Preparing My Garden For Puppy

In the next few months we'll be getting a whippet puppy (ooh, excited). I'm researching and organising now and have been reading up on toxic articles in the home and garden.

I have privet, a hydrangea and some ivy in my back garden and various toxic plant lists include them. I had a rhubarb, but I've dug it up (didn't move it for the kids, just for the puppy ). Do I need to dig up the others? The hydrangea and ivy aren't a big problem, but the privet is the hedge on one side of our garden. I really want to do the right thing for our soon to come pup, but what are the chances of the pup eating the privet hedge and getting really ill? Does anyone here have a privet hedge? DH has offered to go and attack the hedge with a chain saw and then fence that side of the garden - and we'll do that if necessary, but I thought I'd turn here for advice and maybe speak to my vet.

Can anyone reassure me / give any examples of puppies eating hedges and being ill / give me any advice.

Thank you

Tanya

I think it would be more important to have a secure fence that you pup cannot jump over or dig under. My garden is full of ivy and my 3 dogs never seem to look at it....it has just always been there. Good luck with you puppy....we will require updates and lots of photos! :thumbsup:

Thank you for this. I got a bit keen and dug up the ivy this afternoon and I think I'll lift the hydrangea and move it to the front anyway. The privet forms a 6foot hedge on one side and we've already bought the low type of fence to block off the bottom, less thick, part of it. Dh is wondering about just getting rid of the hedge now anyway - he's motivated by never having to cut the blooming thing again!

Showing my think before I act tendencies, our pup will hopefully be coming from a breeder who I've been recommended by 2 other breeders of whippets. I spoke to this man and he has a bitch who is currently pregnant - hopefully whelping in 2 weeks time, so I'm to 'phone him back then. This will mean that we'll probably be getting the pup just before Xmas which is a bit of a surprise 'cause I'd been thinking about January (told you I think well before I act). At first that was a concern, but it does mean that dh will be off a bit more than usual for the first couple of weeks, which will be nice.

My kids are getting to watch whippets on youtube as a treat every couple of days - much excitement.

Pics and intros will come on here - but obviously not for some weeks / months

Tanya

got to be honest if you feel theres a danger in the back garden then better to remove the danger straight away, whats more important a plant or a dog?

Yep, that's what we thought - I just wondered if I was getting needlessly anxious about this. Dh is now very keen to get rid of the hedge and we've spoken with the neighbour who's happy about this - at least we have plenty of time before the pup arrives. Thanks for your comments.

Tanya

Getting rid of the hedge could be a good move if it never has to be cut again!(That is my type of thinking indeed...) Put up a good sturdy fence. :thumbsup:

Are you sure it is privet? I have never succeeded in growing one higher than about 4'6". I really wouldn't worry about it - I have a privet hedge (with fence inside) and none of my whippets have ever shown the slightest interest in it although one did jump it from a standing start when it was at its most untrimmed and looked a sizeable obstacle. Likewise, most of my hedges are choked with ivy which I would love to eradicate but lack the energy/willpower/several years it would take. It's never been a problem with the dogs and they browse the blackberries, rosehips etc in the hedges on a daily basis. So well done, getting rid of yours but don't panic if it comes back

Gay

www.moonlake.co.uk

Thank you, Gay. It's difficult when you haven't had a dog since you were a teen to know what is sensible and what is over anxiety Decided to go for better safe than sorry and dh is pleased to be rid of the hedge anyway.

The hydrangea has now been moved and dh and my mum have spent some of this morning hacking at the privet monster. This thing is definitely privet and is nearly 30 years old, it's about 6 foot at the moment (was higher when we moved in) and dh took great pleasure in attacking it today. My mum took 2 car boot loads of privet to the recycling centre today. We are going to view a litter in 5 weeks time, so very excited and wanting to get ourselves all organised.

Tanya

Has new pup arrived into the world yet? (I suspect too early for it to have arrived with you). How goes the back garden 'restructuring'?

Mmm, puppies born on 20th Oct - we are going to choose ours on Sunday (kids don't know yet, puppy has been talked of as 'some time after Xmas') and then just a few more weeks to wait.

Fence - well, we spoke with our neighbour (hedge in the middle) and she was very happy about wire mesh fence, no problem. We took out all the privet and I took some time off work so dh could put up fence that week. Neighbour came round on Sunday to say her house was a democracy and her kids (in their 20's) want a wooden fence. Dh can put up a decent wire fence, but wood - no way and we aren't paying more than we had budgetted. After 4 stays in waiting for fence people to come, no fencing down one side of the garden and a small child who needs watched in our previously child safe garden and a week and a half wait, in which my day off was used cleaning the house and not looking after the kids while dh sorted fence.

So, quotes for wooden fence came in (£450 !) and neighbour changes her mind and can't afford it. BUT, posts arrived today, cement etc bought and once dh is off nightshift (last one tonight) he will be out their digging holes and putting up posts. Thank goodness we plan well in advance.

I bet you wished you hadn't asked about the fence (w00t)

I promise photos once pup is here.

We need photos after you've seen them this week - I just love puppy pictures!

What a nightmare with the fence. Bet you can't wait till the weekend to see the pup :wub: