Hi, I have a year old lab that has her nose into everything. I'd like to fertilize my potted plants, but she licks the water out of the pans. Is this harmful? She doesn't have free access, but I don't always notice if she's sneaking a lick. Please let me know. Thanks a bunch!

Hi, I have a year old lab that has her nose into everything. I'd like to fertilize my potted plants, but she licks the water out of the pans. Is this harmful? She doesn't have free access, but I don't always notice if she's sneaking a lick. Please let me know. Thanks a bunch!
http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/newattachment.php?f=13&poststarttime=1150038780&posthash=eca16f1041ce7bd682b18a2634447626

Hello and welcome! :)

Please be very careful with anything you fertilize and keep it out of your puppy's reach....any type of fertilizer/pesticide/herbicide is harmful to our pets....

We don't even fertilize the lawn where our dogs run and play....

That's what I figured, but thought I'd check. Is there anything that is organic or natural perhaps? Thanks much

Hi everyone,

Long time reader, but 1st time poster.

Actually there are organic fertilizers and weed killers out there. I just used this fertilizer yesterday. Check it out.

http://www.purebarnyard.com/cockadoodledoo/

That's what I figured, but thought I'd check. Is there anything that is organic or natural perhaps? Thanks much

There are organic and/or natural alternatives, but that wouldn't necessarily make them nontoxic when ingested.

I'd say if you can make do with unfertilized plants with a puppy around, its safer. I have many potted plants and gardens at my house, and I don't fertilize at all. They may not be as spectacular as those that are fertilized, but I never have to think twice about my pets getting sick.

I agree with what's above-I graduated from Michigan State University's Turf Management program and let me tell you-fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides are not something you want around your dogs or kids. While safer alternatives and of course organic alternatives are out there with a dog licking the water out of the pot I would either make sure your dog can't reach this water or don't fertilize. I use fertilizers that have no herbicides or pesticides in them on our lawns and still keep my dogs off until a good hard rain or a couple days of decent watering. It's hard to be perfect with what to use or not to use but do your best---just asking like you did is a great, great start to safer lawn care! Here's a company that's doing good things on a large scale basis-- http://www.nl-amer.com/ I'm not working for them but they are a huge improvement over your average home lawns safety for pets and kids. I actually got out of the industry because of how unsafe the fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides were that I had to be around and spread everyday.....got a guilty conscience about it running into our ground water supply. Good luck

I used to use "ZooPoo" organic fertilizer from - you guessed it - the Zoo. I have to say the dogs really did think it was an exotic and tasty treat, so I fenced off the garden.

Thanks everyone! I love when the answers are pretty much unanimous! No fertilizer this year for my garden, and hopefully next year she'll be less of a puppy in this regard! We had a previous 'fur person' that never had any interest in the plants or pots so that's what we're hoping for.

This is a great site and I really appreciate the enthusiastic responses! Thank you. :)

Thanks everyone! I love when the answers are pretty much unanimous! No fertilizer this year for my garden, and hopefully next year she'll be less of a puppy in this regard! We had a previous 'fur person' that never had any interest in the plants or pots so that's what we're hoping for.

This is a great site and I really appreciate the enthusiastic responses! Thank you. :)

There is an organic fertilizer called Tops that is made primarily of chicken poop and it is safe for animals. Though as always, just really watch carefully with any product.

Maybe fertilize your plants when she's not looking. Labs tend to want to be "helpers", sometimes their help is not appreciated :D. What kind of fertilizer are you using?
Opal is my new "gardening helper", she wants to help me pick out the dying flowers and weeds, as soon as I turn my back she's got a living flower in her mouth :floor.

I just fertilize with a general fertilizer called gropower that I get from my nursery. I ended up fertilizing everthing that she can't get to and the half dozen pots that she drinks out of the pans got zilch. I plan to mulch the tops of everything, so at least they'll get some goodness out of the mulch. The chicken poop fertilizer would probably be great for the plants, but I think Lola would want to eat the fertilizer! I had a heck of time getting her out of our neighbor's pumpkin patch when they fertilized with steer manure. gross!

I 'let' DH fertilize the front yard, where the dogs are never allowed, but backyard fertilizing is off limits. I don't care if it's organic or non toxic on the label. I trust no one when it comes to that. We have weeds in the back yard, and the grass isn't as nice but at least I know Frodo and Shelby are not ingesting anything that will hurt them now, or give them cancer in the future.

I hate to say it, but I really took the title of this post out of context! Had to share :)

Folks, dog food, rabbit food, horse food, etc... all make excellent fertilizers, and are 100% safe for your pets and family.

Lots of people that practice organic gardening, myself included, regularily spread things like corn meal, corn gluten meal, alfalfa meal, etc... on our lawns and flower beds, and are completely safe for pets and families. Your yard may have the biggest, and best fed bunnies and squirrels around, but you'll have a great green lawn, and a safe lawn too.

You can have beautiful flowers along with safe kids and pets.

http://www.picvault.info/images/536982440_front%205.jpg

http://www.picvault.info/images/536986838_Luca%20Bella%20sit%203.jpg

http://www.picvault.info/images/536991161_Front%20Yard%204.jpg

http://www.picvault.info/images/536991162_Front%20Yard%201.jpg

Now about those yellow spots in the grass, those, you'll just have to get used to. :brow:

wow, your yard looks amazing! great job. :) Your son and dog look so cute among all the flowers.

Beautiful! And inspiring!