Gardens act as wonderful spaces for dogs, where they get good mental and physical stimulation. At the same time, a garden can also be a cause for numerous hazards. For instance, there may be plants that are potentially harmful to dogs and may also contain toxic chemicals to sharp objects.
Like any other part of your house, your garden too should be a safe zone for your dogs to play and explore. Here are 6 ways how you can make a dog-friendly garden for your Fido,
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Create Cool and Shady Spots
Dogs love to bask in the sunlight and play, especially if the owner is also there. However, if the temperature outside is too much, it can create problems for the dogs. This is because dogs sweat only through their paw pads, and this makes it easy for them to overheat and harder to cool down. Hence, providing ample shade to dogs is essential to keep them safe in the sun.
Find an area in your garden that receives less sunlight and add extra shade by surrounding the area with dog-friendly plants like roses, spider plants and small trees. You can also place a cooling mat for dogs, in your garden which keeps them cool and comfortable.
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Remove Toxic Plants
Many garden plants exist today that are highly toxic for dogs. Some of them include aconite, buttercup, chrysanthemum, daffodil, daphne, delphinium, tomato etc. If you think your dog may have ingested part of a plant, you need to take your pet to the vet without any delay. If you need the plants given above, you can place them in hanging baskets or areas of the garden that your dogs don’t have access to.
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Go For Dog Shoes
When it is blistering hot outside, you don’t want your dogs to walk in the garden barefoot. Their paws are sensitive and hot surfaces can cause pain, blisters and other serious injuries to them. This is why you can buy dog shoes or boots that not only protect your dog’s paws on hot surfaces but also save them from sharp objects like rocks, broken glass etc.
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Make an Area For Digging
Although digging is a behaviour that comes instinctively to dogs, you don’t want them to destroy your carefully planted shrubs. Dogs dig for several reasons. They might be searching for the source of an alluring smell or spreading scent from the sweat glands in their paws. They could also be digging the ground to prepare a cosy resting spot or burying something they want to use later.
Select an area in your garden that you are happy for your dog to dig in Use bricks or wood to outline the area so that your dog knows this is the place to dig.
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Apply the seven-second rule
Being a little cautious before taking your dog in the garden during summer can help prevent a lot of injuries in dogs. Although artificial grass doesn’t get as hot as tarmac or pavement, it is still risky for dogs under direct sunlight. To determine whether a surface is ideal for your dogs to walk on or not, all you have to apply is the seven-second rule. Hold your hands on the surface for seconds, and if you feel it is too hot, then it is much hotter than for your dogs.
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Be Mindful of Compost
If you are using or storing compost in your garden, ensure that it is properly fenced so that your dog can’t access it. It would be even better if the compost is in a locked garden shed or garage. You should know that decaying food materials consist of several types of mould and the mould produces a toxin called mycotoxins. On ingesting this, your pets will show signs like vomiting/diarrhoea, fever and excitability which are symptoms of this chemical.
If you notice that your dog has consumed compost, call the vet immediately and do not wait for the symptoms to show.
All in All
Having a wonderful garden for your dog helps enrich your dog physically and mentally. However, there can also be elements in the garden that can pose significant health risks to them. With these 6 highly effective tips, you can create a dog-friendly garden where your lovely fido will enjoy and thrive.