If you love your dog as much as you love your monstera or other houseplants, you’ve probably run into this dilemma: how do you keep your plants alive without putting your pup at risk? This has been a problem for plant parents who are also pet parents. Some plants are toxic, some dogs are curious nibblers, and sometimes it feels like your plants and your pets are destined to clash. To figure this out, I talked with Dudley, the plant lover behind Pablo’s Plants on Instagram and TikTok. His brand centers on his golden retriever, Pablo, and he’s here to share with us how to keep both plants and pets safe at home.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] Can dogs and houseplants really live in harmony?
• [02:06] What does Dudley’s plant setup look like (Lowe's racks + Barrina lights + phone control)
• [02:53] Who is Dudley (aka Pablo’s Plants) and his golden retriever (Pablo)?
• [04:58] How did Dudley end up bringing Pablo home?
• [06:45] Who handles the plants better: the cats or Pablo?
• [07:29] Why Pablo is worse with plants
• [08:18] How do you actually train a dog to “leave it”?
• [09:38] Which common houseplants are secretly toxic to pets? (Lilies, pothos, philodendrons)
• [12:10] Living with toxic plants: know your pet's personality
• [13:20] Bitter apple spray and other deterrent tricks
• [14:53] Create lasting memories with a personalized Wind River Chimes!
• [16:39] What are Dudley’s favorite non-toxic plants for pet parents?
• [18:07] Dudley’s gardening journey
• [19:15] Pablo's one toxic plant incident!
• [20:42] Pablo’s trash can alocasia story
• [23:06] How did Dudley’s plant business evolve?
• [25:59] The hoya love-hate relationship
• [28:24] Fragrant orchids (coconut-scented orchids)
• [29:31] What does Pablo’s Plants business look like today?
• [31:55] Craziest deals buyers have taken during auctions on Whatnot & Palmstreet
• [33:05] How plant shows turned into a global friend network
• [34:57] Plant show strategy: shopping vs. selling vs. networking
• [36:16] Where to find him next: PlantCon NYC & IAS Miami
• [36:54] Online plant friendships becoming real travel buddies
• [39”02] Where to shop Pablo’s Plants and join his “coffee & swiping” lives
• [40:13] Get your discount! Visit growingjoywithmaria.com/palmstreet to download and save on your first purchase

 

 

Order my book!

Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast,

so you don't miss the amazing episodes we have coming up!

 

 

Meet Dudley and Pablo

Dudley owns Pablo’s Plants, which he runs with his partner, Michael… but the real star is Pablo, their giant golden retriever.

Dudley's love for plants started long before Pablo. Like a lot of people, he started with a grocery store plant that quickly died. He tried again, and during the COVID lockdown, his interest really took off. He started buying rare plants online and eventually turned his hobby into a business.

Pablo became part of the brand right after he came along. Now, so many people see photos and videos of Pablo that they actually think Dudley's name is Pablo too (which he said he doesn’t mind).

 

 

Toxic Plants to Watch Out For

Not all plants are safe for pets. Some common houseplants that can be toxic to dogs (and cats) include:

• Lilies
• Pothos
• Philodendrons
• Peace lilies
• Monsteras

Levels of toxicity vary, but the rule is the same: if your pet eats any of them, don’t try to solve it with Google. Call your vet right away, or contact your local animal poison control hotline.

 

 

Training with “Leave It”

Pablo was a curious dog, way more curious than Dudley’s cats (which is surprising), but the cats didn’t seem to bother him. The bigger challenge was the plants. Since Pablo kept sniffing everything, Dudley was worried he was going to chew on them.

The most important thing he taught Pablo was the command, “Leave it.” He started with it on walks whenever Pablo would try to sniff or eat something, along with a little tug on the leash, and giving him a treat when he listened.

This positive reinforcement worked on him, but note that it doesn’t work on every animal. The training was effective, and now he doesn’t bother the plants at all.

 

 

How to Keep Pets Away from Plants

Note that not every animal reacts the same way, so what works for one pet might not work for another. Here are Dudley’s different strategies:

• Use commands if your dog is trainable.
• Place plants up high, like on a shelf, or hang them so they’re out of reach.
• Try sprays like Grannick's Bitter Apple that make plants smell or taste bad.
• For cats, a simple spray of water can be enough.
• Some cat owners even stick toothpicks in the soil to stop cats from digging.
• Most importantly, know your pet’s personality. Some pets don’t care about plants at all, while others always go after them.

For Pablo, the combination of training and food rewards was enough.

 

 

What to Do When Your Pets Eat Toxic Plants

The last time Pablo chewed on a pothos leaf, he spit it out and threw up right away. Even though he seemed okay, Dudley called the vet just in case (and don’t use Google this time). Fortunately, Pablo was fine and hasn't touched a plant since.

As mentioned above, don't hesitate to call your vet right away or contact your local animal poison control hotline.

 

 

Pet-Friendly Plants

Here are a few pet-friendly options Dudley recommends:

• Spider plants
• Calatheas
• Parlor palms
• Rattlesnake plants
• Hoyas
• Orchids

With these plants, you won’t have to constantly stress about whether they're safe for your pets.

 

 

From Hobby to Business

What started out as just a hobby for Dudley has turned into a business. He started selling plants online, first on TikTok, and then on apps like Whatnot and Palmstreet. He also started going to plant shows, which is where he met other sellers and made some great friends.

One of the best things about this community is that even though they’re technically “competitors,” they don’t treat each other that way. They share ideas and support each other.

 

 

Living with Dogs and Plants

At the end of the day, it comes down to knowing your pet and setting them up for success. Training, keeping toxic plants out of reach, and choosing safe plants when you can makes a huge difference.

For Dudley, he’s now able to live with hundreds of plants and a big golden retriever under the same roof with no problem.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Episode 9: Double Joy: Plants and Cats and Poisonous Plants to Avoid with @Plant_Lady_is_the_New_Cat_Lady
• Barrina led
• ASPCA
• Grannick's Care Dogs Bitter Apple No Chew Spray 8oz
• Whatnot
• Palmstreet

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsor:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic this wedding season with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

 

 

 

Follow Dudley:

Website
Instagram
Store
TikTok
Whatnot

 

 

 

Follow Maria and Growing Joy:

Order my book: Growing Joy: The Plant Lover's Guide to Cultivating Happiness (and Plants) by Maria Failla, Illustrated by Samantha Leung

Join the Bloom and Grow Garden Party Community Platform & App AKA the plantiest and kindest corner of the internet! Get your FREE 2-week trial here!

Take the Plant Parent Personality Quiz (Get the perfect plants, projects and educational resources for YOUR Lifestyle)

Support Bloom and Grow Radio by becoming a Plant Friend on Patreon!

Instagram: @growingjoywithmaria

Tiktok: @growingjoywithmaria

Subscribe to the Growing Joy Youtube channel! /growingjoywithmaria

Website: www.growingjoywithmaria.com

Pinterest: @growingjoywithmaria