Keeping Both A Garden And Your Dog In The Same Yard And Surviving

If you have a dog, or are thinking about getting a dog, you will have to think or rethink your plans to have a garden. While the 2 are NOT incompatible, you will have to make adjustments. These apply to your concept of a garden, your dogs idea of the backyard usage and both your notions of proper garden etiquette. When you look at these factors, be realistic. Do not romanticize your garden or your dog. Sit down and decide what will work best for all of you.

The type of garden you decide depends not solely on the climate, soil conditions and size of your yard. You need to look at your personality and the character of your dog. Do you have a giant dog or a miniature? Size does matter as far as maneuverability. It can affect the size of gates and fences you select.

How old is the dog? Older dogs are already trained ,hopefully, and their energy level is lower. On the other hand, older dogs have a pattern they follow. If you upset their life by removing or changing such things as their traditional backyard pooping or resting ground, it is unlikely they will change with it. They will continue to follow their routine. Puppies also present difficulties. You may be able to train them easily. At the same time, they are curious and tend to chew on and wander through any and everything if you let them getaway with it.

What is the specific breed? Some breeds are more intelligent or quicker to catch on than others are. Some types of dogs have higher energy levels. They require more footage in the back yard as well as their walks. They may also be fence pacers, trampling on anything between them and the fence.

How well trained is the love of your life, not your so called significant other or child, but your dog? All these characteristics must factor into your garden plan. If you do not take them all into consideration, you will not have a successful garden-dog combination.

The initial question you must ask is this; what is the purpose of your garden? Is it to be a specialist or collector garden? Are you planning a formal garden or do you prefer a Japanese garden? There are casual, Rock, English Country, Wildflower and Naturalized gardens. The sizes range from small select beds to encompassing large swathes of land.

The hardest for your dog to be at home in are the formal and the plant-collector/rare species gardens. Unless you have a highly trained pet, it is difficult for the 2 to match up. The former has various species that cannot tolerate a doggie-run-through. The latter weaves intricate patterns in formal boundary lines. Both are often too manicured for any non-plant form of life.

Japanese gardens are formal, but relaxing. You run the rake through the sand after the puppy plays in it. Bamboo plants and other grasses are hardy and can take a beating. Rock gardens are also tougher and more suitable for a pet. With rock gardens, however, be sure there are places the dog can walk without hurting his or her paws.

Less formal gardens are your best bet. They have random beds and relaxed splashes of color among paths. Naturalized and wildflower gardens are also good choices. Your pet can run through these areas without causing irrevocable harm.

There are other options available to help protect your garden and pet co-exist. Fencing is both attractive and adds protection to those plants you want to keep untrodden by both foot and paw. Your choice should be something durable, preferably not chewable without spaces for escape. A certain height helps keep puppy paws on the ground. Do not that if you have a fence bordering your property, though, do consider having a path free from growth directly beside it. This permits your dog to run up-and-down if he or she sees visitors, other dogs or animals.

When you construct your garden, show your dog what is what. Show him or her the new paths, and how to easily go from point A to point B. Be sure any water features, deck or added elements are safe and dog friendly. Always make it easy for them to understand the rules. Also, always incorporate their best interests into the plan. Remember, it is their yard, too.

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