Can I keep bees if I have a dog?

In the majority of cases, it’s no problem to keep bees if you have dogs or other pets. Dogs that may be initially curious quickly learn to avoid beehive and bees after receiving a sting or two.

If your dog is allergic to bee stings, that is a risk factor and you should not keep a hive in your back yard. Seet this Flow-sponsored safety pamphlet for more information on allergies.

There is also a potential risk if you keep your dogs in an outdoor kennel while you are not home. In the event that the bees get intensely disturbed and become defensive, the dog would not be able to escape from stings if they are in an enclosed space. This risk is increased in areas with Africanized bees.