How to stop my dog from going to my garden box?

Dogs love playing around areas that they find interesting. Generally, they get interested in strong smells. They also like being around places their owners frequent. To stop them from doing this, you can train them using treats. You can also use pet sprays that are pungent but safe for them.

Why does my dog go to my garden box?

Dogs love exploring and are generally curious, especially if your furry friend is active and loves being outdoors.

You’ll find a lot of dogs sniffing here and there when they go out for walks - something they’re predisposed to do. We’ll dive more into why they get so interested in your garden box.

Intriguing scents

Dogs have heightened senses compared to us humans. Their hearing is more sensitive to help their ancestors survive in the wild.

However, their noses are their most powerful asset. Research shows canines’ sense of smell is 10,000 - 100,000 more powerful than humans.

Because of this, dogs have learned to use their noses to study their surroundings. They’ll know who’s arriving without seeing them because of how sensitive their noses are.

Some dogs are even trained to sniff out diabetes and have been helping patients get notified when their blood sugar level is low. 

Consequently, your garden box may have several exciting scents. From sweet-scented flowers to the earthy aroma of the ground, these are all attractive to your fur baby.

Experiencing textures

Another reason why dogs love playing around your garden box is because of all the sensory experiences they’ll get from interacting with your plants.

Some dogs love the feeling of grass on their paws. Some like digging their noses into the ground. It’s another way canines understand and explore their surroundings more.

Marking their territory

Your dog may also be putting their scent on your garden box.

In some cases, dogs even pee and poop on areas that they consider as their “territory.”

If you notice that this behavior is repetitive and difficult to reprimand, there’s a high chance that your pup will try to claim the garden box as part of their area.

This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re disobeying you and “stealing” from you. Rather, it’s a way for them to protect you and your garden box since they consider you part of their pack.

Keeping dogs off a garden box

You can train your dog to stay away from your garden box.

This is possible by associating a command such as “get off” or “leave it” with treats and other rewards. Remember to give the treats only once they follow your command and get out of your garden box.

While some dog trainers use punishment to train dogs, we believe dogs learn better with positive reinforcement. This way, you can also save your garden box without stressing or harming your furry friend.

You can also use pet-repellent sprays to help veer your dogs away from your garden boxes.

These sprays are effective in keeping dogs away because of how they smell, but they don’t harm your pet. You just need to spray it around your garden box, not directly to your plants.