Dog Scratching a Tree - Any Suggestions

[Muggs]

I have a customer who's dog keeps scratching the base of a little silver maple, trying to get a squirrel to come down. Does anyone have any ideas for getting a dog to stop this behavior? I have dealt with cats doing this but never a dog. I would like to be able to clean up the bark injury a bit but its pointless if the dog keeps up the behavior. So any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks everyone.

 

[willbranch]

I'm guessing the customer won't want to part with the dog but you could get rid of the squirrel. Or fence the base of the tree?

 

[banjo]

When my dog does things I don't like, I train her to stop doing them. Sounds like a classic case of a bored dog acting out to get negative attention from its owners.

 

[moonfarm]

A silver maple? Good dog, good dog.

 

[guymayor]

metal fencing, or plastic tree wrap, and/or toenail clippers.

 

[cerviarborist]

I've put down sections of chain link fence on the lawn, in the past, to discourage dogs from digging. Why not put some around the trunk, with a few cable ties to hold it in place.. perhaps one section atop the other, if it's a really big dog.

It'll still let light and air get to the trunk of the tree, until the dog loses interest.

 

[No_Bivy]

ritual beatings

 

[bstewert]

This will work. I have 3 of them in various areas. Keeps the raccoons out of the garden. I rigged up one on a metal pole for a bird-feeder. It's funny to watch the squirrels run in a 10' circle around it, trying to figure out how to get to the food.

I only run one wire, 12" off the ground. The wetter it is, the better. If it's real dry or you were putting it over something like wood chips, you'd need 2 wires.

http://www.zarebasystems.com/store/electric-fence-kits-and-netting/k9kit

 

[H4stir]

I've used a similar process to the chain link fence on the ground but used a stiff wire fence product with about 1" grid. Cut one of the grid wires and bend it upwards, lay the fencing in the perimeter of what you want to protect and the animals stay off the wire to avoid getting poked by the upturned wire. Smaller grid wire works great in gardens to deter cats and other pests.

 

[ChrisOTS]

Frank's Red Hot Sauce, I put that on everything.

Seriously though, smear it everywhere around the tree, but not into the wound. Should keep fido away for a long time.

I didn't believe this, so I tried it with my dog's bone, he hasn't touched it since.