# Tojo's job... help me brain storm. So I'm planting my first garden this year and there are lots of seasoned gardeners around, since country folk are all about growing their own food. I asked a bunch of people how they keep critters out of their gardens, because there are a LOT of critters around my house. There's the big pond, all t… ## Thread In Shiba Inu · started by hondru · 12 replies - **Category:** [Shiba Inu](https://nihonken.org/community/c/shiba-inu) - **Forum:** [Nihon Ken Forum](https://nihonken.org/community/) ## hondru (moderator) · 2009-05-21T21:35:59.000Z So I'm planting my first garden this year and there are lots of seasoned gardeners around, since country folk are all about growing their own food. I asked a bunch of people how they keep critters out of their gardens, because there are a LOT of critters around my house. There's the big pond, all the trees, and it's just the perfect spot for racoons, rabbits, ground squirrels, and all sorts of stuff. Anyway, they all say the best way is to have a dog that stays outside with the garden at night. I've decided Tojo would be the best at this, because he's the least likely to dig the garden, and he's the one who always tries to sleep on the porch at night, so I figure he wouldn't mind being outside. So... what do you suppose is the best way to keep him safe? Most people just let their dogs run loose, but I'm not into that. I don't want to tie him out because that's basically lunch on a line for a coyote. I'm thinking a shelter and enclosure near the garden so he can bark scare away the critters. At night, he does like to bark at and chase any animals that get close to the house. I might be getting a LGD soon, too... so that'd be peace of mind. I'm getting goats this summer and sheep in February (if all goes well). I don't think a LGD would chase away the creatures, but it would protect Tojo while he did. So what do you think? ## brada1878 (admin) · 2009-05-21T22:02:05.000Z Interesting idea. I did this with Kona, but during the day. He would chases birds away from our grass seed. A dog house would protect him if he stayed in the house, but the running after animals would freak me out. He could chase a Coyote away from the garden and then right into a trap. Coyote are known to lure dogs out and then gang up on them and kill them. Because of this, I wouldn't do it until you had a trusted LGD - that's my opinion. Chances are, Tojo would be safe, but there is a risk. Once you have an LGD I would just give him a little dog house in the garden area and let the LGD roam be on a tie. As for LGD, A GP, TM, or Kuvasz may not chase off preditors, but a Shar, CAO, CO, Anatolian, Akbash, Komondor, or Kangal would. ---- ## brandon_w (admin) · 2009-05-21T23:14:47.000Z My Grandpa used to soak meat in anti-freeze and set it out around his garden so the racoons would eat that instead of his corn. My grandpa is not a role model. I also would not feel comfortable leaving my dog out all night to protect a garden. Couldn't you just build a fence around it? ## Calia · 2009-05-22T01:40:28.000Z An idea you could try, something people near me like to use to protect their small ponds, is building a frame with PVC and wrapping a net around it. This was very helpful in keping herons and raccoons from eating the fish, and was almost invisible. ## TheWalrus · 2009-05-22T02:58:16.000Z One thing to add... Critters will get used to a dog in the area once they've figured out he's tied up. I have a friend who got a dog to keep the critters out of his garden. It worked for a few months, but now the critters just come waltzing in even if the dog's barking. ## ShikokuSpirit (moderator) · 2009-05-22T15:54:48.000Z I'm thinking, build a lovely kennel with a cover and barbed wire around your garden -smiles-. Or maybe invest into a herd of Llama. I hear they chase off wolves...but they might eat your garden??? ## okiron · 2009-05-22T22:10:17.000Z Heidi, what do you plan on doing with the goats? Meat, milk, fiber, all? I would love some goats but I can't get over how freaky their eyes look lol. ## lindsayt · 2009-05-26T13:00:04.000Z Dude, their eyes are like alien eye balls. Why rectangle pupils, seriously? ## hondru (moderator) · 2009-05-27T11:15:58.000Z Brad - I think you're probably right about waiting for a LGD. Tojo is pretty smart about coyotes - he barks at them, but he stays close to the house if they're around. Still, I wouldn't risk it without the LGD. Brandon - I've thought of building a fence, and I might actually do both - build a fence and put Tojo inside it. I know there's a risk to having him outside at night, but I also think having a job would make him happier and if I take precautions to protect him, I think it could be really good for him. He likes to be on intruder patrol. Shigeru - Yeah, that's why I might need a fence so he can run around in the garden. We'll see, I guess. Corina - Llama do chase off coyotes - but they also don't like dogs that much, so I don't think they'd care if Tojo was being eaten. Donkeys chase off coyotes, too, but I don't think Melvin would stick with Tojo. And, yeah, they'd eat the garden. Rina - getting dairy goats. We're in serious need of a four-legged weed-wacker and milk is good, so we're killing two birds with one stone! The sheep will be lawnmowers, once we get them. Well, and obviously, I'll use the meat and wool, too. --- **Navigate:** [Forum home](https://nihonken.org/community/?format=md) · [Sitemap](https://nihonken.org/community/sitemap.xml)