions

SchlemocOriginal Author

drew51 SE MI Z5b/6a

SchlemocOriginal Author

johnmclaren

sautesmom Sacramento

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Schlemoc
Original Author

Schlemoc
Original Author