I'm pretty sure there is no answer to this question so it's a bit pointless posting it but it drives me crazy. How can you stop your beautiful, angelic, butter wouldn't melt Labrador (written with sarcasm ) eating muck !!! In our case pigeon muck. All the illnesses they've had I am 95% certain have been caused by bird muck. Either chicken or pigeon. As I mentioned in Angela's post on obi in the chicken run I sorted out the chicken problem as soon as we realised that's how they got ecoli in their bladders. Pigeons are not that easy. I'm not a good enough shot to get them all. I've had a kite on a carbon fibre pole flying all summer in the garden ( farmers use them in fields upgrade from scarecrow!) which worked to a point then my pole snapped. I have to say the dogs have not been as bad for eating it this year as last but it only takes one dodgy bit which I'm guessing Scott found last week. I check under the trees but you can bet they'll find some, they race off to look. Today whilst they were rooting under the trees I considered getting muzzles!!! It would hinder our retrieving somewhat but hay. And don't get me started on cats. The four cats that live down our lane like to use the bottom of our garden as a huge litter tray !!! It is ideal as its covered in pine needles. This year the dogs have found the delicacy that is cat muck as they've been allowed freedom of the whole garden. It means before I let them off lead after our morning walk we patrol under the pine trees. The dogs sniff it out like pigs with truffles and I get the shovel. Well now I've had my rant I feel a bit better. Muzzles still tempting though. ;D Any magic wand ideas out there I'd be so grateful. Jen
Re: Yuck! Riley ate horse poo when he was younger. The only thing that worked was a "leave it" command which does rely on you being in the vicinity and noticing the poo temptation horse poo is at least easy to spot!
Re: Yuck! Pigeons and cats - so annoying. Last year, cats were ruining my veg garden - I think they thought it was great, carefully raked soil which was cleaned every time they had a poo in it. If they have a habit of going in a garden, they seem to keep on. I had success with a jet spray - it was about £25. Battery operated, connected to the hose, motion sensor - squirted water when the sensor was activated. Worked a treat, and they moved on to find another garden. Sounds like your garden might be a bit big though.
Re: Yuck! That sounds like a good idea Julie. I didnt know you could get motion sensor ones. The cats only seem to go at the bottom of the garden. Our hose is very long as the greenhouse is near the bottom and I could put an extension on it. I had looked at those cat scarers that make a noise then realised would probably scare the dogs too. : Also the dogs don't like being squirted so that would keep them from under the trees and away from pigeon poop. Will look into them thanks Julie. Ps. If I ever find pigeon muck the size of horse muck Barbara I think I'll I have more to worry about than the dogs eating it ! ;D ;D They a partial to a bit if horse muck but we rarely come across it off lead. Although that could change. We have just got 2 miniature Shetland ponies (my cousins wife thought it a good idea !). I'm keeping well away from that field !!!
Re: Yuck! It is similar to this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Contech-ScareCrow-Motion-Activated-Deterrent/dp/B005MW9VOM But cheaper (and leaks a bit...and didn't cover as much as this one, guess you get what you pay for).
Re: Yuck! There are some hilarious (sorry, cat people) YouTube videos of cat-scaring infra-red water jet set ups. It works. Totally agree you should give that a try.
Re: Yuck! CAT - aarrgghh. I have been wondering what had freaked Charlie out in our garden that made him lose focus a couple of weeks ago, training was practically impossible. I was looking out of my bedroom window when there it was a HUGE ginger cat walking round the trees/shrubs and then across our lawn, he did it the following evening too So no training possible in our own garden as he probably does this route daily. Helen xx
