Ponds And Dogs

[akudewan]

I have to setup a pond for my uncle's friend. He has a couple of dogs. One is a german shepherd, trained as a guard dog. He's got a bad temper and will try to bite any stranger. The other dog is more docile (I don't know which breed).

Are there any issues with ponds and dogs? Do they try to bite at the fish or anything? Would they try to drink from the pond? Any precautions that should be taken?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sheba]

Hi,
I've always had ponds and always had dogs!!
Most ignore the pond - especially if its a raised type. At the moment I have a 2000 gall pond in my garden and a huge mental dobermann - He fell in once (as a puppy) scared my koi half to death but he now seems to have gotten over it. He does put his nose down to the bigger koi and when he drinks from the pond they come up to his tongue!!
I dont think pond water will harm your dog if they drink it (I dont add chemicals to my pond at all) but its not something that I would recommend and I would try to stop them.
Something I heard the other day though - a friends (large) koi was spawning and jumped out of the pond - his jack russell terrier killed it But I reckon thats just a one off!

 

[Judmacaroni]

Suppose it would really depend on the dogs and what they thought of it whether they are the type with a a high prey drive (chase anything that moves!) And whether they like water! We're putting a pond in soon and will need a metal grill over it as our dogs love nothing more than splashing about in any water and cause we'll have a baby soon too.

You might find that a simple net would be enough to discourage them from bothering about the pond I'd be more worried if there are any cats around or Birds that will prey on the fish!

 

[samyboy]

yes dogs will drinks from ponds even the cat does, although the cat has never been interested in the fish we give him the dead ones he has a sniff and walks off, was in someones garden the otherweek and thier yorkshire terrier just randomly walks in the pond,

 

[akudewan]

Thanks for the replies guys

 

[rumdrum]

Until the past few years, we always had fish ponds out in the back garden, quite a few in fact.

Mayb it was because they were raised, but the dogs we've had never took any notice unless you pointed it out to them and encouraged them to play with the water

Overall they didn't seem to bother - but of course that depends on the dog!!

 

[sheba]

Forgot to add that my pond is netted - my dobermann is european and has a VERY high prey drive. He's more interested in humans though than fish thankfully