Is there any way to keep birds/squirrels out of my dog's food and water dishes?

I'm thinking that a plastic snake or something might scare them away.


but I hear that it doesn't work. (Your opinion?)


To keep the problem to a bare minimum, I try to only feed her at certain times and only what she can eat so that there's little to none left over.


But the birds are so bold, and my dog has so little hunting-instinct, that the birds will land on her food dish wile she is eating it! I looked out the kitchen window and was shocked to see a fat pigeon peck my dog when she tried to eat out of her own food dish!


My dog just walked away, it's so sad, I know.


They always get in her water dish, it's disgusting to see them swim and bathe in it.


When the dog is inside, I have her water dish inside as well, but when I'm at school the dog stays out and she will drink that dirty water!





A smaller problem is squirrels, they will occasionally ransack her food area when she isn't around. (She will chase squirrels, even if she's not good at it)





Before you suggest it, my Mom won't allow me to put her food dish in the house, because she makes a mess when she eats.





Do you have any suggestions or ideas that might help me?Is there any way to keep birds/squirrels out of my dog's food and water dishes?
The only thing I can think of is if you stood out there while she ate...The you would intimidate the birds and squirrels. But it depends I guess if your dog wouldn't pay any mind to the food and just want your attention, but if she just gobbles the food down I say you just wait til shes done eating. =)Is there any way to keep birds/squirrels out of my dog's food and water dishes?
How about treating your dog like a family member and allowing them to live with you? Dogs are social and keeping them outside is cruel. And apparently it is not working out either.





Try to remember that the poor dog feels alone, sad, depressed and isolated due to being outside.





Bonus would be - your dog eats and drinks fresh clean food and water. That is the least you can do.
A statue of owl. A real looking one.


Do not put it on ground by dish, put it on roof or on a tree near the dish


and birds and squirrels see it and think its real so they don`t come near.


It works for pigeons alot.
You could sit and watch it eat to protect it


or


you could just let it eat inside


My dogs eat outside but I don't have a problem with that because my dogs are mean and they wont let anyone or anything near them but me :3
They sell mats that you put under a dog's food %26amp; water bowls to contain any mess. If you clean up after her, there will be no mess for your mother to complain about. What do you do in bad weather, starve her?
Rat poison...





JK... but put nuts out for the squirrels on the other side of the yard, and a bird feeder on a tree or fence





Or have a schedule for feeding the dog
yeah, bring the bowl in
get a cat.
them when you have the chance
The plastic snake won't work. The plastic owls don't either.





Stay with her while she eats to keep the birds away and then pick up the dish when she is done.





If she is big enough, use a bucket instead of a water dish. Birds may drink out of it (but only if it is filled to the top) but they definitely won't bathe in a deeper bucket.
feed her at her scheduled meal time, leave the bowl out for 10-15 mins then bring the bowl in.. if the dog doesnt eat when fed, then she doesnt eat until the next meal.. your dog will learn to eat when fed.





Water bowl.. not much you can do except change it daily.. or several times a day (hey you wouldnt want to drink from the same bowl all day long anyways would you?)








You could try setting up a bird bath somewhere so the critters have their own place to go too.
To keep the birds away (and it might work on squirrels) here's what you should do:


Hang up red and silver shiny ribbons in your back yard. You can get them at the dollar store, etc. If you have a fence place it on that. The birds think that it is fire, and they stay away. This seriously worked for my aunt, and I'd definitely recommend it.


Good luck :)
First off- plastic snakes only work for a very short time if at all. A bowl with a spring loaded cover will solve the birds drinking the water and another for the food ...but really if the dog is so docile look and seeif the dog is overwight. A dog does no repeat not need to have food available at all times.Feed her before you go and when you get back. The speing loaded water dish will keep the pests out.A rodent trap on a shelf out of the dogs reach or even nailed onto a high spot near a railing will give a squirrel a headache at the least. Glue traps stick to thier filthy little paws and they go away then.Last, try to make a deal with Mom- a rug and a spot to sleep is a nice thing to do.