How to Create a Dog Friendly Landscape Design
Since dogs are such a large part of so many people’s lives, it makes sense to create a landscape design with your doggie friend in mind. After all, dogs have needs too and making an outdoor space that does not consider their needs will mean that the dog is getting into trouble all the time for ruining the garden, or the owner is dissatisfied with the result of the dog’s natural activities. The way out of the dilemma is to plan a dog friendly landscape design, but one that is also person friendly.
What do dogs like to do?
To do this you have to remember – or find out – what is natural for a dog to do. Most people know dogs like to roll around on the grass, dig holes and pee on the lawn. What a lot of people don’t realise is that dogs are highly territorial and like to run around the boundaries of their backyard in order to protect it. The trouble is that most outside areas include a narrow garden along the boundaries.
Give your dog a running track
A dog friendly landscape design can easily take care of this by leaving a narrow running track between the garden and the fence. This will allow room for your pooch to guard his territory without disturbing the garden. The kids will probably have great fun on the track as well as the dog.
Another way to make your landscaping dog friendly is to raise the garden beds and edge them with a solid material such as a low stone or concrete wall. Small dogs are unlikely to want to jump up over this fence and it acts as a deterrent to larger dogs, especially if they’re a bit overweight.
Overcome that lawn problem
The problem with dogs and lawns is well-known by dog owners. Brown patches in the lawn can be remedied by using the kind of hardy grass that repairs itself. Buffalo grass, couch and kikuyu are good choices to keep your lawn area from getting worn down or browned off.
Keeping dogs off the garden
If your dog develops a fondness for a specific spot in the garden, you can protect it by placing rose clippings there. Most dogs quickly learn to avoid places where thorns hurt their feet or nose. However, for those dogs that refuse to learn there are other options.
- Let the dog have that space as its own.
- Keep the dog busy with toys and attention while it is outside.
- Temporarily fence the area in with netting until a hardy shrub or two grows there.
Putting these tips into use will ensure that both dogs and humans can live harmoniously side by side.