Dogs! You gotta love 'em. I have 4 of my own. The dog repel granules just don't work. I've tried training them by putting them on a leash, walking them up to flower beds, then stopping them with the command to "Outta the flower bed", which works EXCEPT when they are chasing a squirrel! I have my front yard fenced (rail fencing) and the back yard, where the dogs can run to their heart's content, is wire fenced. I do allow them in the front yard when I am there to supervise. Both yards are wooded, so I have lots of shade. Flower beds in the front are mostly summer annuals such as impatiens, caladuims, along with ferns, hostas, etc.
My sunny areas are outside the fencing, so there is where I have my butterfly garden, rose garden, grape vines. I have almost 2 acres here, so have plenty of room for both shade lovers and sun lovers.
Are you in Norfolk area or northern VA?

Gerry,
I'm in really Northern VA. Actually eastern Pahandle of West Virginia. I teach in Loudoun County, VA. Mom only has 1/4 acre, so dogs and flowers have to mix.

Lin

My solution was to make a special dog garden where the soil is soft, wet and shady. They love it and they stay out of my flower beds, where it's too much work for them to dig. As a bonus in the winter I pile it full of leaves, so they can keep warm, and I have compose by spring. Try laying the wire fencing down flat and plant through it. They will soon learn it's too much trouble to try and get comfortable on top of the wire. My dog garden is decorated with a sign that say's Dog Patch, and I surrounded it with monkey grass. Keep the soil soft and wet in the summer.

Dixiesmom

Here is a link that might be useful: My happy dogs

I had the same problem - I found some 3' wide, 2 1/2'-3' tall ornamental iron fencing pieces at a local monthly "antiques" show. They also have some small gates (this would help getting you inside)! We mixed and matched pieces, spray painted them ourselves (though some people like the rusty look) and now our (big) dogs stay out of my rose garden and my flower garden.
Unless you totally monitor the animals, pretty much only a fence will work. The small thin fencing wasn't an option for me, because our dogs would have stepped right through it. And I love the way the roses and flowers look growing up through and around the fencing!