Dogs are man’s best friend so you want to create a space that they’ll love. Believe it or not, creating an awesome dog friendly yard is harder than you might think. There are lots of things you need to think about before you go crazy designing what you think your pet would like. Here’s how to create a dog friendly backyard.
Let Them Run
Instead of trying to prevent them from running all over the yard, let them go at it! They need to be able to get exercise and go where the wind takes them. You can make their regular route more suitable so that they will enjoy their exercise. You can pave a pathway, put soft soil down, or find another material to use. Make sure that the pathway won’t hurt the dog’s feet if they run on it. That’s the last thing you want. The material shouldn’t get too hot if the sun is out.
Think About Your Plants
Would you like playing in a yard that has thorns and thistles? Probably not. Your dog wouldn’t either. Make sure you’re growing plants that won’t hurt or injure your dog. Roses, raspberries, and gooseberries all have thorns that hurt when you get poked! Ouch! Sometimes dogs eat what they shouldn’t. There’s no getting around that. So make sure that there aren’t any poisonous plants in your yard. Some plants can be fatal to dogs if they’re ingested.
Image Source: Pixabay
Plant High and Dense
Just because you have a dog doesn’t mean you can’t have a nice flower bed too. Plant your flower bed high up where dogs cannot get to it. Raised flower beds make it difficult for dogs to dig or get into your flowers. You can put temporary fencing around small, growing plants to make sure they aren’t trampled. Lining your flower bed with rocks also helps dogs to stay out. Interestingly enough, dogs tend to stay out of densely planted areas.
Have a Shady Spot
Even though dogs love laying in the sun, they need shade on a hot day. You can typically find dogs basking in sun, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need shade. A lot of dogs overheat in the Summer. To prevent overheating make sure your dog has plenty of shade. You can have a shade tree or a pergola. When your dog gets too hot they can relax in the shade to cool down.
Have a “Go” Spot
Have a special spot where your dogs can relieve themselves. Make sure the spot is comfortable and that you wouldn’t mind your dog going there. Pick up quickly after your pet to prevent lawn damage. Your dog will appreciate a spot all their own to do their business.
Summing Up
A dog friendly backyard isn’t hard to create but you do need to put careful consideration into planning it. You need to make sure that your yard is safe and fun! Your dog will love running on their own path, having shade, and having their own spot to do their business. Your furry friend will have a blast in their own paradise!
Image Source: Pixabay
