Dogs and ponds

[jeanB]

Hi everyone,my first time on here searching for advice, i have a pond sunk into my garden but edged by sandstone with a net stretched across,i have just taken on 2 rescue dogs due to be pts,how on earth can i keep them out of the pond? They hear the fish jump or make a noise and theyre onto the edge then in the pond,knocking any pond ornaments off the side into the water, the dogs have a doggy pool but obv the pond is more interesting,is there anything i can do to keep them off? Obviously chick/ light weight wire they will still end up in the water,lrg heavy gauge squared wire their feet will go through!! Getting desperate,its the fish or the dogs!

 

[BKHpondcritters]

You'll probably have to put up some sort of fence around the outside of the pond to block their access, at least temporarily. Keep them on leash when they are outside & work with them to desensitize their excitement over the pond & its inhabitants. Offer high-value treats for being near the pond, but then walking away, or for hearing a fish splash & turning away. (for additional info/instructions on the process, google the dog training game "Look at That" (abbreviated LAT) But in the beginning, utilizing management in the form of a fence is going to be pretty much necessary.

 

[j.w]

and welcome @jeanB
Some kind of sturdy wire fence tall enough to keep them at bay. They make those kind you can stab into the grass but if they can jump high enough they will still get in.
Mine has a short wire fence around it w/net attached to it on stakes high up.

 

[Tula]

We put up fencing from Lowes. It's black , they sell panels and posts so you can place it where you need it.

 

[Lisak1]

We used 3 foot high snow fencing to keep our dogs from getting close to the pond during the winter after one of them fell through the ice. They were perfectly fine around the pond all the rest of the time - would watch the fish and frogs, drink from the pond, etc - but forgot it was there once it was iced over. Anyway - it was a good, cheap, easy to install solution.

Set up the fence far enough away that they can't even get close enough to see what's going on in the pond. You may need to leave it there for weeks until they become accustomed to listening to your commands. They will need to learn to control their impulses in all kinds of ways - this will be a good training ground!

What kind of dogs are they?

 

[BenB]

I had this problem with my Great Danes deciding the pond was some sort of bath that the could get into and cool themselves off. I ended up having to fence off the pond from them as I couldn't figure out any other way to keep them out of it.

 

[Hound Heaven]

I had this problem with my Great Danes deciding the pond was some sort of bath that the could get into and cool themselves off. I ended up having to fence off the pond from them as I couldn't figure out any other way to keep them out of it.

Maybe get them their own pool?

 

[GBBUDD]

gIVE THE DOGS THERE OWN POND A KIDDIE POOL AND TRAIN THEM

 

[Lisak1]

We've had four different dogs living with us off and on since we put in our pond, with regular visits from four of our granddogs.

We trained the dogs to stay out of the pond the same way we train them to do anything else we want or don't want them to do. They didn't walk through a door, get on a couch, get in a car, start a walk, etc without the OK from a human. Getting in the pond was never OK and they knew it. It takes time and persistence, but most dogs are pleasers - they want to make you happy. We don't have any dogs currently living with us, but I do have lots of memories of sitting by the pond with various dogs as they sat by the edge of the pond watching the fish swim by.

We thought about getting them their own pool, but because our dogs were in and out of the house all day long wet dogs wasn't something I wanted to deal with.

 

[Hound Heaven]

Maybe get them their own pool?

this made me think back to a sweet boy that we lost - I searched a long time to find this photo to share.
This could be your Dane relaxing by your side

 

[BKHpondcritters]

We've had four different dogs living with us off and on since we put in our pond, with regular visits from four of our granddogs.

We trained the dogs to stay out of the pond the same way we train them to do anything else we want or don't want them to do. They didn't walk through a door, get on a couch, get in a car, start a walk, etc without the OK from a human. Getting in the pond was never OK and they knew it. It takes time and persistence, but most dogs are pleasers - they want to make you happy. We don't have any dogs currently living with us, but I do have lots of memories of sitting by the pond with various dogs as they sat by the edge of the pond watching the fish swim by.

We thought about getting them their own pool, but because our dogs were in and out of the house all day long wet dogs wasn't something I wanted to deal with.

We went the opposite direction - We had one specific area of a shelf designed for dog entry & exit. They were taught where they could walk in to wade around & cool off, and where was OK to climb out. I have had previous dogs who very much loved a quick cooling dip when the weather was hot.

Abby always loved it. (RIP)

 

[BenB]

Maybe get them their own pool?

That was a long time ago. Those dogs are no longer with us. My current Great Dane doesn't like water lol except to drink it. He's a big baby. I was just posting my experience with the same problem.