Dogs may be our best friends, but if we want to be theirs, we have to make their best interest our top priority. Having a pet is a lot of fun and very rewarding, but it also takes a lot of house and yard-proofing to ensure your dog is safe. After all, how can you enjoy all the shenanigans when your little pal can get hurt just because they were being too curious? If you want to have fun outside in the backyard with your best friend and give them the exercise they need at the same time, you’ll need to think long and hard about how you can make the environment safe for your pup.
1. Cover your Pools and Ponds
If you have any sort of water body in your yard, it should be covered when you’re not using it. Not only will this keep the water cleaner, but it will keep your dog from accidentally falling in. Even if they can swim, this can be a very stressful situation for your pup. Plus, they might injure themselves during the fall.
Let’s not forget that pool and pond water isn’t for drinking. Your dog doesn’t know that, though. As soon as they get thirsty, they’ll lap up all of the chemicals and potentially harmful bacteria in the pool or pond. No amount of training can help you counter curious and reckless dog nature. So, to be safe, get your pool or pond covers as soon as possible.
2. Raised beds and borders are your friends
Protecting the dog from the yard is one thing, but you also need to protect the yard from the dog. With borders and raised beds, your plants and flowers won’t be run over by an excited pup who’s chasing their ball. As well as that, your buddy won’t be able to pee all over your hard work. Of course, these measures are beneficial for your dog, too.
Some plants and flowers are potentially dangerous for dogs and can make them sick, so raised beds and borders can stop your dog from chewing on things they aren’t supposed to chew. Plus, they’re less likely to get hurt because they won’t run into any thorns or anything similar. On top of all of this, some dogs have allergies just like humans do and this can potentially save you a trip to the vet.
3. Keep it tidy and clean
Your dog explores the world with its nose and its mouth. What this means is that it will sniff every centimetre of the yard to familiarize itself with the area. The next step is to chew and bite down on anything that’s remotely nice-smelling. To be clear, we’re talking about things that smell nice to a dog but never to a human. If you don’t want your dog eating any piece of waste, ground, and plants in the yard, you’ve got to keep it clean and tidy.
As well as that you should add sharp shears to your already high-quality gardening equipment. Trimming bushes and trees in the yard is essential. Not only will your dog try to bite the smaller branches and leaves, thus potentially hurting themselves, but there’s also a high chance they’ll run into a bush or tree when they’re running around. Let’s face it, dogs are clumsy, and you’ll want to make the environment as safe as you can by ensuring they can’t cut themselves on anything. Trimming your plants also ensures there are no stray thorns which could harm your adventurous pup.
4. Fence it in
Having an open backyard may have been fun before you had a dog but simply isn’t an option now, no matter how amazing your view from the yard may be. Even if they don’t mean to, your dog will eventually wander off the yard and get lost if it’s left open. Dogs are curious and protective creatures. This means your pup could be just minding its own business outside and see a bee or a butterfly then try to catch them out od curiosity. A cat or raccoon could run over your lawn and your dog would give chase to protect their territory, causing them to lose you forever.
Building a fence is your best bet your buddy will stay put. Even if they do hear, see, or smell something interesting, they won’t be able to get to it which will make them forget about it soon enough. Make sure that your pup can’t dig a hole under your fence or jump it over. No matter how well-trained they may be, the real world is sometimes just too exciting for them to contain themselves. When building a fence, think of your dog as an escape artist. That will help you see all the weak points you have to address to ensure they don’t run off.
Conclusion
As you can see, dog-proofing your backyard doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. You can effectively manage the space and help your pup be safe when they’re playing outside with you. Having a backyard where your dog can run and have fun is one of the best things you can do for it. There’s no better way to keep your dog healthy and active, and potentially even prolong its life. We’re confident your pup will adore the new freedom and that you’ll have a lot of fun together outside!
