Maintaining your backyard can be tough when you have a canine running around, from all the urine spots to having to worry about poisonous plants – there’s a lot to consider. This is why it’s important to create a backyard that both you and your dog can enjoy at the same time. A dog-friendly backyard will save you a lot of hassle and time when it comes to worrying about your canine pets, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t try it. Here are some of the best tips you can apply to achieve the balance between a dog-friendly backyard and the one that you and your family can enjoy as well.
Add Designated Urine Spots
Your regular lawn grass doesn’t take dog’s urine very well, which means you’ll probably end up with a backyard full of urine spots you don’t want to go anywhere near. The best way to avoid this problem is to have a dog potty area created for your canine, a designated place where your pets will be able to do their needs. Here’s a short guide on creating such an area in your own backyard, after which you’ll have to train your dog to use it – which can take some time and patience. But the end result will be worth it.
Dog House
No matter how much your dog enjoys being outdoors, it’s always a good idea for them to have their own house for shelter – to get away from the sun (or rain). There are plenty of ideas on the web on how to create a dog house that your pet will enjoy, but keep in mind there’s no rule stating that it shouldn’t be attractive for human eye either. Try to fit the dog in the landscape, so that it creates a beautiful balance between what you want visually and functionality for your dog.
Securing Your Pet
Allowing your dog to run around your backyard freely doesn’t mean you can just leave him unattended. On the opposite, your dog has to be secured at all times – whether it’s a leash, a fence, or you babysitting him at every moment. Dogs can easily get lured by something and get away from home, which can have consequences for your dog or even people if the dog is aggressive. It’s also a good idea to put a sign on your gate stating that the area has a dog asking visitors to close the gate behind them.
Ditch the Unnecessary Stuff
If you’re a proud owner of a dog, you must be aware how much they love to run and play outdoors. Having a backyard with stuff laying around can really ruin the experience for them, which is why you’ll want to get rid of anything that you don’t actually need. Instead of keeping the extra stuff outdoors, you can move them to supercheap self storage units near you to create additional space for your dog to enjoy.
Swimming Pool Problems
If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, it can be quite difficult to keep your dog out of it. Majority of dog breeds love water, so they’ll jump in any chance they get when it’s warm outside – even if they’re not good swimmers. It’s vital here that you keep an eye on your dog when they’re around your swimming pool and do anything you can to minimize the risk of them entering the pool unattended. Try to teach your dog how to swim and how to get out of the pool on their own, to lower the risk of them drowning when you’re not around.
Dogs and Plants
There are plenty of dog-friendly plants out there you can safely use in your backyard, but that won’t solve the problem of your dog destroying the plants. Another solution is to have your plant areas fenced off, which can also look beautiful but also solve the problem for you. Simply put, the best way to keep your plants healthy is to prevent your dog from going anywhere near them.
Bottom Line
There are too many things to worry about when you have a dog running around a regular backyard, which is why it’s a good idea to invest some time and effort for both your and the sake of your pet. There’s no reason why the whole family can’t enjoy the backyard, your dog included. If you follow our tips you’ll in no time have a backyard that your dog will very much enjoy, and so will you.
