Dogs and Gardens. What Plants are Poisonous to Dogs.

I recently wrote a piece on Why Do Dogs Eat Grass (10 May 2008). This got me to thinking about dogs and gardens.

I used to have a lawn that became a piece of grass. It is mostly a sea of mud in winter! All thanks to my dogs tearing around.

There are other problems too. I never eat the herbs from my herb garden or the good rhubarb that I grow. The thought of what the dogs do on it rather puts me off!

The obvious way to protect your veg, herbs, and other plants is to fence them off or have raised beds.

I found a cheap way of fencing off - use tree stakes and chicken wire (you can buy a big roll very cheaply from an agricultural merchant).

Raised beds involve more work, but can look very good.

At the moment I am taking my garden apart and re-designing it. Plenty of work and cost involved.

I'm making sure that the dogs can't get to some things and, more importantly, making sure that the garden is dog friendly.


There are plants which are poisonous to dogs, some are fatal.

I have a list for you below. It isn't a definitive list but I think it covers most of the ones that you will normally plant in your garden.

Plants That Are Poisonous To Dogs

Coco Shells.
This is sold for use as a mulch. It makes your garden smell like chocolate! Be warned that it contains the same ingredient found in human chocolate which is poisonous to dogs. I have heard of dogs eating it, so it isn't worth the risk.

Bulbs
Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip
Ferns
Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
Flowering Plants
Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia
Garden Perennials
Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane
House Plants
Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena
Lillies
Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily
Shrubs
Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca
Succulents
Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Trees
Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (aka Japanese Yew)
Vines
Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy
Misc/Uncategorized
American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron

My List of Dog Articles, Dog Topics

Hi, I thought I would list the main dog information that I've written about so far - Just for quick reference. The list is in some sort of alphabetical order!

• 01/02/08 Animal Welfare
• 02/02/08 Arthritis
• 25/03/08 Pet Bereavement
• 03/02/08 Dog Blood Donors
• 03/02/08 Dog Books and Magazines
• 09/04/08 Dog Breeds
• 07/02/08 Complementary Therapies
• 03/02/08 Cortaflex product review
• 06/02/08 Dog Medicines and medication
• 24/03/08 Greyhounds are great
• 11/04/08 Greyhound pictures
• 17/02/08 Microchipping
• 16/02/08 Dog Names
• 11/02/08 Dog Parasites
• 26/02/08 My Dog won’t Eat
• 10/02/08 Pet Passports
• 23/02/08 Pet Travel
• 23/02/08 Poodles
• 27/04/08 Rabies
• 07/02/08 Tales of Rescue Dogs
• 04/03/08 Dog Rescues
• 19/03/08 Troublesome Ticks
• 10/05/08 Why do dogs eat grass
• 24/02/08 Zoonoses

See you again soon, Ti

'B' is for Dog Breeds - A List of Dog Breeds and Groups

There are a huge number of different dog breeds, of widely varying abilities, temperaments, shapes, colours and sizes!

This list consists of those breeds recognised by the Kennel Club of Great Britain. I have used the same groupings as the KC - Hound Group, Gundog Group, Terrier Group, Utility Group, Working Group, Pastoral Group, and Toy Group.

Hound Group

These dogs were originally used for hunting either by sight or by scent. Examples of sight hounds are the Whippet and the Greyhound. The Beagle and the Bloodhound are examples of scent hounds. They require a significant amount of exercise and can be described as aloof and dignified, but make trustworthy companions.

Afghan Hound
Azawakh (no breed standard currently)
Basenji
Basset Bleu De Gascogne
Basset Fauve De Bretagne
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Grand)
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit)
Basset Hound
Bavarian Mountain Hound (no breed standard currently)
Beagle
Bloodhound
Borzoi
Cirneco dell'Etna
Dachshund (Long Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Long Haired)
Dachshund (Smooth Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Smooth Haired)
Dachshund (Wire Haired)
Dachshund (Miniature Wire Haired)
Deerhound
Finnish Spitz
Foxhound
Grand Bleu De Gascogne
Greyhound
Hamiltonstovare
Ibizan Hound
Irish Wolfhound
Norwegian Elkhound
Otterhound
Pharaoh Hound
Portuguese Podengo (Warren Hound)
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Saluki
Segugio Italiano
Sloughi
Whippet

Gundog Group

These dogs were originally trained to find live game and/or to retrieve game that had been shot and wounded. This breed group is divided into four categories - Retriever, Spaniels, Hunt/Point/Retrieve and Setters although many of the breeds are capable of doing the same work as the others. They make good companions, their temperament makes them ideal all-round family dogs. They are perhaps the most intelligent of the breeds, resulting in their wide variety of uses and their ease of training. They are active dogs requiring plenty of exercise and attention.

