Creating a dog-friendly backyard encourages your dog to exercise and have fun. It improves your pet’s life and reduces damage when your pup runs freely without a leash. When you plan for backyard landscaping that entertains your pet, it is important to create a space for them and define another area where the lawn and garden are protected from damage.
Here is an article to help you plan backyard landscaping design according to your dog’s needs.
10 Tips for Dog-Friendly Backyard Landscaping
1. Install a Splash Pool
Summers are extra hot for furry animals, so your pet needs a place where they can cool down and relax. A splash pool can be great where they can have fun and reduce their body temperature. If you want a cheap option, you can go for a hard plastic pool installed a few inches into the ground so that they don’t drag it away.
2. Introduce Flea-Repelling Plants
You may worry about protecting your dog from fleas in the backyard. But there are plenty of plants that can naturally keep fleas at bay. Here are some flea-repelling plants that are also non-toxic to dogs:
- Marigolds
- Catnip
- Sage
- Rosemary
You can also use cedar chips as mulch in your garden to increase the potential of your garden to prevent fleas. Many other flea-repelling plants are toxic to dogs, so we recommend consulting a backyard landscaping specialist who can help you pick dog-friendly species.
3. Get a Sandbox for Digging
Dogs have an instinct to dig, and they may damage your lawn by digging holes all around. This dries out the soil and kills the grass. You can train your pet to stop digging, but not all dogs can suppress the urges, especially puppies. Including a sandbox in your backyard landscaping design is a great way to engage them in a designated space for digging.
4. Make Dog Paths
Dogs are territorial animals, so they have the innate trait to patrol their territory. You might see your pup walking the same path every day, and that will usually be around the perimeter of the backyard. To prevent your dog from walking on the lawn, you can incorporate a dog path in your backyard landscaping plan. You can use pavers of pea gravel that are comfortable on their paws.
5. Install a Dog Window
If you have vinyl or solid wooden fencing around your backyard, you can consider adding a dog window. It is a small section that allows your pet to peep through it and see the views beyond the yard, attracting their attention and making the place more interesting. Toronto landscape companies can help you install a nice-looking and safe window.
6. Define a Dog Zone
Creating a dedicated space for your dog is a highly effective way to protect your lawn from your pet. If you have enough room in your backyard, you can define their personal space using fencing.
Here are some things a dog space should include:
- Plenty of space to play and run around
- A water bowl or fountain for drinking
- A doghouse or a shelter from the elements
- Their favorite toys to entertain them
7. Agility Props
If your dog likes agility training at the dog park, you can include some agility training equipment or props in your backyard landscaping. This will be a fun element and keep your pup active and entertained. It will also keep them away from the lawn. Installing agility equipment may be complex, but consulting a landscaping company can help.
8. Incorporate Garden Barriers
Apart from digging, your dog may also be eliminated in the yard. So to prevent your dog from doing this, you can install barriers around flower beds, trees, and shrubs. Alternatively, you can have raised garden beds planted in soil mounds above ground level, discouraging digging and marking.
9. Dog-Friendly Grass
Consider replacing the grass-hardy ground cover plants that grow low to the ground and spread out horizontally. They are low maintenance and difficult to damage.
Here are a few non-toxic ground cover plants suitable for dogs:
- Creeping thyme
- Labrador violet
- Silver carpet
- Snow-in-summer
- Irish moss
Remember to consult a specialist, as some ground covers like clover and chamomile are toxic if ingested by dogs.
10. Spread Dog-Friendly Mulch
You can opt for mulch which requires much less maintenance. An added advantage is that it is not a living thing, and your dog can eliminate there without ruining it.
Here are some dog-friendly mulch options:
- Cedar chips
- Coconut fibres
- Gravel or smooth stones (Ensure the stones are not too small so that it stuck in the paws)
- Rubber nuggets
- Straw
Avoid mulches that can hurt your dog’s paws. Any mulch comprising cocoa bean shells is highly toxic to dogs.
If you don’t like the above two options, you can opt for dog-friendly grasses such as perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.
We Can Help You Create Dog-Friendly Backyard Landscaping Design
Landcon offers comprehensive backyard landscaping services in Toronto and the surrounding areas. Our landscape design experts can help you choose designs that consider the individual likes and dislikes of your pet. We understand your requirements, analyze your property, and propose attractive designs and ideas within your budget.
We have the knowledge and expertise to help you transform your backyard into an entertaining, safe, and relaxing zone for your pet.
For more information on our personalized backyard landscaping services, call us at 416.504.5263. One of our experts will get in touch with you. Our service areas include Toronto, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Barrie, Kitchener, Aurora, Etobicoke, Ottawa, Mississauga, Woodbridge, East York, Maple, Thornhill, Newmarket, Kleinburg, Concord, Hamilton, Burlington, North York, Pickering, Waterloo, and the surrounding GTA.
