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Dear Daniel Stevens:

One of our family's greatest hobbies is planting, weeding, and growing fruits and vegetables so we can enjoy them on the dinner table. Both my husband and I grew up eating organic, homegrown foods so we wanted to pass this gift down to our own children. Together, we have a blast working in the garden but lately, we've had an unexpected helper - our dog Tasha.

While we work, Tasha prefers digging and tearing up the plants. As you can imagine, this isn't helping the situation. Obviously, we aren't going to give up our garden nor are we going to get rid of the dog so we need to find some kind of solution that will allow us to enjoy both. We've tried telling her 'NO' but I think the temptation is simply too great. Do you have any ideas on how we can keep growing our favorite foods without having some of our hard work undone by Tasha?

Denise
Colorado

Dear Denise:

The challenge with having a dog and a garden is that the space is shared space. For this reason, you may need to find some compromises in addition to training. One option that actually works well is using treats as rewards and an inexpensive clicker during the training period. Before you get started, Tasha should be confident with common commands such as 'sit,'stay,'and 'lie down.' Once she's mastered these, the rest of the training pertaining to the garden will be easier.

For the clicker, you want to teach Tasha about barriers associated with your garden. For this, we recommend you use some type of garden fencing or rocks. This way, you and your pet will have a visual on where she can and can't go. As Tasha nears the garden, tell her 'NO'. Once you have her attention, use the clicker, which is a great distracter. Next, call the dog to you, giving her the 'sit' command. As she obeys, offer her a small treat. If you are consistent with this type of training, Tasha should have a good handle on the new rules in about three to four weeks.

Another way to keep your dog out of the garden is to create a zone just for her. For this, you could have a four by four-foot space that has fresh grass, toys, water bowl, and perhaps a favorite bone or two, buried down about six inches. With Tasha on the leash, guide her to her space, telling her 'YES, good girl.' Have her sit and stay as you make your way to the garden.

If she tries to follow, guide her back to her 'garden,' repeating the process several times. If she does not understand after five or six tries, go ahead and put her back indoors while you garden. However, the next time you work in the garden, work with her again on the leash. Eventually, she will connect her getting to stay outside with you gardening, as long as she remains in her own space.

All the best,
Daniel Stevens