A Gardening new Puppy Question

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Since we moved to the cottage only in February we are just now tackling the garden.  The first thing we did of course was to fence it all , in anticipation of our new puppy.  Now I am at the stage of 'designing ' the garden which we have divided into two.  One ornamental and one for fruit and vegetables.  I am thinking that as well as grass I would like some pebbles and a gravel path.  Is it likely that a  puppy could 'eat' or pick up the pebbles in his mouth?  Or do I need to review the plan.  I won't be leaving the puppy alone in the garden as he will be taken out frequently.  We have great places very near for excercise and safe off lead areas.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Those scratches on your hardwood floor, well, I just call them character. My floors are just brimming with character.

[Carol and Banjo]

PRE Banjo...we were obsessive about our hardwood floors....no more...Banjo has wormed his way into our hearts and souls AND  floors!!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have a garden, hardwood floors( mostly covered since after 20 years of children), and one dog who hides rocks in her cheeks.  Starlit seemed to outgrow this obsession.

Slate walkway maybe?  Or larger rocks that become embedded in the dirt and harder to get out.  Regardless, sounds like you have the best of many worlds.  Hardwood, Gardens, Dogs, and rocks.  Yes, I do like rocks   :)

[Debbie and Thomas]

No rocks...no pebbles....my doodle instantly fell in love with both of these and decided he should dig huge holes in the backyard wherever these rocks and pebbles laid.  Also we have a huge maple tree on our front lawn and the previous owner surrounded it with beautiful river rocks.  We like to sit on our porch with the doodle...he picks up the rocks and then takes them to our front lawn and digs in the grass to try to bury them!!!  He LOVES rocks or pebbles of any kind and we have learned to leave them out of our landscaping.  The dog rules at our house but we are afraid he will ingest them and get very sick. He was never interested in these rocks as a puppy but around a year old....we have the holes in our yard to prove it. Actually...I just filled these holes today with fresh topsoil and grass seed hoping that they will fill in soon.  No more digging in our front yard for the dood!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I would stick with larger pebbles and not gravel. Myla and Chloe both pick at the pea gravel. I'm afraid that they will choke on it. They find plenty of other stuff to eat anyway. Also check out www.aspca.org for a list of toxic plants. We did our yard last year and were very shicked at how many annuals and perrenials are toxic!

[Alli and Barkley]

While browsing old threads IO came across this list and thought of you!

 

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poison-control/Plants.aspx?plant_toxi...

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Thank you all for the links and the advice.  Decision made, no pebbles, no gravel.  Proper paving slabs which can't move.  The list of poison plants is very useful.  I knew lots of them but there were some surprises in there.