Beginner's Guide To Setting Up The Perfect Dog-Friendly Garden
Creating a dog-friendly garden is important for keeping them safe, happy and entertained. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about setting up the perfect outdoor space. We’ll explore the key features of a secure and pet-friendly garden, from choosing non-toxic plants to installing dog-safe fencing. We’ll also look at how to create a stimulating environment that both you and your dog can enjoy.
Key Takeaways
Here are the 5 biggest takeaways from this article about creating a pet-friendly garden:
Fences, walls, or hedges help prevent your dog from escaping and keep them safe within your garden.
Choose non-toxic plants like calendula and rosemary, avoid toxic ones such as foxgloves and yew and choose pet-safe mulches and fertilisers to prevent accidental poisoning.
Designated play zones, different textures and raised vegetable beds help keep dogs engaged while protecting your plants.
Keep toxic substances locked away, avoid using harmful slug/snail pellets and ensure your dog doesn’t eat slugs or snails to prevent lungworm infection.
Shaded areas, fresh drinking water, and constant supervision ensure your dog stays cool, hydrated and safe while enjoying the garden.
Why is making your garden dog-friendly important for keeping your pooch safe?
Making your garden dog-friendly is important for keeping your pet safe from potential hazards while allowing them to enjoy the outdoors. A well-designed space helps prevent accidents such as escaping through gaps in fences, eating toxic plants, or injuring themselves on sharp objects. A dog-friendly garden also ensures your pet has a comfortable area to exercise, play and relax, promoting both physical and mental well-being.
UK Pets Ideal Dog-Friendly Garden Set Up
Add boundaries or fences
One of the most important aspects of a dog-friendly garden is making sure they can’t escape or get loose by accident. Whether you have an adventurous dog who loves to explore or a curious dog that doesn’t always find its way home, strong and secure boundaries are very important. Fencing, walls and hedges are great options for keeping your pet safely enclosed. Just be sure to check for any gaps or weak spots that could become an escape route. If your dog is a jumper or climber, consider a higher fence or adding curved tops to prevent them from getting over.
Create Designated Play Areas For Your Dog
Keeping your dog entertained in the garden is just as important as keeping them safe. By creating designated play areas, you can provide mental and physical stimulation. Clearly defined paths and open spaces for running and exploring will encourage natural movement. If your dog is prone to digging and you have room to spare, consider creating a dedicated digging area with a sandpit or soft soil patch. Different textures like grass, gravel and bark, can also make the space more engaging for your pet.
Choose non-toxic dog-friendly plants
When getting plants for your garden, it’s vital to choose non-toxic options to ensure your dog stays safe. Herbs are excellent choices for a dog-friendly garden and they can even be grown in containers if you have limited space. Rosemary and sage add a nice scent and also offer some entertainment for your dog to sniff and explore.
If you want some colourful flowers consider planting calendula, cornflower and sunflowers. These plants are safe for your dog to be around, although it’s always a good idea to monitor and prevent them from eating large quantities as any plant can cause upset if consumed excessively.
Certain plants should be avoided at all costs due to their toxic effects on dogs. Some of the most dangerous garden plants include:
Chrysanthemums
Foxgloves
Yew
Daffodil bulbs
Eating parts of these plants can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy, or even more serious reactions. If you already have these plants in your garden, it’s important to either remove them or create a secure area to keep your dog away from them. Always double-check the safety of any plant before adding it to your garden to ensure your pet stays safe and healthy.
Use raised beds for any vegetable gardens that you have
If you want to grow your own vegetables while keeping your dog safe, raised beds are the way to go. Raising your vegetable garden helps prevent curious dogs from digging up your veg, while also keeping potentially harmful plants out of reach.
When choosing what to grow, go for non-toxic vegetables and herbs that are safe for dogs such as carrots, cucumbers and rosemary. Avoid plants like tomatoes as these can be harmful if eaten. Raised beds create a practical and pet-friendly garden where both you and your dog can enjoy your outdoor space.
