Dogs may be man’s best friend, but when it comes to the canine-garden relationship, things tend to be a little more tricky. While spending time outside with your dog in your own outdoor space can be blissful, it can also be a challenging for you, your four-legged friend, and your garden itself.
Below, we’ve put together a few important considerations any dog owner should always keep in mind…
#1 – Prevent escape attempts
If there’s one thing that unites almost all dogs, it’s a predilection for escape attempts – an issue you’ll have to keep in mind when designing your garden. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can ensure your furry Houdini stays within your garden boundaries:
- Remove jumping aids. Installing a high fence is a must for dog owners, but do be cautious of jumping aids – a chair or climbing frame situated close to a fence can help give a dog a little extra lift and make escape attempts more likely. Due to this risk, try to ensure that all large items are kept well away from your garden’s perimeter fence or wall at all times.
- Double gates. If your garden gate opens, there’s always a chance your dog will suddenly rush towards and find a way through before anyone can even notice what’s happening. Installing a second gate is by far the best way to prevent such a scenario, helping to ensure that even if your dog breaches the first line of defence, you can be sure the second will catch them.
#2 – Think about digging
Dogs have a natural impulse to dig, which can be hugely problematic for your garden – especially in terms of the health of your flower beds and lawn. While there’s no surefire way to prevent your dog from digging, there are a few things you can do to limit occurrences and damage:
- Choose an artificial lawn. Digging in a standard lawn is all-too-easy for dogs, so choosing companies such as New Lawn for artificial grass is a great way to discourage digging and limit the chances of your dog returning to your house with their paws covered in mud.
- Be cautious with fertiliser. Fish, blood and bone fertiliser is incredibly popular and potent, but it’s also hugely tempting to dogs, who will happily dig through your flower beds in their keenness to investigate the source of the tempting smell. As a result, it’s best to use other fertilisers; epsom salts are a great natural – but far less tempting – alternative.
#3 – Keep your dog occupied
Finally, keeping a dog entertained while in the garden is one of the best ways to prevent escape attempts and digging, so consider:
- Outdoor toys. To keep your dog entertained, outdoor toys are a must – and there are plenty of options to choose from in this regard. Automatic ball throwers are a great choice if you’re short on time, while tunnels and even designed-for-dogs water fountains can also command attention for hours at a time.
- Chewing options. Chewing can keep dogs entertained for hours, so every time your dog is in the garden, ensure they have access to a few safe options in order to keep them entertained.
In conclusion
The ideas above should help to ensure that your garden remains in the best possible condition at all times, while still ensuring your dog has an outdoor space to enjoy.
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