Dog repelant ?

It goes with the territory I am afraid -you could try a dog training class or it is something you are going to have to live with.

We have a seven year old jack russell. The latest thing weve tried is a water pistol he hates that. In the past we used a small water bottle half filled with stones to shake as away of stopping him doing whatever devilment he was up to. To a point all this works but I have to warn you it wont get better!!! Thankfully its not digging thats our problem its breaking plants. Ive cried at times. Ive felt like happily murdering him (if I could have caught him) but then at the end of the day he'll jump up beside me for a cuddle and lick my nose and hes won me over again hmmm

It may be worth considering encouraging him to carry out his natural behaviour in a place of your choice .  A friend had a sandpit built for her dog to play in. She buries toys and treats in there for him. He is a collie, not a JRT but there is no reason why it couldn't work for your dog.

FloBear...I'd thought of that myself. We've also got a cat that would turn the beds over for me on a regular basis until I made a dedicated patch filled with sharp sand for her to use.....could be the answer !

It would be nice not to be having to tell him off all the time so worth a try, I would think. Could be dodgy if the cat takes to using it though :- (

Hi Matt,

Hows it going with your puppy? I watched Marley and Me yesterday thats just us with our wee Jack Russell. Ive never known a dog to have so much character with such facial expressions too. He is far more obedient than our other terrier but when he sees a bird thats it nothing stops him hes in there.. He will come out in his time, at least 'two plants broken' time!!, with his head down knowing himself hes bad and I just have to walk away and now have to think that one day he wont be as daft or agile but when!! Hes just so not garden friendly. We just love him to bits I hope your getting on ok. Ps he loves the water pistol now

Our dog has selective hearing to training. He knows he's not allowed in the beds & will come out (at high speed, damaging everything!) if I really sound like I mean it. 

He wanders through them whenever he thinks I'm not watching though.

I tend not to use bonemeal, let alone blood, fish & bone as he dug up all the roses & bulbs when he was younger until I realised it was the smell of the fertiliser that was attracting him!

Training to use a specific area might be worth a try. Ours loathes water being squirted at him, but will put up with it to do whatever naughtiness he wants to usually, or just return to it later. Some dogs are very determined!