Bracco Italiano
Brittany
English Setter
German Longhaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Gordon Setter
Hungarian Vizsla
Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Italian Spinone
Kooikerhondje
Korthals Griffon (no breed standard currently)
Lagotto Romagnolo
Large Munsterlander
Pointer
Retriever (Chesapeake Bay)
Retriever (Curly Coated)
Retriever (Flat Coated)
Retriever (Golden)
Retriever (Labrador)
Retriever (Nova Scotia Duck Tolling)
Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer (no breed standard currently)
Small Munsterlander (no breed standard currently)
Spaniel (American Cocker)
Spaniel (American Water) (no breed standard currently)Spaniel (Clumber)
Spaniel (Cocker)
Spaniel (English Springer)
Spaniel (Field)
Spaniel (Irish Water)
Spaniel (Sussex)
Spaniel (Welsh Springer)
Spanish Water Dog
Weimaraner

Terrier Group

Dogs which were originally bred and used for hunting vermin. 'Terrier' comes from the Latin word Terra, meaning earth. These hardy dog breeds were selectively bred to be brave and tough, and to pursue fox, badger, rat and otter, and others above and below ground. Terrier types have been known in the UK since ancient times, and as early as the Middle Ages, these game little dogs were portrayed by writers, and painters. It is believed that the British Isles is the origin of most terriers.
Originally, these brave canines were bred for the purpose for which they were used, and looks didn't matter. Nowadays , due to the efforts of breeders over the decades, the terriers have become attractive, whilst still retaining jovial, comical and in some cases fiery temperaments. Terriers are definitely dogs of character!

Airedale Terrier
Australian Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Border Terrier
Bull Terrier
Bull Terrier (Miniature)
Cairn Terrier
Cesky Terrier
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Fox Terrier (Smooth)
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Irish Terrier
Kerry Blue Terrier
Lakeland Terrier
Manchester Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Parson Russell Terrier
Scottish Terrier
Sealyham Terrier
Skye Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Welsh Terrier
West Highland White Terrier

Utility Group

This dog breed group consists of various breeds of dog mostly of a non-sporting origin, including the Bulldog, Dalmatian, Japanese Akita and Poodle.
The name "Utility" basically means fitness for a purpose and this group consists of a very mixed and varied bunch, most breeds having been selectively bred to perform a specific function which isn't included in the sporting and working categories. Some of the breeds listed in the group are the oldest known breeds of dog in the world.

Akita
Boston Terrier
Bulldog
Caanan Dog
Chow Chow
Dalmatian
Eurasier
French Bulldog
German Spitz (Klein)
German Spitz (Mittel)
Japanese Akita Inu
Japanese Shiba Inu
Japanese Spitz
Keeshond
Korean Jindo
Lhasa Apso
Mexican Hairless (Intermediate)
Mexican Hairless (Miniature)
Mexican Hairless (Standard)
Miniature Schnauzer
Poodle (Miniature)
Poodle (Standard)
Poodle (Toy)
Schipperke
Schnauzer
Shar Pei
Shih Tzu
Tibetan Spaniel
Tibetan Terrier

Working Group

These dogs were selectively bred to become guard dogs and search and rescue dogs. The working group has some of the most heroic dogs in the world, helping people in many walks of life, including the Boxer, Great Dane and St Bernard. This group consists of specialists in their field who excel in their line of work.

Alaskan Malamute
Beauceron
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bouvier Des Flandres
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Canadian Eskimo Dog
Dobermann
Dogue De Bordeaux
Entlebucher Mountain Dog (no breed standard currently)
German Pinscher
Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Greenland Dog
Hovawart
Leonberger
Mastiff
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Portuguese Water Dog
Pyrenean Mastiff (no breed standard currently)
Rottweiler
Russian Black Terrier
St. Bernard
Siberian Husky
Tibetan Mastiff

Pastoral Group

This dog breed group consists of herding dogs that work with cattle, sheep, reindeer and other animals with cloven hoofs.
This type of dog usually has a double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are just some included in this group.

Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Shepherd
Bearded Cliole
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Laekenois)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois)
Belgian Shepherd Dog (Tervueren)
Bergamasco
Border Collie
Briard
Catalan Sheepdog (no breed standard currently)
Collie (Rough)
Collie (Smooth)
Estrela Mountain Dog
Finnish Lapphund
German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian)
Hungarian Kuvasz
Hungarian Puli
Komondor
Lancashire Heeler
Maremma Sheepdog
Norwegian Buhund
Old English Sheepdog
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Pyrenean Sheepdog
Samoyed
Shetland Sheepdog
Swedish Lapphund
Swedish Vallhund
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke)

Toy Group

These dogs are small companion or lap dogs. Many of the Toy breeds were bred for this (some have been placed into this category due to their size). They should have friendly personalities and love attention. They do not need a large amount of exercise and can be finicky eaters.
They are intelligent companions but owners must be careful with their attention as spoiled dogs can become protective of their owners. Ideally these dogs are extroverted companions and not 'just for show'.

Affenpinscher
Australian Silky Terrier
Bichon Frise
Bolognese
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chinese Crested
Coton De Tulear
English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
Griffon Bruxellois
Havanese
Italian Greyhound
Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
Maltese
Miniature Pinscher
Papillon
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Pug
Yorkshire Terrier