this is not a problem I expected to have
So the dogs aren't yet doing the best job of guarding the farm here. They bother the chickens enough that we don't let them out together, and they aren't particularly observant about rabbits or squirrels in the garden (though the certainly notice them when they're out on walks!). That's fine; they're young yet. But over the last few days I've noticed something even more troubling. Far from protecting the garden, the dogs are now joining the wild animals in its despoliation! Specifically, they've started eating tomatoes off of the plants.
So far they've mostly take roma tomatoes, and maybe one or two cherries, so it's not the end of the world. We have lots of both. But it's the principle of the thing! And if they start in on the slicing tomatoes—the first two of which have only just about ripened—I don't know if I'll be able to endure it. This has indeed been a tough year with the animals in the garden...