dogs and varmints?

Our yard seems to have a critter magnet. Mostly, woodchucks, skunks, squirrels, occasional racoons, and a few deer. It has cover and food, and the food includes our garden.

We've tried fencing the garden, which helps. But, in the end, they always get in. Trapping and 'relocating' also helps, but the supply seems inexhaustible. And, by the time I know that I need to set the trap, the damage is often already well under way.

So, we were thinking, dog. Maybe a dog would just discourage all these guys. If anyone has any pro/con to share on this, I'd appreciate hearing it.

Or, we could just grow garlic. Nobody seems to eat that.

Thanks, George

Reply to
George
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Except frogs :-))

Steve

Reply to
shazzbat

A dog would help. A cat would too. The bigger the better. Also if *you* pee all over the place that helps a lot.

Electric fence?

Good luck! John!

George wrote:

Reply to
GA Pinhead

shazzbat "George" _g snipped-for-privacy@verizon.net wrote i

message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com... Our yard seems to have a critter magnet. Mostly, woodchucks, skunks, squirrels, occasional racoons, and a few deer. It has cover an food, and the food includes our garden.

We've tried fencing the garden, which helps. But, in the end, they always get in. Trapping and 'relocating' also helps, but the supply seems inexhaustible. And, by the time I know that I need to set the trap, the damage is often already well under way.

So, we were thinking, dog. Maybe a dog would just discourage all these guys. If anyone has any pro/con to share on this, I'd appreciate hearing it.

Or, we could just grow garlic. Nobody seems to eat that.

Except frogs :-))

Steve

i would certainly consider getting a dog we had skunks and othe animals around here for awhile but since our son brought his dog home few years back there sure are a lot less of them around. she is a mid size swiss style dog. she is an outside dog so can tak care of things when these animals decide to show their noses lol. the down side is if u have a dog especially with those kinds of animal around its an absolute must to keep all of the dogs shots such as rabie and distemper up to date and those sure dont come cheap as well u have dog to clean up behind, feed and water lol. but thats far better than the animals stealing all your grub and th love, attention and companionship u give the dog is given back on hundred fold so it makes things well worth the extra chores lol. good luck, sockiescat

-- sockiescat

Reply to
sockiescat

And it does not have to be a big dog:

http://128.192.110.51/gifs/112405/DSC02127.JPGthat was this morning. Hopefully it was one of the ones that like to chew on the house.

John!

Reply to
GA Pinhead

Go whole hog. As Pinhead says, electric fence and pee (the latter particularly effective with rodents), but also fencing under the fence because that is the way rabbits and woodchucks prefer. The electric fence, strung a few inches from the top of the fence, is particularly impressive, one touch and squirrels and deer stay away for years. I had it down for three years, but I had a deer come in so I put it on again. One month later, the breakins are over and the fence is off again. It only cost 20 bucks. They have to get around the fence, either under or over, so electric plus underground fencing take away both options.

Reply to
simy1

Yay. ;-)

I've had that problem too, to the point where I poison the little tree rats! Sick of the damage they do.

Reply to
Alternate Identity

Don't get a dog if you are just getting it for critter control in the back yard. Dogs are really social critters and require love and attention. Getting a dog to just leave it penned up in the yard is cruel and unusual punishment. It would consider itself part of your family and wonder what it did wrong to be excluded from family life.

So if this is your wish then 2 dogs would be kinder so they could be family to each other.

Reply to
LJ

In the future, I would like both of you to refrain from mentioning pee and electric fences in the same sentence or even the same post!

;-)

Reply to
Steve

Well said.

Or get a dog door.

Penelope

Reply to
Penelope Periwinkle

How else do you test the fence to see if it is on?

John!

Steve wrote:

Reply to
GA Pinhead

GA Pinhead How else do you test the fence to see if it is on?

John!

Steve wrote: simy1 wrote:

Go whole hog. As Pinhead says, electric fence and pee........ .............

In the future, I would like both of you to refrain from mentionin pee and electric fences in the same sentence or even the same post!

;-)

now i wonder why u dont want both those words mentioned in the sam post lolol. my hubby told me that one time his dad called the boys in out of th cattle field his older brother forgot that they had turned the fence back on for a bit and he ended up running right into it. that was a enlightening situation from what his brother told me lmaooooo. sockiescat

-- sockiescat

Reply to
sockiescat

The neighbour's dog will usually oblige soon enough.

Reply to
John Savage

Thank you for stating this. If you hadn't said something, I would have.

Reply to
Renee Lee

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