Create a Dog-Friendly Garden!

Would you like to spend more time enjoying your outdoor space with your dog? Do you often think that your dog might be happier, and behave better, if the yard was, well, somehow different? You have many fun options to maximize safety and enjoyment while minimizing barking and destructive behaviors. If your pet is barking continuously or excessively, or is displaying destructive behaviors in the yard, you may want to reconsider your outdoor arrangements.

Some simple concepts will put you on the right track to a dog-friendly garden. And with fall just around the corner, now is the time to plan for next year’s planting. (You can even get a few shrubs and trees in the ground so that they can establish over the winter.) With each step, you can pull out all the stops, or slowly build up in stages to add the bells and whistles when you are assured that the basic mental and physical needs of your pet are properly being met.

In general, you must match your landscape plan to your dog’s personality and physical requirements, which can vary greatly from dog to dog. A doggie-friendly landscape will incorporate elements that ensure physical safety, a sense of mental security, comfort, and interest.

Create My Boundaries. An effective barrier is essential to keep your pet from wandering off (and others from wandering in). The boundary can be purely utilitarian or also decorative, but it must function to keep intruders out and your dog safely inside his area during any unsupervised time. When selecting a fence, consider how deep underground it should reach (for digging breeds) and how tall it should be (for dogs that can climb or jump). A dog that escapes from her yard, especially if not wearing identification, has little chance of being found again, so a secure fence is extremely important. Do not depend on a chain or tether (illegal in many places), or on your dog’s reliability. You will also want to consider whether you want the dog to be able to see through the fence, as this can affect barking habits. A dog that can see outside the fence will sometimes become insecure and anxious, resulting in excessive barking or other destructive behaviors. Lastly, do not allow your dog to stay outside all day, without access to indoor space. That can cause disruptive and destructive behaviors.

Keep My Area Safe. You don’t want your dog to be stung, bitten, or injured in your yard. Check your property weekly for fire ant mounds and nests for bees, hornets, or wasps. Mosquitoes carry deadly diseases like heartworm to dogs (and are as annoying to them as they are to us!). Remove ivy and drain standing water from bowls and flowerpots, especially in warmer weather. Remember that coyotes, snakes, and raccoons live in the Atlanta area and can threaten your pet. Watch for evidence of these unwelcome visitors, and don’t keep food outside; it can attract insects and unwanted animals to your pet’s area. Large birds can pose a danger to a small dog, so provide a way to protect your dog from these intruders. Finally, make sure none of your plants are dangerous to canines. Avoid your dog's access to bulbs, as many varieties are harmful to them, and don't plant spiny or thorny plants like roses or cacti. Don’t plant anything that will attract many bees or other stinging insects to your pet's area (for example, the beautiful passionflower vine attracts stinging caterpillars). A list of canine-toxic plants can be found at Pet Poison Helpline, or contact your UGA County Extension office.

Plant wisely. You know not to plant poisonous plants that could cause harm to your dog. Now think about which plants would be least likely to be harmed by your dog. If your dog is an accomplished and dedicated digger, consider carefully what you will plant in the areas where your dog plays. Expensive or fussy plants may not be the best choice in this part of the yard. Acubas are hardy, colorful bushes that also coexist well with dogs. My dog Ripley loves to scratch himself on our low-growing juniper bushes. Butterfly bushes (buddlea davidii) also make nice additions for a dog garden. Other tree and shrub suggestions: bamboo, pampas grass, pink Muhley grass (my favorite), crepe myrtle, and rosemary. For annual color, try snapdragons and marigolds.

Provide comfortable play and resting surfaces. Grass, or lawn turf, has pros and cons for playing. The vegetation can feel cool and natural, but grass can harbor molds and insects. Residual chemicals from lawn treatments are also a concern. You may need to renounce grass if your pet is large and very active.

There are conflicting opinions as to whether or not dog urine kills turf, but it's likely that too much urine will harm a lawn over time. If you want a classic lawn, choose turf based on the total amount of sun/shade the area receives.

Consider taking a hint from the dog parks, and replace an area of grass with mulch, a utilitarian surface that holds up well and look good with minimum maintenance. (Make sure you do not buy the cocoa variety, which can be toxic.)

Besides mulch, alternative ground covers are lamium (dead nettle), vinca minor, creeping jenny, or mondo grass. Gravel looks good, but it gets very hot, and is challenging to keep clean. A concrete pad will stay relatively cool during hot Atlanta summers and is good for a resting surface. (Wooden decks, bricks, and stones can get very hot.)

Remember Maslow: shelter and water. Provide a shady place to cool off, as protection from the elements. Ideally your dog should have access to the house when he needs it. Some breeds detest getting wet and need an opportunity to snuggle in and keep dry. Your dog also needs a plentiful source of fresh water. Options for this range from decorative water features to a clean, functional bowl.

Make it interesting. Dogs want to sniff and explore their environment, but most are not inherently destructive unless they are bored, lonely, or anxious. A well-planned yard with interesting features could help offset some of these risks. At the high end, you can provide climbing rocks or other structures for physical activity. It is easy to rotate a few toys and chewy bones in and out of the yard. A stereo speaker can provide the sound of voices or relaxing music to reassure your pet with auditory stimulation.

Keep Me Clean! All surfaces should allow for easy removal of pet waste, so that you can keep the area as sanitary and odor-free as possible. Hard surfaces should wash off easily with a hose, and other surfaces should make picking up pet “deposits” as simple as possible.

Overall, your goal is to create an area that both you and your pet feel comfortable in. Take a good look at the current outdoor space you give your dog. What elements already exist? Is the dog’s area boring or too confining? Does it provide a sense of security and comfort? Analyze what is already in your yard, then decide how big an area to commit to your dog’s personal space, and what features best match your dog’s physical, emotional, and mental needs.

Debby Broocker is a Georgia Master Gardener. Her radio show, The Master Gardener Hour, airs the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. by streaming onto www.radiosandysprings.com. You may contact her at: dbroocker@yahoo.com to arrange a consultation for your dog-friendly landscape.