You might want to provide your veterinarian with a complete list of the plants in your garden, including their botanical names, because he will have access to more complete info on the toxicity of garden plants to dogs. You might be able to find out for yourself from the internet, but I don't know where to look for reliable info.

This website, developed by the ASPCA, has a list of plants toxic to dogs. Scroll about half way down.

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

Perfect, Bathgate! I haven't owned a dog since the early eighties, and my cat is strictly indoors.

Oh, what kind of cat do you have? I have a sleek black chantilly, Costello. He wakes me up at 4am to be let outside, but he only stays in the garden. Any chance you can post a picture of your cat? There are several of Costello in my gallery. I can't have a dog because of my job, but my neighbor looks after my cat for me when I'm away.

Thanks for your help. I've managed to find a few more online, like azaleas, Lily of the valley, and daffodil which I have in the garden and I will be visiting the vet as soon as she arrives. We haven't had a puppy since 1985, and it's quite exciting.

Mooch is a black and white tuxedo cat, just like his namesake in the Mutts comic strip--acts a lot like him, too! He adopted me at our previous residence by trying to jump into my arms, but I wasn't bright enough, and I stepped back instead of catching him, and he wound up hanging from my shirt with an aggrieved look on his face!

The problem with lists of poisonous plants like the one Bathgate linked to is that they have so many plants on them but don't give any indication of how often they actually cause poisoning in dogs nor how severe it is.

And they ignore the simple maths of how many dogs there are and how few get ill from eating a toxic plant.

One of my daughters got a puppy from the same family a couple of years ago and she chewed everything she could get her teeth into in my garden. I hadn't removed any plants then and hoped to keep an eye on her. She did have the odd reaction to what I can only suppose was eating bluebell leaves and azalea branches but she has come through it well so I hope I can lessen the danger before little one arrives.

The plants on the list I provided are on the list for a good reason: they are poisonous to dogs & cats. I've lost a cat because he chewed on American Yew bush. He died a long painful death and once it's ingested, nothing can be done. Death is imminent. It's traumatizing to see your beloved pet die like that. You cannot watch them 24/7 and you can't tell them which plant not to eat.

There are other plants that may not be toxic, but I would not have them around a dog that likes to chew things. I'm thinking of Pampas Grass and Miscanthus. The edges of the leaves are serrated and would damage the mouth.

Congratulations on getting the puppy. My youngest dog is now 9 months and those 1st few months were I admit a nightmare as for as chewing on everything and putting everything in his mouth. The 1st words I had to teach him was "No" and "Leave it"! The worst thing was trying to eat every stone and pebble as well. As the nights are unfortunately starting to draw in, I would suggest a good torch by the back door for those middle of the night house training trips. Maybe put a lead on so you can keep a closer eye and you could maybe start to train by having a lead on that they only go to the loo in one part of your garden and so maybe save the rest of your lawn lol.

So what type of dog are you getting ? Mine are 3 German Shepherds.

Good idea Jen. she's a miniature Schnauzer, and black as coal so we won't be able to see her in the garden at night. Time to get a collar with lights on! We haven't got any lawn but she can use part of the cleared flower border for a loo as my daughter's pup does.

Lovely breed, friend has 2, double trouble 🤣. At least with no lawn, you won't have to worry about the burn Mark's. Don't know what food you are planning, a lot of people are doing raw but I feed kibble and buy from a online company called Fetch. For my boys brand, a 15kg bag works out nearly £20 cheaper then say Pets at home and what I love is it is next day delivery, 7 days a week and you are given an hr time slot as it is delieved by Ocado. As for the little clip on lights for dog collars, they I found them useless as my boys loss them, this is the ones I used. Hope this is of some help 😀

https://www.amazon.co.uk/LED-Light-Pet-Safety-Collar/dp/B009WJF94W

I have a black chantilly - sleek black gorgeous longish fur. He wears a bell and that's enough for me to know where he is. Luckily he's usually in his cat condo or slumped in his favorite chair. When I take him out in the garden, he immediately starts eating grass and foliage from the various shrubs. Rhododendron, azaleas, yew, milkweeds are dangerous. Some will kill very quickly (the yew got my last cat) other will just cause sickness (poison ivy, poison oak - poison anything). Then you have to watch out for yellow jackets & wasps that nest in the ground - they are wicked painful and they don't mess around. Everything isn't a toy.

Thank you both. I have had a puppy before, a beautiful golden retriever who lived to the ripe old age of 13. He managed to get out of our enormous garden as a pup and was hit by a motorbike, luckily he wasn't hurt. we are looking forward to it.

Those are great dogs; they love water. I had a beagle (Snoopy Dog). My sister agreed to keep him while I was away overseas - and never gave him back. Since they bonded very tightly I just let her keep it.