Will dogs bother with fresh hops? - Page 2

cram · 11-03-2011, 10:20 PM

My lab mixes will graze on some young, lower hop leaves throughout the growing season without any ill effects but they don't touch the hops themselves (plus, they're hard to reach!). Have you ever tried to eat a hop--they are bitter as all get out! I think most animal react to bitterness as something to stay away from.

But the shoots and leaves are edible. In fact, as your hop yard gets well established, trimming some fresh hop shoots in the spring can be a nice side dish if you prepare them like asparagus.

Fid · 11-04-2011, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cram

But the shoots and leaves are edible. In fact, as your hop yard gets well established, trimming some fresh hop shoots in the spring can be a nice side dish if you prepare them like asparagus.

They're also delicious pickled!

**samc** · 11-04-2011, 04:16 AM

My dog, the deer, rabbits and other assorted animals stay away from my hops. I planted some fennel and they were gone next day, same with Basil and most other stuff you'd eat. Only the Aphids like my hops.

**TuefelHund** · 11-06-2011, 12:11 PM

I have also read that hops are poisonous to dogs. Something about their cardiovascular system, I believe.

If your dogs are diggers (mine are) then fence off the hops with some sort of wire fencing - and bury the bottome foot of the fencing, or attach and bury chicken wire, again about a foot deep. Dogs do not like digging into buried chickenwire.

Ensure you install your fencing with enough space so your hops can't start climbing the fence itself - the dogs will be able to chew the hops intertwined on the fence!

**jeffd10** · 11-06-2011, 04:28 PM

Years ago we took this one to Hunt and Field Training.... Now she thinks everything buried is hers....well last season she watched, from inside the house as my wife planted our new Cascade Rizomes

She clearly thought the Rizomes were hers.... ate 2 of the cascades in about 5 seconds after being let out ... left me the Centennials....we were scared

She had no ill effects of the Rizomes but we quickly transplanted the rest to the front yard.....

She's one of our girls ....wont take that chance again !!!!

BryceL · 12-01-2011, 05:17 PM

Just an update on my hops and my 3' chicken wire fence I built to "protect" them from my dog. She decided it would be fun to jump the fence and dig my hops up. I came home and saw her muddy face and paws staring at me, go into the backyard and I see my hop garden. She dug several huge holes about 18" deep and destroyed 4 of the 6 plants that I had. That wasn't enough for her so she decided to pull down all the strings I had set up. This was my first season growing, so the year I spent establishing their root system just went to waste. I think I'm going to give up for now...my area isn't the best for growing anyways.

Moral of the story...built a higher fence!!

**unionrdr** · 12-01-2011, 10:04 PM

Or get rid of the dog. I'm at the point where I'm tired of getting rid of all the fleas they bring into the house. tired of her slobbering all over herself on my bed. Barking at me & alarming the whole house when I try to get into bed next to my wife. Damn psycho collie. She's the black one with the long legs,big feet for a chick.
She eats grass & stuff,so a hop garden is out for now. Need hops. Don't need dog. Must 86 dog.

thetmaxx · 12-02-2011, 12:18 AM

I've heard it causes hyperthermia, the opposite from hypothermia. So the dog overheats from the inside because of the lupulin.

So I built my trellis behind my back fence in the open field, though I would have loved to landscape with them. But they didn't take off too well anyways...