It's not for you, dog.

I laid a raised border about a foot high all the way around my garden and my dog seems to think I did it just for him because whenever he goes outside he uses it as a walkway. He walks all the way around the full garden stepping on only the border!
Now I haven't actually planted anything in it yet but if I do I'm concerned that any seeds or bulbs will just be 'kicked up' by him as he shuffles along.
I've tried giving him a gentle nudge back down to the centre of the garden but he just thinks I'm playing and jumps right back up again.
How would you stop him from doing it?

Note: The current plan is to make the border even higher. He's only little and might not be able to get up.
I can post a picture if necessary.

 

A good slap round the ear or maybe you could always just shoot the dog!!!

No please don't hurt the dog. I was joking. :lollol::lollol::lollol:

To your dog, your raised bed may seem like a new playground in HIS territory. He has no idea what the intended purpose of your raised bed is, so please don't blame him.

I would definately go with Marleys suggestion. Firm guidance and praise for when he gets the message is the way forward and the way I had a lot of success with when I kept dogs.

Dogs are intelligent and usually willing to please. They need boundaries and the way to reinforce those boundaries is to praise them once the message gets through. Time, patience and training is the answer. Good luck.

Chopper.

 

I never really considered that, thanks.

Thanks Marley, I'll begin this afternoon.

 

Not going well so far Marley. I told my dog to get down from the border after stalking him outside and he looked at me with vacant eyes so I gave him a gentle nudge in the right direction. He must have thought I was bullying him because he dropped to the floor and laid down instead. There's always tomorrow, he'll not go that far into the garden at night.

 

With my dog if she goes somewhere she is not to go I shout "No". It surprises her and she soon knows that is out of bounds. Well now I don't even have to shout, just the word works cause she is used to the system and she now responds to pointing.....and praise.
Despite what some people think dogs like to please their owners. When they do something wrong it is usually just because they have misunderstood or people have not communicated in a way that the dog understands.
I have got a big German Shepherd and have some very precious plants. But she knows where to put her big feet and that it is not appropriate to walk through the plants.

 

Thanks for the advice both of you. Actually this morning was a much better display as all I had to do was point and he leapt down from the border to walk in the middle of the garden.

 

I know from experience that dogs do genuinely want to please their masters. There are extremely few bad dogs, but a hell of a lot of bad owners. Most bad owners just do not know any better and sometimes get frustrated with the dog. The dog then becomes confused.

Firm guidance and boundaries. Dogs cannot speak but they soon learn to recognise certain words. Lots of praise when they get things right. Dogs really appreciate and respond well to a firm master that rewards them with praise, affection and guidance. If your dog is doing something wrong, it is most likely you are not giving the dog instruction/guidance he can understand, so you need to think about how you communicate with him.

Keep at it and you will soon be rewarded.

Chopper.