Dog damage to trees

[Gardenmac]

I managed parks for 20 years and the damage caused by dogs was insane. The cost of replacing children's swing seats alone was depressing. The scally's would get the Staffies and pit bulls to bite down on the seats and swing them to strengthen the jaws.

In one night we lost 10 seats in one park at a cost of £100 each. Times that by the 80 play areas and we had serious issues.

They started on trees and the staff caught on to the idea of chilli powder rubbed into the bark of the vulnerable trees, problem solved. For the swing seats we started to chain the swings up at night and also bought seats treated with chems that repelled the dog from biting down on them.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Gardenmac

[David Humphries]

Same North London park as earlier in the thread.

 

Again, no one saw anything

 

 

.

[likeitorlumpit]

chilli powder= good idea

Don't even think H&S would mind

[David Humphries]

chilli powder= good idea

Don't even think H&S would mind

 

Have you tried it?

 

 

From the LTOA's best practice note -

 

http://www.ltoa.org.uk/documents/doc_download/133-bark-better-than-bite-damage-to-trees-by-dogs-best-practice-note

 

"Chilli powder can be applied to trees if mixed with water and sprayed onto the stem. It has the obvious unpleasant taste effect on the dog, and is practically invisible to the eye once applied. But its effectiveness is limited as it will be washed off in the first good rainfall after application. Any of the methods mentioned here could be viewed as contentious if they are seen to be ‘harmful’ to the dogs.

 

Benefits

• Effective deterrent

• •

• •

Drawbacks

Limited duration of protection

May be a contentious issue with dog owners

Must be done on a dry day

Possible health and safety issues – people getting it on hands and into eyes etc"

 

 

 

.

[felixthelogchopper]

Have you tried it?

 

 

From the LTOA's best practice note - http://www.ltoa.org.uk/documents/doc_download/133-bark-better-than-bite-damage-to-trees-by-dogs-best-practice-note

 

"Chilli powder can be applied to trees if mixed with water and sprayed onto the stem. It has the obvious unpleasant taste effect on the dog, and is practically invisible to the eye once applied. But its effectiveness is limited as it will be washed off in the first good rainfall after application. Any of the methods mentioned here could be viewed as contentious if they are seen to be ‘harmful’ to the dogs.

Benefits

• Effective deterrent

• •

• •

Drawbacks

Limited duration of protection

May be a contentious issue with dog owners

Must be done on a dry day

Possible health and safety issues – people getting it on hands and into eyes etc"

 

Still friendlier than the Sick Boy approach though, David.

[David Humphries]

Still friendlier than the Sick Boy approach though, David.

 

Do you see the beast ? Have you got it in your sights?

 

 

.

[bobh]

I can confirm that chilli will very be a very effective deterent and make any dog think twice about chewing something similar again.

Used to be a shepherd and had a dog that would eat my sandwiches if she ever got the chance. Once she did it 4 days in a row, on the 5th day "my sandwiches" contained chilli powder and cayenne pepper. After that day I could leave any food lying around and she definitely wouldn't touch it!

Should say now that after letting the dog have a really good drink she showed now ill effects at all, but it was quite funny watching a dog trying to spit

[Warren1]

I have two staffys ,and considering they are such a friendly people loving breed they attract the complete cretin .

[Mark Bolam]

True that Warren, and it's a shame.

[Warren1]

Thanks mark as a Londoner now living in the sticks with staffs it can be a pia every other dog is on the gun because of these idiots me and the good lady get all sorts of comments and looks on a walk,my two dogs are scared of the rabbit . I put it down to a shortcoming in trouser department !