Dogs and Landscape
Dogs and outdoor spaces go together naturally. However, we know that dogs love to dig holes, run, eat plants, and wreak havoc on landscape design. There are many common problems that you can overcome which will help keep the peace between you and your dog and allow you to keep the beautiful yard that you put so much work into. There are few things that you must keep in mind.
It is important to know your dog. Each dog is unique but different breeds tend to have different traits. For example, terriers will dig, golden retrievers love to be in the water, and beagles may try to escape. You must try and understand how your dog approaches life. Are they the eager type who will be exploring all the time or are they more laid back and go with the flow? Dogs do a good job of patrolling the yard. If your dog has already created a path through your yard, you can try to retrain them by creating a new path or blocking an old route. Be sure that you are using paw-friendly materials to turn it from a dirt path to something that is more inviting for everyone.
In an ideal world, dogs would know which plants delicate and which areas are off limits. However, we know that is not going to happen! You will need to create physical reminders that will make it difficult for your dog to reach certain spots. You can do this with hardscaping such as fences, walls, or even pieces of wood. If you want to go for a softer look, you can opt for plans, rosebushes, or tall ornamental grasses. Just make sure that they are not toxic or cause hard to your dog. If you have a garden, you will need to find ways to protect your crops. Ensure that dogs cannot dig under or jump over fences around the garden, or all your hard work will go to waste.
Lastly, we will tackle the digging situation. It is important to know that dogs dig, and some dig more than others. Remember that dogs dig for a reason (trying to escape or out of boredom). If your dog is trying to escape, you can add chicken wire or wooden boarded at or below the soil line. While a lawn is one of the most comfortable surfaces for dogs and people to wander on, a common problem when you have a dog is brown spots, due to the nitrogen in dog urine. Keeping the lawn well-watered and the blades long will help dilute the urine and hide the browning. There are also products available to help prevent or lessen the burn.