Use dog-safe mulches and fertilisers
Keeping your garden healthy shouldn’t come at the expense of your dog’s safety. Many common fertilisers and mulches contain chemicals or ingredients that can be harmful to pets, so it’s important to choose natural, dog-safe alternatives.
When fertilising your lawn or plants, pick organic products such as composted manure, seaweed or homemade compost. These will enrich the soil without exposing your dog to the risks associated with synthetic fertilisers, which can cause stomach upset or worse if ingested.
For mulching, bark and straw are ideal. Be sure to avoid cocoa mulch as it contains theobromine, the same toxic ingredient found in chocolate.
Make sure they avoid slugs and snails
Slugs and snails might seem harmless but they can pose a serious health risk to your dog. Eating infected slugs or snails can expose your pet to lungworm, a potentially fatal parasite. Symptoms of lungworm include difficulty breathing, coughing, lethargy and prolonged bleeding from minor cuts.
To keep your dog safe, always supervise them in the garden and stop them from sniffing or eating slugs and snails. Avoid using non-organic slug pellets, as they are toxic to pets and wildlife. Instead, use pet-safe slug deterrents such as crushed eggshells.
Keep toxic substances locked away where your dog can't access them
Many common garden substances can be harmful to dogs if ingested. Pesticides, weed killers, chemical fertilisers and certain cleaning products all pose a risk to your pet. It’s best to avoid using these substances altogether if possible. If you do need to use them, make sure they are kept securely locked away where your dog can’t reach them. Try switching to organic gardening techniques that benefit both your pet and the environment.
If you think your dog has eaten toxic plants or substances, contact your vet immediately. Symptoms can vary depending on what they’ve eaten but may include vomiting, diarrhoea and skin irritation. It’s also important to regularly check your dog’s coat, skin and ears for any signs of redness or irritation as they could have an allergy or sensitivity to something in the garden. If you have any doubt, always seek veterinary advice to keep your pooch safe and healthy.
Create shady spots with somewhere to drink water for your dog to cool off and avoid overheating
Dogs can overheat in hot weather if they don’t have a cool place to go whilst outdoors. Shady areas in your garden are essential for keeping your pet comfortable and preventing heatstroke. Shade can come from trees or purpose-built shelters and even the natural shade cast by your house.
As well as providing shade, always make sure your dog has access to fresh, clean water when outside. Placing a water bowl in a shaded area will help keep it cool throughout the day. For a bit more fun put a shallow paddling pool somewhere your dog can splash around on hot days. Make sure you keep this water clean as your dog may drink it.
Constant supervision of your pooch
No matter how dog-friendly your garden is, the best way to keep your pet safe is through constant supervision. Dogs are naturally curious and can easily find trouble. Keeping an eye on them ensures you can quickly step in if they get into trouble or get too close to a potential hazard.
Supervision is especially important if you have areas of the garden that aren’t fully secured or if your dog is prone to eating things they shouldn’t like slugs, toxic plants, or garden chemicals.
Video: Creating A Pet-Friendly Garden
In the videos below B&Q and Many Pets explain how to set up the perfect pet-friendly garden including tips such as setting up boundaries and choosing pet-friendly plants.
Concluding thoughts from Vicki Emmerton (BVetMed MRCVS)
As the British weather starts to improve making the most of it (when it isn’t raining outside!) with our furry family members is always nice. Being mindful of where things might go wrong makes it easier to avoid any nasty incidents. Taking the time to check the garden for any possibly dangerous plants or problem areas should make it much easier to enjoy the outdoors without worrying about what kind of mischief they might get into next. Sadly, the weather is totally out of our hands though so maybe have an umbrella to hand just in case!
Medically reviewed by:
Further Reading
How to create a pet-friendly garden | RHS
12 Tips for a Dog-Friendly Garden - Plants