How to Landscape a Dog Yard

Your yard can be more dog-friendly.

When you start to consider the various design and materials options for your home landscaping, you should always keep your dog in mind. Your dog will spend quite a bit of time in your yard, between being let out for regular bathroom trips and play time, the yard can become like a second home to your dog. There are certain landscaping techniques that you can use to help protect your plants and flowers, and others that you should consider to make your yard more accessible and enjoyable for your dog.

Things You'll Need

• Small cedar chips
• Driftwood
• Soft dirt
• Trees
• High shrubs

Instructions

1. Replace course mulch with softer options, such as small cedar chips, to be more comfortable on your dog's sensitive paws.

2. Keep the perimeter of your yard free of plants if possible. Dogs love to walk perimeters around fences and can crush or destroy plants and flowers.

3. Line planted areas with driftwood to help keep your dog from ruining your plants and flowers.

4. Add some soft dirt to a corner of your yard to give your dog somewhere to dig that is not your garden or lawn. To encourage digging in that area, bury a chew toy or bone and let him find it. He will dig in that area again hoping to find another treasure. From time to time, allow him to find a treat there so he will not waste his time digging elsewhere.

5. Plant some trees and high shrubs in your yard to create shade. During hot summer days, your dog will thank you. Always provide a shady area so your dog can get out of the sun. A large beach umbrella will work well while you are waiting for a smaller tree to grow.

6. Remove any plants or shrubs that have sharp edges or thorns. Also, avoid planting things that are toxic to dogs. Check the ASPCA list of toxic plants.

7. Don't overcrowd your landscaping. Dogs like to have room to run, roam and explore, and your dog will be happier with more wide open spaces.

Tips & Warnings

• Beware of a certain types of mulch, cocoa bean mulch, that is attractive to dogs. They tend to eat this specific type of mulch, causing them to get sick.

References

• MSN Real Estate: How to landscape a dog-friendly garden
• WalterReeves.com: Dogs -- Landscaping for

Resources

• ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants