Creating a space your dog can enjoy while staying safe, happy, and well exercised is important to their health and wellbeing. Achieving this takes more thought than just sending your dog out into the yard and hoping for the best. Often you need to think about which materials, plants, and features you should use to keep your dog safe and happy. The great part about adding these features is that you can enjoy them too! Here are 8 ways you can turn your backyard into a place you and your dog will love.
Bring in some water
Dogs need freshwater. They use it to drink, to cool off, and to have fun in. This offers a perfect opportunity to add a water feature that you and your dog will love. Consider adding a splash fountain or stream. It will look great in your garden, while also adding a cool area for your pooch to splash around in.
For dogs who really love water you could add in a pond or a pool. Before you build it make sure your dog can get out easily if they fall in. Add in a gently sloping side, or easily accessible shallow steps.
Consider your dog’s safety
While you may want a lot of space for your dog to run around in, it is also important to consider the boundaries you want them to play within. Dogs may have descended from free-roaming wolves, but in the modern world they tend to do best with boundaries.
Building a fence to keep them within your backyard is important to their safety. Having them within firmly set boundaries will give you peace of mind knowing they are safe and sound.
Use materials in building your fence that reflect your home’s architecture and landscape style. You can use picket fences for a cottage feel, sleek horizontal boards for a contemporary feel, or even posts and wire for something rustic. Just ensure that the fence can contain your dog and is designed so they cannot get stuck between boards or wire when they get curious.
Provide shade and shelter
Dogs can suffer from heatstroke and sunburn just like we can. It is important to plant or build shade for our furry friends to escape the sun for a while. Consider planting large trees to provide shade for your dog. If you cannot plant large trees look to overhead shade cloths that stretch over an area your dog can rest in.
A doghouse is also a great option. There are may options now that have come away from small plastic boxes. You can get stylish, well ventilated doghouses that are perfect for your pooch.
Stay away from toxic plants
Dogs have a habit of eating anything, even if it is no good for them. Because of this, you should avoid plants that are dangerous to dogs. Some include azaleas, lilies, and mums. Talk to your vet if you are unsure which plants can be dangerous to your dog. They can provide you with a list of plants you should avoid or remove from your garden.
Certain landscaping materials and chemicals can also cause problems with your dog. Mulch is a great choice for a dog friendly garden as it is soft on paws, but you should avoid cocoa mulch as, if your dog eats it, it can cause the same bad reactions as chocolate.
Set out a place for play time
A dog tired from play is a happy dog. Dogs who are bored and full of energy will turn to destructive behaviours that could turn your garden upside down. Set aside a space for your dog to play in. Allow them to run around and chase things, burning off all of their excess energy. Remember to tailor the space to your breed of dog. Larger energetic dogs, like Weimaraners, will require a much larger space to play in than smaller, or less energetic dogs.
Add some paths
Paths through your garden offer a fun place to explore for both you and your dog. Dogs love to prowl and patrol around the garden, so adding areas they can weave through and explore will be a lot of fun.
Look for comfortable materials
Great landscaping materials for dogs should not get too hot, should be easy to walk on, and will not cling to fur and feet. Choosing the best materials is vital, especially in hotter climates. Great materials can cool down a garden and make it a nicer place to be, even on hot days.
Choose materials like brick, flagstone, pebbles, concrete, or smooth rocks for paths. Mulch and small bark chips are great for garden beds. They are soft on paws and remain cool. Lawns are great for open space, however, can get destroyed easily. A common alternative is artificial turf, but you will need to check how hot it gets in the sun.
Add fun features
Fun features through your garden offer a wide range of play spaces for your dog to enjoy. Take inspiration from dog play courses, adding plants and hardscaping to create obstacles for them to weave through and balance beams to walk on and tunnels to run through.
Spaces for your pup to survey their kingdom will add a fun spot for them to relax. You can create a dedicated sitting spot or use a large flat rock for them to look out over the garden.