Mulch
Do:
Use gravel, shredded hardwood mulch, or wood chips; they won't stick to longhair coats.
Don't:
Use cocoa mulch, which may contain theobromine, the same ingredient that makes chocolate poisonous to do.
Dog Yard Feature Yard Features
Do:
Create a water feature so your dog can cool off on hot days.
Don't:
Install a pond or pool that's hard for your dog to enter and exit.
Do:
Add a sandbox your dog can feel free to dig in. Bury bones and treats at first to pique their interest.
Do:
Landscape with urine-resistant plants, such as Euonymus japonica (Japanese spindle tree) and Burkwood osmanthus.
Don't:
Freak out when you find yellow and brown spots in your lawn caused by urine.
Boundaries
Do:
Create paths or walkways along routes your dog already travels.
Don't:
Think you can redirect your dog away from areas they've already claimed.
Don't
Resort to planting thorny shrubs or other plants to deter them.
Dog-Friendly Exercise Backyard Running in Yard
Do:
Edge flowerbeds with rocks or foot-tall shrubs to protect your posies.
Don't:
Think you can redirect your dog away from areas they've already claimed.
Don't
Resort to planting thorny shrubs or other plants to deter them.
Dog-Friendly Exercise Backyard Running in Yard
Do:
Edge flowerbeds with rocks or foot-tall shrubs to protect your posies.
Don't:
Use a metal edging that can cut your pooch.
DO:
Give up the idea of having a perfect yard -- a place that's perfect for you and your pet is better.
Don't:
Let your dog rule the roost. Train them to respect boundaries and do their business in a designated spot.
Don't:
Think that sandboxes are maintenance-free. Keep a shovel and rake nearby to cover holes.
Plants
Do:
Use organic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides on lawns and plants.
Don't:
Spread toxic lawn and plant care products, which can harm dogs. Studies have shown that exposure to pesticides may affect dogs similarly to how it affects humans.
Do:
Select plant species that reduce fleas, such as lavender, rosemary, and mint, and others that are good for dogs to eat --wheat grass, and oat grass.
Don't:
Select plants that can make your dog sick, like Foxglove, iris, monkshood, and lily of the valley.
