Oleander & Doggies (landscaping, grow, back yard, south)

[MissDaisy]

We recently (2 months ago) moved from CA to Southeast TX, and are planning the landscaping for our back yard. We love the look of oleander, but have read that the plant is poisonous to doggies (we have one pomeranian and two yorkies...all precious to us). We have seen oleander virtually all over, even in our old neighborhood in CA, and of course dogs walked by them daily. Should we nix the oleander idea...or is it really about dogs that tend to eat the plants??? Any of you have any experience / advise?? Thanks

[NY Annie]

Protecting Your Pet : Landscaping : Home & Garden Television

exerpt: For example, what do oleanders, yews and begonias have in common? They all make great landscape plants, unless you're a really inquisitive pet who chews on everything. These plants can be dangerous, even deadly to animals, and all too often, owners won't even know there's a problem until it's too late. "Unfortunately, I think [owners] find out after the fact," says Puschner.
So if Fido and fauna don't mix, does that mean you shouldn't grow potentially dangerous plants? Dr. Puschner recommends a less restrictive approach: watch young pets carefully as they explore and discourage or control behaviors that could be dangerous. And that can mean either making sure that a puppy doesn't have access to a dangerous plant or getting rid of the plant altogether.
All parts of oleander are toxic — to humans as well as animals.

"Puppies and kittens chew on things as they explore their environment, and especially when their teeth are changing, they might just grab anything possible and chew on it," says Puschner. And if that puppy or kitten chooses to chew on a plant like oleander — which, incidentally, grows all over California and is surprisingly toxic to animals as well as humans — they could get into real trouble, because all parts of an oleander are toxic, including the leaves, stems, roots and even the flowers. But oleanders aren't the only plants that pose a risk to animals. The leaves of rhubarb

[data_des]

Well said NY Annie

MissDaisy: Unless your dogs are puppies, they will most likely ignore any bushes or shrubs (except for the obvious use)

[harry chickpea]

However - Oleander also has Oleander caterpillars that are HIGHLY toxic. If you find them, they have to be removed with tongs or gloves. Oleander is on the list of common plants I would NEVER plant, along with Angel Trumpet.

[MissDaisy]

Originally Posted by data_des

Well said NY Annie

MissDaisy: Unless your dogs are puppies, they will most likely ignore any bushes or shrubs (except for the obvious use)

Thanks data_des...we did after all plant some oleander...BUT....since we now have lived here a couple of months, & the fuzzy kids do not go out unsupervised (mostly due to a couple of hawks circling overhead my 4.9 lb yorkie girl...another story...) the doggies have now established their fav hang out places....so we "purpose planted" them far from their fav places...they fly right past them....don't even stop to check them out..pretty much could care less. But...I still watch...just like I do for the hawks!!