plant safety

Question
I was wondering if you have an idea what to plant around our 5 foot fence to keep the kids from teasing my standard poodle and boston terrier.  I don't want to get the dogs sick but the kids continue to tease the dogs so now they are true barkers.  I thought of rose bushes that climb the fence but wasn't for sure.  Any ideas?

Answer
If these kids belong to the next-door neighbors, I would have a talk with the parents.

With most plants, the dogs will still be able to see between the bases of the plants and be able to bark at people, etc. unless the plantings are trimmed into an actual hedge (wider at the base). Japanese barbaries will work; avoid any yews which are poisonous. Common lilacs spread and can get fairly thick, but will also be tall. They will create a heavy shade, but will bloom wonderfully and delightfully in May. If trimmed into a hedge, the bloom will be lost.

When we lived in town, we had an ugly chain-link fence in the backyard. When we and our next-door neighbor lost our huge elm trees, it was like a desert from our yard all the way down to the end of the block. I decided to block that view a bit with climbing roses and bought several bushes and each year tied the new canes horizontally along the fence. It was a great success and I had many compliments! While I am not particularly fond of pink, I planted the Canadian shrub rose William Baffin, and I cannot say enough about this rose. It is TERRIFIC! I will never be without one.

Taken individually, the blooms are not much to look at... but in a group, they will absolutely knock your socks off (and it continues to bloom all summer)! This rose is hardy in Minnesota and requires minimal care (normally we have to bury our roses here for the winter). A bit of fertilizer and water and some dead-heading here and there is all that is required.  http://www.springvalleyroses.com/catalog/williambaffin.html

In your case I would space the plants a bit closer than they call for. You could also make a flower bed in front of the bushes along the fence (depending on what shrubs you put in). Fence the flower bed in with 3 ft. high welded wire garden fencing to keep the dogs out. This will give you added distance between the fence and the maurauding children, and will have an added benefit of being very attractive.

Teach the dogs a good strong recall by rewarding them with treats when they come, and when they start to bark outside, simply call them in and reward them for coming. The brats will lose interest in teasing the dogs if they are "removed".