I always plant mine next to a clump of savage blackberries and train the canes around it. This year ive fenced around and grown them along wires so its e3asier to crawl in to get to the plant.
There is also nettles underneath and a crop of giant garden spiders through the whole thing.
I always plant in the ground not in pots. Apart from generally being better and more practical (and being able to get roots under the compost pile) its harder to take the whole thing once estasblished, and a prick to reach into the thorns to steal heads. Suits my area coz its pretty big yarded and bushy.
If I ever do get done though, it'll be dog time.