The Backyard World

[Julie and Maggie]

I want to know how much of this is just MY problem or something I need to work on and if so how. We have a rather small back yard (as suburbs in CA go). It is fenced and gated with garden and landscaping. So when Maggie is out doing her thing so far she is generally great about sticking to the grass area, mostly. What she is doing now that I find myself getting after her for is: mouthing random weeds or bushes, digging and chewing at the sprinkler head, staying out of the one corner that is only dirt (or mud), chewing and crunching up small rocks, exploring around areas that I know are prone to spiders (maybe black widows), and exploring under larger bushes that I suspect is prone to having ticks (see other discussion). 

 

That's just what she is doing now. As she is getting older she is branching out into the world. I worry about her going under the raised deck (there is one specific 3 foot spot that I might block off). She could go through my perennial garden but there are so many roses that she might realize that is unwise. 

 

What do you think about each of the things she is already doing? What is no big deal? What should I correct? What is better to alter and prevent?

 

Sure would be nice if she just sat on the grass and posed for pictures, but clearly that is not reality.

[Kerri B. & Zoey]

Zoey has a corner in her potty pit where she likes to dig instead of doing "her business" and if I leave the gate open, the entire backyard is more interesting than going potty (learned that on day 1).

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

All good advice. I may just add...make sure all the plants are non-toxic. This alleviates your worrying. Try spraying bitter apple on the sprinkler heads. That stopped my dogs when they were pups. Also, choose your battles. We have tan bark (mulch) and Izzy (10 months) thinks it's part of her daily food ration. I got to the point that i don't bother with taking it out of her mouth anymore. There's too much of it and it would drive me crazy!! Now, on the other hand. Lucca at almost 3 hasn't eaten any of this stuff in over 2 years!! Most of them DO grow out of this stage....hallelujah!!!!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley loves the garden and all of the above except he doesn't eat grass.  He caries stones in his mouth was crunching on snails yesterday he loves twigs oh and cat poop if he finds it.  He doesn't dig though.  I taught him the touch game which means when I wave my fingers he comes leaping in and touches them with his nose, he gets a click and treat for that.  I also taught him "leave it' which means he will drop what he has picked up or ignore something but I do treat him with something better.  It's all normal puppy behavior so I just keep a very watchful eye.  If I can't watch him I crate him.  We have taken precautions in the garden to make sure as far as possible there is nothing dangerous there that he can harm himself with.  Good luck with Maggie she sounds lovely.

[Angel Schilling-Putnam]

Thank God you don't have rabbits close-by! Winston acts as if he has found Nirvana when eating rabbit poop. Great training with Riley!

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

I wouldn't worry too much.  However, I would check to make sure that none of the plants or weeds in or near your fence line are poisonous. You could ask your vet about what plants are toxic where you live. Recently, our St. Bernard puppy got into some poisonous weeds, possibly an azalea bush. His mouth was inflamed and he had diarrhea for three days. It was awful. He now goes out only on a leash. A similar thing happened to two of our goats who went after azaleas.

 

I don't think you need to worry too much about spiders. I doubt they will bite through the fur. My mom's doodle Daisy Mae got stung by a bee on the nose once, but she recovered quickly. Do watch out for earthworms though. Daisy Mae used to slurp up earthworms from the sidewalk after it rained and she got giardia. You should use a tick preventative and check your dog each time she comes in. Sadly, Daisy Mae got anaplasmosis from a tick bite, despite having the Lymes vaccination. She will be on Doxycycline for 45 days. I noticed she was walking stiffly and losing her appetite so I brought her to the vet. She seems to be perking up now.

 

On a side note, doodles can just be goofy in their lawn behavior. We live on a farm and have a huge fenced in yard. That hasn't stopped Barley from pooping: 1.) On our driveway. Constantly. 2.) On top of our mulch pile to spread in our garden 3.) Within the garden 4.) On top of the only frisbee left behind in the yard. It was almost like his target. I'm still scratching my head at that one.  

[Julie and Maggie]

Yeah I know all about the ticks. I had a discussion going about it a few days ago. She's on Frontline Plus now and so far so good. What is anaplasmosis?

[Jaime and Barley Barker]

Anaplasmosis is an infectious blood disease caused by a bacteria carried by deer ticks. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite with weight gain, swollen painful joints, and a reluctancy to move. Dogs can also have vomiting or diarrhea. Daisy Mae had several of these symptoms. The most notable was that she became stiff and walked like she was stepping on eggshells. I could just tell she was "off".

[shelly]

I really don't have any ideas for this... but I wanted to say, Go, Maggie Go... looks like someone's feeling better!  LOL (sorry for the giggle!)

[Julie and Maggie]

Are you referring to the ticks? If so, yes. Frontline Plus to the rescue and we are both feeling better. :)

[BRADY GOOSE MOORE (Mini Doodle]

Brady has also a fenced back yard with combo stone patio and a small area of grass.   Over his 4 weeks with us he has explored every area and even those I didn't know existed!   Initially I would set him down on grass to do his business.   Then it rained and he before peeing scooted right up onto the patio and squatted there!   Oh dear....what to do?    I was happy it was 'outside' and not in, so decided not to say no to that.   Well, it seems he dislikes the dewy grass each morning and does it up on the patio,  but if the grass is dry he will do it there.    As far as the garden beds (we have built planters which make up the perimeter of the back year) they were of great interest to little Brady..... in a few weeks he has learned not to go in them - I use the word 'OUT' and he's pretty good to obey.   Recently however he finds enjoyment in biting at the grass and pulling it right out of the ground and has actualy bitten out several fairly large areas.   I say out but it is to deaf ears!   When he's doing this I get his leash and keep him close by me.   Oftentimes, after his energy is redirected away from the grass, I can let the leash loose and he then is fine.    He also eats, pinecones, ants, little stones - and it's very difficut to get them out of his mouth!!   I just about to try the same thing with this, sweep an area clear of anything he might get interested in, leash him up.     It sounds like you're way ahead of us when we first brought Brady home .... he hadn't been crated, or paper trained at all.    Happy to say he now loves his crate (use it just during the day door open, or when we have to leave him unattended).   We also have just had our first full 6 accident free days!!!    Hope everything continues to go so well.    My name is Margot by the way.

[Ashley, Ronnie and Ruby]

I'm dreaming of accident free days....I guess it has only been 5 days together and she needs time to learn. Now that she is comfortable with us, she is not in the mood to go when we want her to. Testing her limits I guess.

[Julie and Maggie]

Maggie does seem to enjoy playing more than getting on with things, but I just don't believe her when she says she only needs to play. It's potty after naps, after a good session of play in the house, after meals, after drinks, and any time within a half hour when any of those might not be happening. Basically I am in and out constantly.