Want to make your garden dog-friendly? Then you've come to the right place! A dog-friendly garden is more than just a green plot of land - it's a mini adventure land for your four-legged friend, where they can sniff, romp and relax.
Of course, daily walks are a must because they provide variety, exercise, new smells and social interaction with other animals. But with a dog-friendly garden, you can make your dog even happier. And you too - because you know that he is safe there and can roam freely without a lead.
In this article, I would therefore like to give you the most important tips for the ideal dog garden. All of them can be implemented relatively quickly. Let's go!
Reasons: Why Should Your Garden Be Dog-Friendly?
Before we get to the specific tips, I would like to briefly introduce you to a few motivating reasons and benefits that you should definitely know about:
- Ensure (general) safety: Your dog can move freely around the property without running the risk of running into the street or injuring himself or others. There are also fewer sources of danger for your furry friend in a well-planned dog garden.
- Offer employment opportunities for dogs: An exciting garden with retreats, play areas and sniffer trails offers your dog variety and mental stimulation.
- Increase the animal's well-being: A garden tailored to your dog promotes relaxation and contentment. Especially if he can retreat undisturbed from time to time.
- Relaxation for masters and mistresses: A dog-friendly garden also lowers your own stress levels. For example, because you can keep your dog safe and happy outside while you relax or tend to your natural garden.
10 Tips: How to Create a Dog-Friendly Garden
Then let's see together how we can improve your Transform your garden into a real dog paradise! Let yourself be inspired by the following tips and implement them bit by bit 🙂
1. Ensuring a Safe Fence
In Germany there are No basic fencing obligation for property and dog owners, unless the municipality and federal state have made different regulations. Nevertheless, fences are the be-all and end-all for a dog-safe garden. You don't want your dog to suddenly go exploring on its own and endanger itself and others.
Depending on the size and jumping ability of your dog, the fence should be at least 1.20 meters high be. For particularly athletic or large dogs, it is better to go straight to 1.50 meters.
Double picket fences are real all-rounders here. Robust, durable and safe thanks to their tight and firm structure for small dogs. They are also available in many sizes and colors. If necessary, you can add privacy strips - even at a later date. Perfect if your dog gets nervous quickly because he can see everything and everyone.
But make sure that the fence No large gaps or crevices that your dog could squeeze through. And if your dog is a digging master, a concrete edge or a fence extended into the ground is worthwhile. 🙂
2. Planting Dog-Safe Shrubs and Flowers
If you want to make your garden dog-friendly, you should also take a closer look when choosing plants, as the fruits or rows of plants of many popular garden plants are poisonous to dogs are.
Here are some examples of plants you should look out for in a beautiful dog garden better do without to be on the safe side:
- Lilac
- Rhododendron
- Hydrangeas
- Cherry Laurel
- Yew
- Foxglove
- Oleander
Instead, opt for Bee-friendly wild roses (e.g. vine rose or dog rose), cornflowers and marigolds. Fruit trees are usually okay too, as long as your dog doesn't eat the whole crop. The choice of non-toxic alternatives for dogs is really huge! 🙂
Tip: What exactly dogs are not allowed to eat and whether one Feed dogs also vegan there are two in-depth articles from me that you should definitely read again.
3. Designing Paths with Natural Boundaries
Dogs love to run on paths and explore the terrain. With curved paths and natural boundaries such as insect-friendly shrubs you can not only structure your garden in an attractive way, but also give your dog Exciting routes offer.
You can also experiment with different materials such as untreated bark mulch (without antifungal agent), some gravel or Wood chips. Different surfaces are not only exciting for your dog, but also great for his paws.
4. Always Provide Fresh Water
Dogs are thirsty - especially when they run around a lot. So it's best to place several water bowls in your dog-friendly garden, especially on warm days - and fill them up regularly.
But don't forget the bowls Clean regularly. Stagnant water in particular can quickly become a hotbed of germs. A shallow dog pond is also a great idea to keep the water fresh and interesting.
5. Creating Resting Spots for Relaxation
Even dogs need a break from time to time. A shady spot in the garden is worth its weight in gold, especially when temperatures are high in summer. Whether under a Tree, a Pergola or in a separate Dog house - The main thing is that your dog can retreat if it gets too much for him.
In this way, you can also give insecure dogs a sense of security.
Simply observe where your dog prefers to be. Some like to Troughs under bushes digging or on raised areas to have everything in view. Let him decide and arrange the corners the way he likes them. Every dog is different.
6. Setting Up a Digging Area
Many dogs simply love to dig. So why not set up a special digging corner in the garden where he can let off steam? So you also have your Beds protected from involuntary digging. A sandpit with wooden planks or stones as a boundary works perfectly here.
With the right soil your dog will quickly accept this area as his personal digging paradise. With our from the animal protection adopted bitch I even did the digging myself because she didn't know how to do it. It worked out wonderfully in the end 😀
7. Securing Potential Hazards
Poisonous plants out - check! But what about other sources of danger? Pools, Ponds, Sharp tools, Sharp screws and nails, Toxic fertilizers and weed killers - You should not make all this accessible to dogs or simply do without it altogether.
After gardening work or storms a quick safety check is always worthwhile to increase dog safety in the garden.
8. Creating Durable Surfaces
If your dog always walks on the same paths, it will quickly create ruts. Choose robust materials such as gravel, grass pavers or a water-bound path surface to cover these areas. Varied, stable and easy to care for to design.
Grass that is reseeded regularlycan also help to avoid bald patches. As an animal-friendly lawn alternative, I can also recommend the bee-friendly ground cover Sand thyme which also looks very good in a dog garden.
Good to know: The best Tips for keeping dogs as sustainably as possible and Environmentally friendly gardening I have put together separate articles for you. Have a look there too!
9. Reducing Overstimulation with Privacy Screens
If your dog constantly in a watch-out position because he has everything in view, a privacy screen can work wonders. Whether through a Dense hedge of native plants such as hawthorn, blackthorn or hornbeam, a strategically planted Wild shrub hedge or privacy mats on the fence - this will give your dog much more peace and quiet in the garden.
10. Building a DIY Dog Playground
If you want to make your garden dog-friendly and your four-legged friend is a real bundle of energy you can give him a real treat with a homemade dog playground.
Sniffer trails, Obstacle course or a small Agility course - There are no limits to your creativity when it comes to design.
Tip: When you leave the property to walking your dog in the forestthere are a few things to bear in mind. Above all, so as not to disturb the forest animals. You can find out the most important things in the linked article.
Dog-Friendly Garden Made Easy!
Dog and garden - they can be a real dream team! You've learned the most important tips here today. And if you look after your dog and small adjustments every now and then to suit your four-legged friend your garden will become a real feel-good place for both of you.
"Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever."
Karen Davison (more at Animal Welfare Quotes)
Do you have any questions? And what does your perfect garden for dogs look like? I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
Stay animal-friendly,
PS: You want to know, Why animal welfare is so important? In the linked article, I will next explain the decisive and motivating reasons for you to stand up for the animal world. Be sure to take a look!
