Starbuck found some cactus on our walk this morning.

She was running off the trail and I noticed that she had something on the side of her jaw. She was shaking her head back and forth. I called her back to me. When she arrived the cactus had transferred from her jaw to her front leg. I tried to take it off with my hand and that is when I discovered how sharp the spines were. I’ve been around cactus and my grandmother had a cactus garden. I have never seen any that were this sharp. They weren’t needle sharp, they were like that microscopic needle you can’t even feel sharp.

I used a stick to pry the cactus off her leg. Then I pulled out the spines that were still sticking out of her leg and chin. She was not happy about that process. As soon as I let her go she stepped on it again. It was much easier to extract the second time and it didn’t leave any spines. I tried to push it off the trail with my boot and it stuck into the rubber toe. I took a photo with my cell phone; but it was out of focus.

She didn’t seem too bothered by the experience. I found one more spine when we got home.

I don’t think she is going to remember what happened if she comes across more cactus. And I can’t think of a safe way to show her the “danger”. I guess I’ll just have to see if it happens again.

Take it from this desert rat...anytime you are going walking in the desert either alone or with a dog, always carry a tight toothed comb for just such instances. Cholla is the biggest nightmare, ever! It is attracted to movement and will attach to anything that brushes by it. Taking it off with your hands will fill your hands full of it. The spines that don't get out will inbed themselves into your flesh and cause infections and lots of pain! We call it jumping cactus out here. I went on a date once and we drove out into the desert..I'd had a large soda and had to pee. With my eyes as bad as they are I ended up squating in a nest of cholla. My boyfriend had to pick cholla out my @#$. Ah, memories. I HATE the stuff!

My dog LOVES cactus.

Loves to eat it and loves to play with it and nothing we've tried (short of moving it) will keep the dingbat from getting into it.

possibly an e-collar and a quick reaction might help or a long line and a prong collar...my .02 for what it's worth.

Oh, we tried that but then he got stealthy on us and did his cactus dining at night. In the end it was easier to just get rid of it. I'm with Robbin...Hate the stuff!

Hey peeps, I live in the desert and you won't see a single piece of cactus anywhere near my property! The stuff is EVIL!

I don't have cactus, I have cockle burs, for those of you who don't know they are like a little spikey velcro, ouch, egg with a sharp spine on the end, ouch, ouch. My Giant Schnauser thinks it's his job to collect them all. If I don't get them off first he picks them off his legs and they stick in his beard. He is not very fond of me pulling on his lips to get them out, and he wants to mouth my hand.
I pulled and burned all I could find, he is still bringing them in. I may have to shave his face like a Poodle if he keeps it up.

I've got both and the only thing that works for me is a fine toothed comb and thick leather gloves!

I think your best bet is trying to pair approaching a cactus with a correction and hope it sticks, since you think the cactus can't do it alone!

I don't think it hurt her enough to make an impression. I think she was more confused than anything else.

The hills have a series of trails and dirt roads. In between the road there are various kinds of scrub brush. She just goes bounding through the brush and up and down the hills. I guess we’ll see how it goes on Wednesday.

Cactus 2
Starbuck 0

About 10 minutes into our walk she found another cactus plant. She came running back to me before I knew anything was wrong. I was able to extract the little bugger without puncturing myself this time.

I think she may be figuring it out. I watched her carefully approach and sniff 2 other cactus during the walk.

What does Ed say about; how many times does it take for a dog to learn something? I hope it’s not 30 in this case.