If you’re moving into a house or apartment with a garden, redesigning your garden for the summer, or welcoming a dog for the first time, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to discover how to turn your garden into a true dog paradise! Fun, excitement, and games are what a dog’s garden is all about. Here, your four-legged friends can romp around to their heart's content, explore their surroundings, and bask in the sun.
Creating a dog-friendly garden is not only about making it enjoyable for your pet but also about addressing safety concerns and providing engaging activities. Of course, the garden should also remain a place of relaxation for people. With careful planning, thorough research, and a bit of patience, you can find a good compromise. Keep reading for tips and tricks on how to transform your garden into a genuine dog paradise.
Why a Dog-Friendly Garden?
A garden is not just a lovely space for humans to enjoy fresh air, barbecue with friends in the summer, showcase their gardening skills, or simply unwind. Our four-legged friends also love spending time outdoors and letting off steam.
What a Garden Offers Dogs
In emergencies, such as if the owner or dog is unwell, having your own garden can replace short "pee breaks." Since dogs can roam freely in the garden without a leash, puppies learn house training with less effort. Additionally, the garden provides a safe space for off-leash exercise for hunting, fearful, or untrained dogs.
Attention! What a Garden Cannot Do
However, a garden cannot completely replace walks. Dogs need new smells, social interactions, unfamiliar sounds, and challenges. Never use the garden as a permanent place for your dog to stay alone for long periods; this can lead to behaviors like barking at the garden fence becoming habitual.
Safety First! Avoiding Hazards in the Garden
To enjoy the benefits of a dog-friendly garden together, it’s essential to consider certain safety aspects. First on your list should be a sturdy fence, at least 1.2 meters high and narrow enough to prevent small breeds or puppies from slipping through. A narrow, slightly raised bed along the fence or a wire mesh buried about 15 centimeters deep can help prevent digging to the other side.
Young, curious puppies need to explore their environment safely. Therefore, secure tools and cables, such as those for garden lights, which could otherwise become dangerous toys.
Unfortunately, ticks are a common issue in gardens and can latch onto our furry friends. Prevent tick infestations by keeping the grass short and, if necessary, using a suitable tick repellent for your dog. Natural remedies like Na-tierlich can also help with prevention. Zeckenfrei provides natural support during tick season, and the rockrose herb it contains helps strengthen the immune system while deterring ticks. Brewer's yeast supports the skin's health. Together, these ingredients can change your dog's scent, making it less appealing to ticks. If a tick does latch on, the deterrent smell may delay its bite, giving you more time to remove it.
Be cautious when using fertilizers in the garden, as they can be harmful to dogs. If you fertilize your garden, keep your dog out until the fertilizer is absorbed into the soil, or opt for natural products. Store fertilizer safely out of reach, and the same goes for pesticides, slug pellets, and similar substances. Also, secure your compost heap, as many compostable items (like coffee grounds or moldy leftovers) can be hazardous to your dog.
Toxic Fruits and Plants
Here are some common plants, trees, fruits, and bushes that can be dangerous for your four-legged friend. Before planting in your garden, research whether the species is safe and non-toxic for your dog. Toxic fruits include raw legumes, raw potatoes, onions, grapes, fermented fallen fruit, and stone fruit seeds. Toxic trees and shrubs include elderberry, yew, laburnum, and elder. Toxic hedge plants include cherry laurel, boxwood, and thuja, while toxic ornamental plants include Tulipaceae (such as daffodils, crocus, and tulips), rhododendron, monkshood, oleander, and angel's trumpet.
Wish List for the Ideal Dog Garden
petWALK Dog Door
The door to freedom! With an automatic PetWALK dog door, you can allow your dog to access the garden independently. Your furry friend can simply open the door using an RFID chip on their collar, and it will close automatically. You can set regular times and, if desired, even connect it to your voice assistant. Alternatively, you can operate it with a remote control or an app on your phone. Having an exit for your dog adds variety and is a great help in daily life.
Space for Romping and Running
Ensure there’s enough open space for your dog to run and play in the garden. If you’re creating a new garden, choose a robust type of grass, like heat-resistant play or sports grass. Be prepared that achieving a perfect ornamental lawn may not be possible, especially for larger and more active dogs.
Digging Corner
To protect the flowerbeds, consider creating a digging corner where your dog can indulge in this natural behavior. This can be a designated area in the garden or a large box, such as a sandbox. Ensure the area is not in direct sunlight during the hottest part of summer. Offer variety, such as a large space filled with deep layers of soil, leaves, or sand. If your dog digs in other places, encourage them to dig in the designated corner instead.
Dog Toilet
If your dog is allowed to do their business in the garden, train them to use a specific area. This helps avoid yellow stains on the lawn and keeps waste contained. Clearly mark the spot where your dog usually goes. The surface can be covered with grass, dirt, sand, or even cow manure. For male dogs, make sure there are bushes or trees available as "pee spots." Training your dog to use this area requires patience and positive reinforcement. Praise your dog when they go in the right place, and you can also guide them initially by keeping them on a leash in the garden and leading them to the designated spot.
Shade and Relaxation Areas
Dogs can rest for up to 20 hours a day. If you spend a lot of time in the garden, provide your dog with comfortable resting spots. Here are some tips to create a cozy area for your furry friend: enhance resting spots with special outdoor dog blankets and cushions, or place a regular dog bed in a sheltered, dry area. Dogs enjoy lying on elevated surfaces where they can observe their surroundings. While not everyone prefers traditional dog houses, they can provide shade and a secure retreat. You can also create shade with trees, large bushes, umbrellas, privacy walls, or sun sails.
Activities, Games, and Fun
For many dogs, a trip to the garden is all about fun and games. There are countless ways to make your garden dog-friendly using simple resources. Many dogs love to sniff things out; treats, toys, or a food bag can turn this into an exciting search game. If your dog isn't enrolled in an agility training program, you can set up an improvised course in your garden tailored to your dog’s size and fitness level. Purchase tunnels, hurdles, or slalom poles, or use sticks, garden benches, stones, or tree trunks to encourage jumping and climbing.
Taboo Zones
Depending on your garden's layout and your dog's behavior, establishing taboo zones may be necessary. Some dogs, particularly puppies and young dogs, may chew on branches or dig excessively. Designate areas with edible, poisonous, or expensive plants as no-go zones for your dog. Training your dog to stay away from these areas requires patience. It can help to create a visual boundary, such as a raised edge around a flowerbed, low hedges, or a small fence, making it easier for your dog to perceive the boundaries while playing.
Michaela Strohmayer
These recommendations come from Michaela Strohmayer, a qualified dog trainer in animal welfare and a state-appointed therapy dog examiner. If you’re looking for someone with experience and the right skills to help you and your dog become a true team, visit her website.
