Of Pets and Plants

Do you think that plant people tend to also be pet people? Many of the gardeners I know have cats or dogs, and their animals bring them as much joy as their gardens. So it made perfect sense to me when Country Garden started carrying pet foods and products, and many of our customers seem to agree.

Our beloved dog, Riley, died a year ago. We grieved all summer, especially when we were in the garden. Riley loved jumping on and off our stone walls, laying in the shade of large bushes, and sniffing the daily news while we gardened. But by the fall we felt ready to welcome a new dog into our lives. A friend of mine who is a veterinarian tipped me off to a dog at the Cape Ann Animal Shelter that he said was “a keeper.” We went up to see the puppy, a three month old mix that came to Massachusetts from the All Sato Rescue organization, and came home with our new dog.

We named him Sparky and although he is a pretty good puppy (they’re all idiots while they’re young)  it took a month to get his diet just right. His stools were often loose in the early days after we brought him home, even though we were feeding him a good brand of puppy chow. We decided to try a grain free food to see if that would help, and Tracy ordered the Wellness Grain Free Puppy chow that we’ve fed him ever since. Problem solved! In another month or two we’ll transition to the Wellness Grain Free Core formula that seems to be most appropriate. It’s hard when you have what I call a Mega-Mutt – you have no idea about the ultimate size of the dog.

Our new pup doesn’t know the pleasures of the gardening season yet. He doesn’t realize that in the warmer weather we’re going to be outdoors more. He hasn’t yet heard the command “Out of the garden” but he’ll soon learn that this means that he can’t walk in the vegetable or flower beds. He already knows that although he’s allowed to pick up sticks that have fallen on the ground, biting the stems of living shrubs is not allowed. Soon he’ll learn that there are as many rules for being a dog in the garden as there are for being a dog in the house.

Here are some tips for those who have a garden and a new puppy:

1. Don’t leave your young dog outside unattended. Dogs can get into bad habits such as digging holes or gnawing on plants when they’re by themselves and bored.
2. Be consistent about the places your dog is allowed to walk in. If you don’t want Fido in your flower garden or vegetable bed, let him know that from day one.
3. Remember that a puppy is small and cute, but might grow into a large dog…so don’t let pups lay down in areas where damage will be done to plants when they are larger.
4. Don’t allow a dog to chew on plants. Many common landscape plants are toxic to dogs if they eat enough of them.
5. Be sure to have a bowl of fresh water outside if Fido is staying with you while you work in the garden. Dogs need to stay hydrated too!