Young puppies explore with their mouths. This can make gardening difficult or next to impossible for not just rose gardeners but anyone who enjoys gardening as a hobby. Success is found by experimenting with different ideas and seeing what works for you and your pup.

Safety for your puppy should always be of paramount importance in the garden. Many garden plants are highly poisonous and can cause any number of side effects from vomiting and diarrhea to internal organ damage, convulsions and death. A puppy's small size makes them especially susceptible to the effects of poisonous plants.

Hydrangeas have been the new fun thing to “attack” at our house. I had no idea they were even poisonous until I checked on-line. Roses aren't poisonous as a plant themselves, but the chemicals you spray on them are highly toxic to our pets. The thorns of the rose can cause internal damage if ingested. I would recommend not spraying any roses your puppy comes into contact with or using an organic/natural spray until your puppy has stopped mouthing and chewing everything in sight.

There are some spray products on the market that you can use on plants. I've had reasonable results from one I found at my local pet groom shop called “Bitter Yuck, No Chew Spray” from “Natur Vet.” The product says it's safe to use on plants and it also has very little odor which I liked. This product also states it's not suppose to irritate your pet's eyes, but obviously you should still never spray this near your pet's face. The ingredients are water, baking soda and extract of rosemary. I accidentally got a bit of the mist in my mouth when I was spraying my hydrangeas and trust me, it's awful. The key is to look for a product that is for puppies. Don't use a product for wild animals, rodents or even one that appears to be just for cats. You don't want to risk making your puppy ill. Take the time to read all of the bottle's instructions completely before applying.

The second method is to separate your puppy from the dangerous plant. If possible simply place your potted plants out of your pup's reach. For in ground plants cheap temporary fencing found at your local home improvement store easily blocks off an area, or you could simply exercise your puppy away from any potential plant dangers. A more drastic option is to get rid of a poisonous plant all together. I finally gave up on some poisonous English Ivy and simply cut it back to the ground so my puppy will stop chewing the leaves.

It's also a good idea to discourage most plant chewing in general. Once again the bitter spray works well once applied to the plant in question. I also follow my puppy around the yard and gently move her away from the plant she's chomping on and entice her attention elsewhere with a nylon bone or other chew toy. Never be harsh with your puppy, after all they're just playing and exploring their world! Curiosity should be encouraged whenever possible.

If you have any questions about a particular plant being poisonous please just e-mail me and I'll be happy to offer whatever advice I can find. I've found googling the name of the plant in question with the words “dog” or “puppy” and “poisonous,” usually gives me the results I'm looking for.

Remember to avoid chemicals in the garden during this special time. Puppyhood is over with so quickly, we deserve to give our new little family members the best and safest start we can. Happy gardening and enjoy your new puppy and future gardening pal.