There are several good reasons why you may want to keep your neighbors’ dogs out of your yard. For one, dogs inevitably leave behind doggie waste and urine on your vegetation. This can make your yard look and smell terrible. Second, even nice dogs can become aggressive, and you don’t want to contend with the possibility of dogs becoming aggressive to you, your family or visitors to your home. If you have already spoken to your neighbors’ about their dogs to no avail, there are a few additional steps that you can take to keep dogs out of your space.
Fencing
One option to consider is to install fencing around the perimeter of your yard. This can be expensive to do, but it can add aesthetic appeal to your home’s exterior. A great option to consider for fencing is a decorative picket fence. It is low enough so that it will not affect your view of the street from the yard, but it can be entirely effective at keeping dogs and other critters out of your yard.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a natural repellent of animals. You can sprinkle cayenne pepper in areas where the dogs typically roam in your yard or in areas where they regularly leave messes behind. Dogs have a great sense of smell, and this pepper can drive them away from your yard with ease. The downsides are that the pepper will have to be reapplied regularly, and this is especially true after a rainstorm. It also can take a lot of time to sprinkle pepper across your entire yard if you have a large yard.
A Can of Coins
If the dogs like to roam around your yard when you or your kids are outside, you can consider tossing a can of coins at them or shaking the can loudly. Simply place a small handful of coins in a metal container such as an empty food can. Tape the top of the can shut. When dogs approach, you can shake the can to deter them from your space. They typically will not like the noise and will roam off into the next yard. If you need to toss the can at them, ensure that the dog will not become aggressive and that you don’t actually hit the dog with the can.
Repellent Spray
You may also consider repelling the dogs from your yard with different sprays. One option is to turn your sprinkler on each time they approach. If the dogs regularly roam into your yard at a certain time of day, such as when your neighbor gets home from work, you can purchase a timer for your sprinkler so that the sprinkler automatically turns on at this time of day. You can also consider filling a spray bottle with a mixture of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and a small part of lemongrass oil or with citronella. This can be sprayed directly onto your yard or you can spray it in the direction of the animal if they approach. Their intense sense of smell often will allow them to smell it and turn the other way long before they are close enough for the spray to actually reach them.
It can be a hassle to contend with your neighbours’ dogs on your property. However, there are several different steps that you can take to deter them from your property and to keep them away. Consider putting some of these steps into action today.
Written by Jamie Z.
Jamie is a gardening enthusiast who loves to work with clients on their backyard facelift project. His dad and his brother run a pool cleaning and landscaping company in Brisbane. Like most other Aussies, Jamie loves to spend his weekends in the backyard with his beautiful wife, three boys and a golden retriever.
image from freedigitalphotos.net