Setting up a pet-friendly backyard for your dog involves both safety and comfort features. If you provide all the things your dog needs, they’ll be happier and healthier — and your backyard won’t suffer.
Safety First
Start by making sure your backyard is fenced in. Inspect the fencing to prevent your dog from digging under the fence, and see to it that it is tall enough to prevent jumping over it. Keep your dog in “good boy” status by not storing trash cans, tools or grills where your dog can get to them. Be sure to store all pesticides, weed killers and fertilizer out of reach. And remove any toxic plants from their area.
Comfort and Calm
Check your backyard for shade that is available all day. Add trees, shrubs, shade structures or a dog house to give them a cool, dry place to rest when it’s hot. Reduce barking at neighbors by planting those shrubs at the fence line, so they can’t see through the fence. Water should always be available as well. And most importantly, train your dog to use a specific bathroom area in your yard to keep clean-up to a minimum.
Activity Time
Consider using synthetic turf as your surface, or hardscape travel paths with easy-to-clean materials like gravel or river rock. If your dog is a digger, create a sandbox and train them to dig for objects in that spot. Dogs also enjoy water features, jumps and tunnels.