Keeping Critters Out of Your Garden

Article by Ann Dennis

I have discovered a way to keep unwanted critters out of my garden and orchard. It's biggest drawback is, you have to have a large piece of land. I'm talking 5 acres and up. Your garden doesn't have to be that big, just your boundaries. Why?

Because my solution to unwanted creatures from mice to woodchucks to deer is a livestock guard dog - the Great Pyrenees breed specifically.

We purchased a primitive breed of sheep to pasture on our ninty-five acres and with a large population of coyote, or coy-dogs, we needed more protection for the sheep than a fence, even electric, would provide.

After much thought and research, we chose the Great Pyrenees from among the several breeds trained to guard livestock.

We adopted a rescued, fixed, female named Snowbear. She was rehabilitated and screened by an expert to do what we wanted.

We were amazed at how well behaved and extremely friendly this dog was. She paid for her adoption the first night on our property by chasing off not only a pack of coyotes, but later a "visiting" hound.

She has, in the last five months, impressed us so much we bought a puppy from the person who adopted out Snowbear.

As to the garden, this was a pleasant surprise to us. First, we discovered that these dogs eat mice, squirrel, rabbits and any dead thing they come across. Now, the last wasn't exactly pleasant but it does help keep the feed bill down.

Another consideration, if you decide you want a garden guardian, is these dogs dig! and with the size of these dogs - we're talking craters!

However, they're intelligent and won't challenge a decently made fence. Not that they can't, but they, like all dogs need clearly defined boundaries. My dogs aren't allowed in my hoop greenhouse and to make sure they understand, I not only tell them but put a piece of scrap plywood across the door. They still try to follow me in but leave when I growl at them.

My husband has a driving need to have one-hundred-plus trees. Trees of varied types, pears, cherries, peaches, apple, and berry bushes. Every year, B.S. [before Snowbear], we wrapped every tree in the fall and unwrapped every one each spring. This is a job I can do without. We adopted Snowbear in January [after we finally got snow] and, being intensely interested in what she did all night, we checked the area around our house, pens, garden and orchard. Snowbear patrols all of these areas. And in the orchard, we found her tracks, smashed snow, blood and rabbit fur. We also saw where she nosed aside the snow and, we assume, ate whatever existed in the nest. My husband decided not to wrap trees anymore.

Before you run right out and try to by a Great Pyrenees at your local pet show, don't!

Talk to a vet and a Great Pyrenees expert, and make sure you get an expert.

Your responsibilities:

• Your dog needs medical support - heartworm, rabies, fleas, ticks and other vaccinations.
• Grooming is necessary even though they do a lot on their own.
• If you don't have livestock or kids get a human-trained dog that stays outside.
• Make sure ...you have definite boundaries and teach your dog what they are and be consistent.
• Get information.
• These dogs are big. Our small adult weighs ninety-seven pounds. They are reported to weigh up to one-hundred-thirty pounds.
• They dig and love to discover soft ground.
• They need a high-fat; high protein diet. You regular dog chow or field & farm mix won't do.