How to Landscape Safely When You Own a Dog
Life as a dog owner is incredibly rewarding and fun. Being able to allow your pet to rumble free in your backyard is one dream that most pet owners share. If you have some time on your hands and you want to do some work in your yard, here are some ideas that are both aesthetically pleasing and safe for your pouch!
Fence and Water
The first thing that you have to consider when dogsacaping is the safety of the pet. Even though it might seem like a good idea to let your pet run free in the yard, the experts point out that this is only safe if your property is surrounded by a sturdy fence.
Installing a water feature is another crucial step that you have to take so that your pet can cool off whenever it gets too hot while playing. In the summertime, you can also look into purchasing a dog pool. There are numerous affordable solutions for your pocket that you should check out.
Shelter
Another aspect that you should not overlook is the importance of providing your pet with readily available shelter and shade. If you are on a budget, our recommendation to you is that you acquire a good dog house that your pet can use when it gets tired of running around.
Additionally, before you allow your dog to wander through the backyard, make sure that there is shade available for him. Just like humans, when they spend too much time in the sun, there is a risk that dogs will suffer from strokes. If there are not many trees in your yard, you can invest in overhead tarps or shade cloths that you can set up easily and that are aesthetically pleasing.
Toxin-Free
All the materials that you use when landscaping in your garden should be toxin-free. For instance, instead of using cocoa mulch that might contain theobromine, it is best to use wood chips, shredded hardwood mulch, or even gravel. As you probably know, theobromine is one of the toxic ingredients that are found in chocolate, a food that is poisonous to dogs.
Besides, if you have traps set up for bees or rats or other pests in your yard, you should remove them before you let your dog play. If you do not want to do so, you can simply install them in areas that your pet cannot access.
When it comes to plants, you must remember that some of the most common backyard flowers are dangerous to dogs. Plants such as lilies, azaleas, and mums should, at all costs, be avoided if you care about the wellbeing of your fluffy friend. Also, the fertilizers that you use for the plants should be organic and safe for animals.
To make sure that your plants thrive, you should get urine-resistant species such as Euonymus japonica. If you want to, to avoid any unfortunate accidents, you can also create a potty station for your beloved dog somewhere in the yard.