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| Photo Credit: James L. Gibson |
| Bonnie enjoyed her visit to a Maryland greenhouse at Christmas. |
When I told my mother I was writing an article on gardening with pets, her response was, “No! No! Bad Dog!!” Maybe she’s not ready for this article.
A chemical-free garden is a wonderful place for pets, especially dogs. But cats, rabbits, fish, turtles and pet birds also enjoy – and can benefit from – being outdoors with their humans. (And those of us with a certain sense of humor love to see a cat high on catnip.)
My black Lab Bonnie follows me everywhere I go, including out to the garden. I have discovered lots of ways to have fun with her outdoors, and she knows there are places in the garden where she can’t go. Let me share some of the things I’ve learned from her:
Be prepared for small disasters. If you’ve read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, you know never to go anywhere without your towel. Have several on hand, in fact, to mop up spillages and clean muddy paws. Start introducing your four-legged buddy to the garden by doing something simple in your yard, like strolling beside your beautiful border. This way, it’s easy to keep an eye on Rover – and reprimand him quickly – before any damage can be done. Don’t try to do too much at once. Multitasking is a wonderful thing, but too much is too much. Puppies and cats like to explore, so attempting an all-day gardening chore while keeping an eye on these curious types can be daunting. Older dogs and reliable cats are happy just to lie in the sun. And don’t have all the animals out together, since the cat may decide the fish have lived too long already while you’re busy transplanting an overgrown forsythia.
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