Dog friendly gardens
Well-manicured gardens don’t always go hand-in-hand with dog ownership. From poisonous plants to trampled flowers, holes in flowerbeds to the dreaded urine scorch on lawns, dogs can cause trouble in gardens and can be at risk themselves too.
But having a dog doesn’t mean that you can’t have a gorgeous garden. With a little bit of time and effort you can have a lovely garden and a happy puppy too.
We’ve found that a two-pronged approach works well with our pooch: a garden designed to be dog friendly, and training our dog to be garden friendly too!
Read on for our main tips to bear in mind when designing a dog-friendly garden…
Keep it secure
When we design dog friendly gardens, secure boundaries are our number one priority. Determined dogs will squeeze through even the smallest gaps in hedges, jump fences and some can even open garden gates, so make sure your garden is safely enclosed. And of course it’s really important that your dog is microchipped and wears a collar with your contact details, in the event that he does manage to get out.
Keep other garden pets, such as chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, safely enclosed and consider your neighbour’s pets too if your dog can see them through the fence.
Protect your plants
If your dog, like ours, is a bit crazy and enjoys tearing around the garden at top speed, trampling through the flower beds and causing chaos, then it is probably a good idea to select robust plants that can withstand being squashed, or use metal plant supports to protect any more delicate species.
Raised beds are a great idea if you have a dog who loves to dig as the height makes them less accessible.
Carefully supervised play times, or limiting access to your precious plants may be necessary for more boisterous breeds. We have fenced off an area of the garden at the side of our house so that Rusty can’t get to the rest of the garden (and my lovely roses!) unsupervised.
Toilet training
If your beautifully manicured lawn is being stained by your pup’s pee then placing ‘dog rocks’ in their water bowl may help. These neutralise the pH in the urine, but only work well if the dog drinks exclusively from their water bowl.
Artificial grass may be a good alternative for small spaces. It is robust, easy to clean, and there is no need to worry about muddy paws.
We have trained our dog Rusty to do his business in a gravelled area at the side of our house which is easy to keep clean and it stops the lawn from being stained.
Watch what they’re eating
Lots of dogs, and especially puppies, will chew or even eat anything they can get hold of in a garden.
Many common garden plants (such as daffodils, hydrangeas, ivy, lupins and sweet peas) are poisonous to dogs. If your dog likes to nibble, then it is worth checking out the list on the Kennel Club’s website before choosing any new plants.
If your dog shows a keen interest in slugs and snails then it is really important that they are wormed monthly, as they will be at risk of lungworm which can be fatal.
Keep them cool
Especially important in summer months, make sure there is a shady spot in your garden for your four-legged friend to relax and cool off. If there is no natural shade in your garden, a well-placed tree is great for dappled shade (perfect for humans as well as dogs) or take a look at including a sail or even a pergola, positioned to throw shade during the hottest sun at midday. Bring your dog’s water bowl outside and put it in a shaded spot, so they can drink easily when they need to.
A paddling pool is a really fun way for water loving dogs to keep cool, and they will love playing with a hose pipe or sprinkler too!
Try freezing some of your puppy’s favourite treats and toys into a block of ice- it is a great way to keep them cool and will keep them entertained for ages!
