Keep the Garden Growing

Keep the Garden Growing

The Balance Between Pet-Owning and Gardening

     As gardeners, we work extremely hard to keep our flowers vibrant and our produce bountiful! The frustration of your best fur-iend reeking havoc on your garden is all too real! Whether it's pottying on the plants, or digging it all up, we've got you covered with these helpful tips to create a dog-friendly garden.

1. Be the Dog

When planning anything in your home, you will often think "What do I as a homeowner want from this space?" However, we encourage you to think like your dog! Think, "If I were my beloved pampered pooch, what would I want out of this backyard space?" Knowing the characteristics of your dog's breed will also play a role here. Dogs like huskies, chows, and malamutes may only be digging to create a space to stay cool in. This is easily resolved by creating an area for your dog to cool down in, like a small patio or awning made just for him! Dogs that were bred for hunting in tunnels, such as terriers, dachsunds, beagles, and whippets may be digging either by natural behavior or when they find underground animal tunnels. Redirecting their attention with a game (like hiding treats above ground) while outside, or even giving them their own dig box, may alleviate the issue of digging up the garden! Some dogs will dig merely from boredom! Combating this is as easy as socializing at a dog park or doggy daycare, or exercising them as often as possible.

2. Landscaping to Protect

When planing, keep in mind that different levels and placement of gardens can deter a dog from tearing through it. If your dog's favorite pathway is directly through where you want to place your garden, it may be easier to select another location. However, if your heart is set on that location, create boundaries and use verbal commands to redirect your dog away from the garden. Elevated garden beds and mounds may also reroute your dog!

3. Sun and Shade Alike

Like we mentioned before, it's always a good idea to create a safe and cool place for your dog to rest. It's also equally important to leave a sunny spot in your yard completely undisturbed so that your pooch can soak up the sun without crushing your favorite perennials! In this area, you can include a dig box and anything else that reinforces to your dog that "this is your space."