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Can dogs help with spring yard chores?
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Crystal has plenty of energy for romping in fields,
not so much for helping with yard work.
Yes, we saw spring again today. Enough spring that I got a bit of spring cleanup started around my rose bushes and under the pine tree. So, as I stood pulling winter protection out from around my roses, occasionally pivoting to keep the dog from wrapping me in her leash, I started daydreaming about harnessing my dog’s spring energy to yard work.
Of course, I realize the futility of thinking a dog could help with anything needing opposable thumbs or fine motor skills. So no point asking a dog to break off dry plants neatly … and besides, I’ve spent years trying to train my dogs not to set foot in my gardens. Not that they pay attention.
Sadly, I don’t think one smallish (about 30 lb) mixed breed, heavy on the spaniel, will be much help. Why should I expect her to gather pinecones from out in the lawn when she won’t retrieve the much more attractive thrown tennis balls? And she’s too small (or smart) to pull a lawnmower.
Our half-terrier mutt Amber was always ready to help with digging holes for planting. Alas, in her enthusiasm, she threw the dirt so far and wide that we had quite the challenge filling the holes in again.
Our across-the-street neighbors have retrievers. With training, those labs might pick up fallen branches and bring them to me—or better yet, drop them in a pile by the street ready for the brush pickup crew.
Perhaps our diagonal-behind neighbor’s husky would be amenable to drawing a small wagon to help me move stones for the stone wall I need to rebuild. For the heavier loads, I could always ask him to share harness with the shepherd-mix two houses down.
But I’m resigned to being on my own for raking—I just can’t see a dog with a rake, although most would be glad to chase any leaves making escape attempts.
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