Catch It

• The first thing to remember about dogs is that they do not remember or associate past transgressions with your current yelling. In order for a dog to connect that digging in the flower garden is a no-no, you must catch it in the act. It is vital to discipline the dog while it is doing the activity you deem undesirable. This will allow it to understand that digging in the garden or chewing up your flowers means a stern "no!" Yelling at it while it is sleeping in its dog bed after you discover it created three holes in the garden is a fruitless effort, as it will not understand. The mindset you should maintain with your dog is that it is a small toddler.
  
  

Invisible Fence

• If you are still unable to get your dog to understand that the flower garden is off limits, try installing an underground, invisible electric fence designed to keep dogs within their own yard. Place the fence around your garden, including a three-foot radius to be sure the dog cannot even sniff those flowers. These fences come with a special collar for your dog and will require some training to teach it where the invisible line is located, so it knows to steer clear to avoid a small shock. Set up small, orange flags around the perimeter of the invisible fence to give the dog visual cues. It will catch on quickly, as the shock will not be a pleasant experience.
  
  

Timed Sprinkler

• If you do not enjoy the idea of an invisible fence or if you have a small dog that is terrified of water, another way to teach it to stay away from your flower garden is with water. Install a sprinkler system that is set on a trip wire placed at the entrance to your garden. The sprinkler (or sprinklers) should be pointed in strategic locations so as to spray the dog with water if it touches or "trips" the wire. It helps to install the wire low to the ground and a minimum of three feet from the garden border. This will ensure your dog gets the message well before it reaches the garden. You can install a second wire closer to the garden as a second warning.
  
  This works best if your garden has only one easy entrance and exit, as setting up a wire around the entire perimeter will be challenging.