Whats poisonous for the dogs in the garden?

Puppies need a safe and secure environment to live in

Until puppies know how to behave, are reliably toilet trained and have gone through the 'exploring by using their teeth' stage (at about six months old) it is better to keep them closely supervised or contained in a 'dog proof' environment. This means no access to:

  • carpets
  • chemicals
  • exposed electrical wiring
  • expensive furniture

You must ensure, however, that wherever you locate your puppy in these first weeks he/she has easy access to the garden. For most people, this will be their kitchen or utility room, or the puppy could be contained within a room by a child-gate, or in a puppy pen or large mesh crate, and taken out frequently under supervision. Make sure your garden is escape proof, if it is not, only take your puppy there on its lead.

Gardens

Young puppies should not be put out or left out on their own in a garden for any length of time. They quickly get bored and frustrated, and become destructive, noisy and potentially territorial. Unsupervised puppies could:

  • dig up lawns and flower beds
  • chew on plants (some of which can be dangerous to dogs)
  • bury their toys
  • destroy things
  • bark at every little noise (possibly aggravating the neighbours)
  • learn to chase cats, squirrels and birds (which can develop into chasing joggers and cyclists in the park)
  • may eat bees and wasps (which can be very dangerous)
  • dive bomb visitors entering 'their' garden
  • could even drown in the garden pond or pool

It is much better to go into the garden with your puppy at regular intervals, so that it is clear that it is being taken there for toileting purposes. Avoid leaving the back door open because if your puppy can go in and out as it pleases, this can adversely affect its toilet training, as well as its recall response.

There are many house and garden plants that are poisonous to dogs, here are some of the most common ones:

  • Aconitum
  • Amaryllis bulbs
  • Asparagus fern
  • Azalea
  • Cyclamen
  • Daffodil bulbs
  • Day lilies
  • Delphiniums
  • Foxgloves
  • Hemlock
  • Hyacinth
  • Hydrangea
  • Ivy
  • Laburnum
  • Lily of the valley
  • Lupins
  • Morning glory
  • Nightshade
  • Oleander
  • Rhododendron
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Sweet pea
  • Tulip bulbs
  • Umbrella plant
  • Wisteria
  • Yew

 If your dog chews or eats any of these, seek veterinary help immediately.

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