Thinking of using a Muzzle

[Theo961]

Hi, I am having problems with Reese in the garden. He wants to eat everything! I have to admit I love gardening and have been lucky enough to have dogs in the past that have never touched a plant,  so have a very nice garden. I have never left him in the garden alone and think I have dug up anything I could find that would be harmful. I am not bothered about the garden, I am just so worried i have missed something and he will make himself ill. I could stop it when he was younger but he is now too quick for me to stop him in time. I have tried having plenty of outside toys for him to play with but that didn't work, i just tried taking him out on the lead which really didn't go down well and now think maybe I should try a muzzle. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you deal with it? If anyone has had to muzzle their dog did it change them in anyway?
Thanks
Tracy

[elaine.e]

Looking at your banner, he's only about 4 months old? So he's probably still teething as well as being a baby exploring his surroundings. Both those factors mean that he's likely to outgrow his gardening activities, or at least find them less appealing, as he grows up a bit more.

Can you restrict his access to a limited area of the garden for the time being? I've got quite a large garden and with both my current two Cockers found it useful to buy some cheap plastic clematis netting and make a temporary fence to keep them in the top part of the garden on the patio, part of the lawn and just a small part of the planted areas when they were very young.

Another thought, you say you could stop it when he was younger but now he's too quick. Do you think he views it as a game where he tries to snatch something, knowing that you'll give chase? What happens if you try ignoring?

Hopefully you won't need to resort to a muzzle, but if you do, please have a look online about how to get him used to wearing one. Many dogs resent them and get quite panicky unless introduced to them gradually, or seem to accept wearing one but in reality become quite shut down.

[Londongirl]

Henry used to sample everything in the garden when he was that age. It was easier to monitor, though, because it was winter when he was very young so he mostly chewed bare twigs. He did have a good go at one clump of emerging hardy geraniums, which has earned its name by coming back, albeit a bit later than the other clumps. At the moment he likes to nibble on forget-me-nots and the photinia as an aperitif to breakfast. He started on the hot lips ornamental sage today, but I made it clear that wasn't on.

If you've checked for poisonous plants, maybe just try to ignore it and wait to see if he grows out of it.  It does sound like he thinks it's a bit of a game now.

[Theo961]

Thank you both for your very good advice. I know he is only young, teething and hope he will grow out of it.  Really wasn't keen on the idea of a muzzle as worried this would have a bad affect on him,  just didn't know what else to do. He was very good with the leave it's before but now normally grabs whatever before I can even get the words out. I tried very hard not to make a game of it, I tried the swap for a treat which sometimes works and ignoring him but he just eats whatever he has then. I really like the idea of the temporary fencing and just ordered some off amazon.  He should be able to have the run of my patio and up the steps to quite a good section of lawn area, so he can still zoom round, but be safely away from most of the planted areas. That's just why I love this forum!   

[Mudmagnets]

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/help-advice/factsheets-downloads/factsheetpoisonoussubstances09.pdf

Above is the link to the Dogstrust poisonous plants factsheet, it will help you recognise the ones it is better for your pup not to sample.

Hope it helps

[bizzylizzy]

Do you think they ever reach a stage when they know themselves what's poisonous? (as, presumably, wild animals do). I badly neglected my garden last year because it was just too stressful constantly monitoring Humphrey while trying to work and I was hoping I'd be able to be a bit more relaxed in the future and just let him potter.  BIggest danger at the moment is him getting his nose RIGHT under what I'm doing ("watcha doin' Mum, can I help?" ) he nearly got it clipped off with the secateurs this week! 

[Londongirl]

Yes, bizzylizzy, I can't do anything in the garden without a nose stuck under my arm, wanting to be 'helpful'. Anything that involves the secateurs has to be done while he's sleeping in his crate indoors!

Thanks for the list, Mudmagnets. Reassuringly, while a lot of plants can cause irritation, most are not seriously poisonous or fatal. I get a lot of wild garlic in my garden and I've been pulling it when I see it (because it's part of the onion family) but Henry hasn't been interested in it in any case. There's lots in the woods where we walk too, so there's only so much I can do.

I've had lilies in various forms AND cats for as long as I can remember. Never had a problem. Now I know lilies are poisonous to cats I have them in pots and move them away from the reach of the animals. While it's vital to have the right information, it was a lot less stressful when we didn't know!