You don’t need to pick between a well-manicured lawn and a pet-friendly space. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to create a dog-friendly garden that impresses your neighbours and gives your pup space to play.

A Dog-Friendly Fence

Installing a dog-friendly fence will give your furry friend the safety to stretch their legs and get the zoomies out of their system, while also adding privacy to your home. If you have a smaller yard, you can consider fencing the entire area to make it feel bigger. For a larger yard, you can use fencing to create a dog run with some dog-safe flowers.

It is important to make sure your fence:

• Is tall enough that your dog can’t jump over it
• Is wiggle-proof, so nothing can squeeze through
• Doesn’t have any sharp bits sticking out that your pet could get injured on

Dog-Safe Flowers and Plants

When designing your garden, it’s crucial that you choose your plants carefully. While you typically don’t want your pets to chew on any plants, it’s important to keep toxic plants away from your furry friends, just in case. 

Common Dog-Safe Flowers and Plants

• Snapdragons
• Marigold
• Cilantro
• Sage
• Sunflowers
• Tiger Lilies
• Zinnia

Common Plants That Are Poisonous to Dogs

• Chrysanthemum
• Dahlia
• Iris
• Lily of the Valley
• Peony
• Begonia
• Hydrangea

Click here for a more extensive list of plants that are toxic to pets.

Non-toxic Landscaping Chemicals

In the same way that your choice of plants matter, so do your landscaping chemicals. While the pesticide, herbicide and insecticide industries have come a long way in creating safer alternatives, some fertilisers and weed blockers can still be toxic if your pets ingest them. This means even if they walk on grass that has the chemicals on them and later lick their paws, they can still be negatively affected.

Create Shade

Your dogs might love to sunbathe, but adding shade to your garden is essential if you don’t want them to overheat. Do this by adding trees, bushes, or even tall grasses to your landscaping design.

A decorative doghouse is also a great way to provide some shade (and cosy bedding!) to allow your pup to rest.

Build a Dog Path

A dog’s natural instinct tells them to patrol your yard and protect your home, even if they’re only protecting you from birds! While patrolling, dogs tend to run the same routes, which can wear your grass down. 

Instead of dealing with spotty grass, consider adding a dog path to your yard. This can be done using pavers to create an aesthetically pleasing path that won’t wear down easily. It might be tempting to DIY this path, but hiring an expert paver is the best way to go, since installing pavers isn’t the easiest job.

A Functional and Dog-Friendly Garden

A dog-friendly garden doesn’t need to be drab and boring just because it’s functional. If you keep these tips in mind while designing your garden, you’ll be able to create a safe space for your pet that is still aesthetically pleasing.

Book one of our expert contractors to help you get started on making the garden of your dreams.