Dogs sleeping in potted plants is not an uncommon behavior, despite the odd things we may see our domesticated animals doing in our daily lives.
Because they see potted plants as secure and cozy, dogs will sleep within them. Dogs can be extremely possessive, and plant pots can offer a nice warm place for dogs to rest. Potted plants are not made for dogs, and leaving a dog in a potted plant for an extended period of time can harm both the plant and the soil.
This article will cover the reasons dogs prefer to sleep in plant pots, the risks it causes to the plants, and the precautions you can take to safely keep dogs out of your plant pots.
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Why Do Dogs Sleep In Plant Pots?
Smaller dogs frequently look for safety inside a plant pot because the dirt is soft and the dog feels secure there. Dogs typically enjoy plants because of their comfort and here is why.
However, rest is the fundamental factor behind a dog sleeping in a pot.
Animals require rest after engaging in numerous activities during the day, such as hunting and other playful pursuits.
Dogs need cool, shaded areas to rest away from the heat, much like other animals do.
The soft, cool, and pleasant soil in a plant pot offers the ideal environment for sleeping.
This is so that the dog will be drawn to the plant’s leaves, which offer shade and a cool atmosphere.
Is It Safe For A Dog To Sleep In A Plant Pot?
The dog won’t be harmed by sleeping on the ground unless the area is treated for diseases or pests.
Additionally, the dog’s fur will shield it from touch with the soil.
A certain quantity of warmth will be produced as the dog sleeps on certain well-aerated soils.
Unfortunately, the dog starts to develop the habit of sleeping on the plant soil as a result.
Only if the soil was treated to remove fungi and insects could it be detrimental to dogs. If consumed, the chemical utilized can have certain unfavorable effects.
Due to the saltiness that the minerals in the fertilizer give, the dog may even lick the soil after it has been fertilized.
To learn more about the effects of potting soil on dogs, visit our in-depth article on the topic.
Can Insects in Potting Soil Affect Dogs?
Insects that release chemicals as a defense strategy against danger may be present in potting soil and soil from potted plants. The toxins released by the insects may cause the dog to vomit or experience digestive issues that could result in diarrhea if the dog ingested soil that included the insects.
The potted soil’s damp environment may draw undesirable insects and animals, such frogs. They frequently seek out the plant’s cool, shady surroundings because it serves as a refuge away from the sweltering sun. Â
Here is my experience with potting soil and my dog after that.
When it was dozing off in potting soil in a plant pot, my dog once bit a toad. She is a tiny puppy who loves to play. My dog only had to eat a tiny bit before he began to gasp, vomit, and instantly develop diarrhea.
My dog started to feel better after an expensive trip to the vet, a bag of fluid drip, and a dose of antibiotics. After biting a quietly resting toad in the potting soil for 12 hours, all symptoms were completely gone.
9 Ways to Prevent dogs From Sleeping In Pots
It may be advantageous for both the plant and the dog to keep a dog from napping in a plant container.
The use of physical barriers and repulsive scents are two examples of prevention strategies. All of these are safe for the dog while also protecting your plant from potential harm that the dog and its playful nature might cause.
We’ll talk about what you can do to successfully keep them out.
1. Use Lava Rocks as Mulch
The plant-soil is protected by lava rocks, which also keep the dog from lying on it.
Because the lava rock is uneven, the dog cannot comfortably rest on it. Any dog would be discouraged from exploring any potted plant as a result of this.
On Amazon, you can view and contrast lava rock.
2. Placing Pots On Very High Heights
The dog can’t readily get to the plant because the plant pot is at a height.
The dog encounters a barrier due to height alone. The dog would reconsider its choice because it would now require more effort to reach the plant and run the chance of being hurt.
When placing a plant on a height to break a negative behavior, caution must be exercised. The dog might try to get at the plant, and if successful, it might knock it over, hurting both the dog and the plant.
To avoid any potential injuries, make sure the plant is securely fastened to the height.
3. Using a Physical Barrier
A perforated bucket, a fence made of wire and sticks, or any other number of devices can be used as barriers.
To cover the plant, you can use old netting. As a result, the dog cannot access the plant. It has absolutely no chance of using the pot, so it will go somewhere else.
Doing this is crucial, especially if you are away from home during the day or are not keeping an eye on the dog.
4. Using a Dog Repellant
Because of how the repellent functions, it emits a scent that dogs do not like.
This strategy is effective for wandering animals, especially if your property has potted plants outdoors.
It smells to the dog. Dogs won’t relax in a smelly area because the smell will make them avoid the pot.
Additionally, growing smaller plants with strong aromas will aid in discouraging the dog from hiding in the plant pot.
You can give the dog some unpleasant odors by mixing vinegar, coffee grinds, citrus fruits, chili peppers, and these ingredients together.
5. Provide Enough Space for the Dog
Dogs have a strong sense of ownership over everything, from the ground to the ceiling.
If you give your dog a cozy location to play and relax, the dog won’t look for a place to rest in your plant pot because it will have one of its own.
The dog will also stop looking for other areas to sleep because it will feel more secure and confident in its new space.
6. Moving the Pot to Another Area
Another alternative is to move the planter to a different location.
The dog might have discovered that the location of the plant in its current state is ideal for sleeping.
The dog may become accustomed to a certain routine and surroundings when it enters the plant pot if the plant is moved.
The best prevention strategy, according to our expert, is to keep the plant in a different room and forbid the dog from entering.
7. Create a Play Area for the Dog
Make a dog-specific play area to prevent them from hiding out in the planters. The dog will undoubtedly be distracted by this.
If the dog is particularly protective of its territory, the play area will act as a safe haven for it and divert its attention from the potted plant, which it earlier used as a refuge.
8. Use a Bright Light
Maintain a strong light beaming on the plant’s base.
A bright light can assist break the behavior by making the dog develop an undesirable habit when looking for a spot to sleep.
In order to prevent the plant’s circadian rhythm from being impacted, the light must be kept at the base.
9. Use Distractive Toys
Keeping dog-friendly toys out of the plant container can also serve as a good diversion.
As the dog will become fatigued after its playtime and just fall asleep where the toys are placed, letting it play with the toys away from the plant will help break the habit of sleeping in the plant.
Can the Dog cause harm to the plant
In a perfect world, anything should condense under pressure, if not break.
So the answer is yes, the dog can make the soil compact.
Although some could counter that the dog’s weight is insufficient to compact, the truth is that compactness will nonetheless result from the dog’s weight, no matter how little.
It’s possible for the soil in potted plants to have various particle sizes and shapes.
Some become sticky when moist as well. Now, the type of soil in the container will determine how much the soil compacts.
The plant will experience issues if soil comes into contact with it now after the dog has been sleeping nonstop for a few days.
How will soil Compaction Affect the Plant?
The dirt particles will be forced to converge as weight is applied to it.
Poor drainage is the general result of compaction because water either sits on top of the soil or drains into and out of the soil very slowly.
This causes the plant’s roots to get waterlogged and unaerated, which has the knock-on effect of causing root rot.
Why do Dogs Play in and Around Plant Pots
Dogs frequently play with plant pots because the bouncy structure of the leaves and branches makes them seem like toys to them.
Because of this, dogs frequently paw at the leaves in a playful manner, causing the leaf to bounce back and forth.
Dogs also enjoy playing with potted plants because they discover hidden goodies in the soil. The dog will enjoy digging in and removing any stones from the soil of the potted plant so they may play with them later.