Dogs or A puppy romping in the garden is a traditional dream. Achieving this, however, takes more consideration than simply sending your dog out in the yard and hoping for the best. Take some opportunity to make sure your lawn provides your pet with the amenities he or she needs and enjoys. Fortunately, pet-friendly yard amenities can also be great for people too.
California Waterscapes
Scot Eckley, Inc..
1. Keep the water flowing. Fresh water, and tons of it, is critical. Why don’t you take this opportunity to bring a water feature to your landscape that your pet can access? A dash fountain or flow is ideal, and you’ll enjoy it, too.
Huettl Landscape Architecture
A small pond or pool is an alternative, especially for dogs. But before you assemble or perhaps allow access to an existing pool, do a security check. Dogs should be able to escape easily should they drop in. This usually means a gently sloping side or easily accessible shallow steps.
Pat Bernard Design, Inc..
2. Consider safety. Dogs may have descended from free-ranging wolves, but our domesticated friends do best with bounds. You may opt for a fully fenced backyard or even a puppy run inside a larger area. In any event, you will know your dog is equally happy and safe.
Avant Garden
A chain-link fence is easy to install and provides a secure enclosure, but it isn’t always the most attractive approach. As an alternative, think about a fencing material that matches your landscape design, whether you are choosing a fully enclosed lawn or a dog run. Proceed with picket fences for a cottage design, sleek horizontal boards for a modern look or articles and cable for a rustic feel.
No matter what style you choose, make sure it’s sturdy enough to contain your family buddy and designed so a curious pet can not get stuck between the planks.
Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.
3. Provide readily available shelter and shade. That is another important, as dogs can get sunburn and suffer from heatstroke. A massive tree or trees can provide shade, however when trees aren’t possible, look into overhead tarps and shade cloths that stretch over part of the area.
Heather Garrett Design
If there’s room, add a doghouse. They have come a long way from vinyl boxes, as a quick look in a pet store or online catalog will reveal to you.
Browse some fantasy doghouses here and here.
J. Peterson Garden Design
4. Keep your landscaping toxin free. Some common crops are amazingly dangerous if dogs eat them, such as azaleas, lilies and mums. Check with your vet and the ASPCA for a list of crops that could irritate or even kill your pet.
Landscaping substances and chemical controls can also cause problems. While mulch is a superb alternative for a backyard and mostly soft on paws, steer clear of cocoa mulch. The smell may be great, but when your dog eats it, it can cause the identical bad reactions as chocolate.
Many baits for snails, rats and other pests could be fatal. If you have to use them, ensure your dog can not get at them — and remember, dogs could be remarkably tenacious when it comes to getting something you don’t want them to get at.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
5. Have a place for play. A tired dog is a fantastic dog, whereas an unexercised or bored dog will look for trouble. Provide space where your pet can run and chase, and you will have far fewer problems. Make the space as large as possible to keep your pet entertained.
Home & Garden Design, Atlanta – Danna Cain, ASLA
6. Add a few paths. Dogs like to prowl and patrol, therefore paths to research are as much fun for them as they are for people.
THOMAS KYLE: Landscape Designer
7. Choose comfortable materials. Landscaping materials should not get overly hot, ought to be simple to walk on and ideally should not cling to fur and toes. Concrete, brick, flagstone, pebbles and smooth rocks are all great options.
Genus Loci Ecological Landscapes Inc..
Mulch (except cocoa mulch) and small bark chips are dog friendly and won’t heat up too much, though you will need to replace them occasionally.
Carson Poetzl, Inc..
Lawns are just another option, although they may be destroyed more easily than harder stuff. Artificial turf is also gaining in popularity. Should you go that route, check that it will not become too hot for tender paws.
Opulent Products
Dog Peek – $25
8. Add extra features. If your pet is friendly and curious but not likely to barking at everything that goes by, you may want to create a window in a fence or gate for viewing the external world.
Home & Garden Design, Atlanta – Danna Cain, ASLA
If your pup would prefer to survey his or her private kingdom rather, a designated sitting spot or large flat stone may be exactly the correct thing.
Randy Thueme Design Inc. – Landscape Architecture
Another choice is to make an enjoyable play area. Have a hint from puppy play courses and think about using plants and hardscaping to make obstacles to weave through, balance beams to walk on or tunnels to drift through. The one shown here is also people dimensions, but you can always make one that is just puppy dimension. It can be your pet’s hiding place. Even dogs sometimes need to escape from it all.
More: So You Are Considering Getting a Dog