If you don’t feel as though your garden is as pet-friendly as it could be, or if you are concerned about it not being very safe for your dog then there are steps you can take to try and do something about that. If you follow this guide then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to not only make your garden safer but also make it a great environment where they can truly thrive.
This is a collaborative post.
Secure with Fences
One of the first things you need to do is secure your garden with a fence. This is a great way for you to make sure that your pets are safe, and that you are able to give them time to roam without their leash. You should be aiming to make sure that your fence is around 6 feet high at least, as dogs are excellent jumpers. Even if you know that your dog can’t jump this high, you still need to try and account for it, as this is the best way for you to protect your garden from other curious pets. If you want to help yourself here then it could be an idea to separate your garden into different play and plant areas. Division like this should be tall and it should also be strong enough to stop your dog from accessing the plants. If you want to take things one step further then it could be wise for you to look into some pet safe plants as well.
If your garden contains structures, such as a garden shed then you do want to make sure that you lock them so you can stop potential hazards. Remember, aluminum fences can be potential escape points, and it is so important that you take the time to check for any weaknesses on a regular basis. If you can do this then you will find it easier to get the result you need.
Manage Exposed Soil
You also need to take the time to manage any exposed soil where possible. Dogs like to dig where they find exposed patches of soil and if you’re not careful you may find that this ends up leading to you having a very messy garden. If you can, you need to try and use decorative mulch. Alternatives like this tend to be good as they mean that you can add a lot of appeal to your garden and you can also eliminate a lot of issues later down the line. Another strategy you can adopt would be for you to give your dog a specific area where they can dig. Having dig zones means your dog can still meet their needs of wanting to dig and it also means that they can have the fun they want without ruining your garden. Praise them when they dig in their allocated area and make sure that you put their favourite toys in the range of the garden too. Don’t forget to address digging on a regular basis so you can make sure that you are not making your garden messy for no reason.
Secure Plants
If you want to safeguard your plant beds and you have an active dog then one thing you can do is install some low borders or even some barriers. Structures like this are great as they stop your dog from trampling the ground. What’s more, is that by doing this you can help to add a more organized and aesthetic approach to your garden. Choose materials like stones, low fencing, or anything else similar if you can. Additionally, use raised beds for your plants as it means that dogs can’t access them. Raised beds tend to offer way better drainage and they can also be a great visual deterrent for your dogs as well. If you have a dog or a cat that is especially curious then you may want to integrate some dog-repellent plants. Lavender or rosemary works well for cats and they are also very good for keeping dogs away from certain areas. If you can incorporate things like this then you will soon find that it is easier for you to get the result you need out of your outdoor space.
Thorny Bushes
If you have thorny bushes then this is also a concern. Plants like cacti can pose a risk to your dog and they can also entangle them if you’re not careful. There are a lot of non-thorny plants out there and they are all great for adding both color and texture as well. Consider plants like marigolds or even hostas if you want. Plants like this are attractive and they are also safe for pets too. If you can trim them on a regular basis or if you can create a good-looking garden with ease. Of course, when the time comes for you to select plants for your garden, you also need to make sure that you avoid hazardous plants too. Foxglove, chives, garlic, and even onions are all very bad for dogs and they can be poisonous if they happen to be ingested. Take the time to ensure that you don’t have any plants like this because if you do then you may end up causing harm to your pet. If you want to do something about this then change the plants you do have for ones you know are safe. If you have just moved into a new house then you may not even know which plants are safe and which ones are not. Although Google is your friend here, you do need to make sure that you’re not overlooking anything. It’s wise to be on the safe side by removing any plants you’re unsure of and by making sure that they are at least not accessible.
Self-Repairing Grass
Self-repairing grass is a great thing to have. If you have a dog then you may find yourself trying to reseed your grass more often than you’d like. Consider planting some strong self-repairing grass as a way to counteract this. Dogs love to dig and when they relieve themselves, you may find that this ends up damaging the grass too. If you want to help yourself here then you need to plant Buffalo or even Kikuyu grass if you can. If you want to benefit your lawn even more then one thing you can try is removing pet waste as soon as it happens. You might also want to periodically aerate your soil so that it prevents soil compaction. For areas that have very heavy dog traffic, you may want to install a dog run so you can take activity away from the vulnerable areas of your lawn. If you can do this then you will notice a major difference to your lawn.
Provide a Designated Play Area
Dogs love to play, it’s just how they are. If you want to help your pet, or your dog then one thing you can do is create a designated play area for them. If you do this then you can easily give your pet the chance to have fun and this is great, to say the least. If you want to help yourself then it is so important that you include things like sandboxes. If you do then you will find that it is easier for you to give them the enrichment they are looking for. Consider installing some self-closing mechanisms as well, because this is the best way for you to stop cats and other animals from using your garden as their safe space too, If you include toys for your dog then this is great but at the same time, you do need to make sure that you do not leave them unsupervised. Make sure that you rotate the toys on a regular basis too. If you do this then you will find that it is easier than ever for you to give them the experience they are looking for and you may even find that it helps you to keep your dog entertained.
Make sure that you check to see that the gate is always closed and that you conduct regular maintenance to make sure that the garden is in good condition. Alarms or gate hinges need to be maintained and you also need to check the latches too. If you can do this then you can prevent the doors from accidentally opening, which is great, to say the least. Precautions like this are very easy to overlook but they really are the key to making sure that your pet is happy in your garden and that they are safe, which is such an important consideration.
So as you can see, it’s very important that you take steps to make your home as pet-friendly as possible. If you don’t then you may find that you end up struggling to keep your pet safe and that they end up ruining your garden. Precautionary measures are great here so be sure to keep that in mind if you can.