👉️Master the Mixed Border (Free Guide & Checklist): https://www.prettypurpledoor.com/guides/free-master-mixed-border/
Video- Dog Friendly Plants for Cottage Gardens: https://youtu.be/dmeCQy_LDcE
ASPCA: https://aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/dogs-plant-list
Cool Pup Faucet Waterer (Amazon): https://amzn.to/4gSxqfi
Flushable Dog Run DIY: https://gardentherapy.ca/doggy-john/
If you have a dog, you know the damage they can do to a landscape. Digging under shrubs, pounding out a dirty path by the fence or even eating your delicate (and potentially poisonous) flowers. Lets face it… dogs are quick to turn your beautiful landscape into their own personal playground… but we still love them. So in this video I wanted to share some dog friendly landscaping tips and awesome ways that you can create a yard that both you and your dog(s) can enjoy.
Key Takeaways
-Determine your dogs personality (Patroller, Digger, Chewer)
-Other characteristics of your dog or dog’s breed
-Landscape around your dog’s personality type and behaviors
-Remember: Dogs will investigate noises and are creatures of habit
-Avoid planting in spaces where your dog always goes
-Use landscaping to enhance or hide areas
-Plant tall foliage that will grow ABOVE your dog
-Fencing can be used to keep your dog “in” or “out” of a space
-Redirect digging to a specific area (like a sandbox)
-Create a potty area
-Always plant non-toxic plants (check the ASPCA website for a list)
-Give your dog his own space where he can be a dog – like open lawn or paths to explore
-Provide access to fresh water (watering station, shallow pool, contained water features)
-Incorporate agility equipment, tunnels and toys. Or use natural items like stones and logs to entertain your dog while beautifying the space
-Fence cut outs are a great option to let your dog see outside the yard (if they aren’t a barker)
-Create a sensory garden to stimulate your dog via smell, sight, sound, taste and touch
-Create different viewpoints for your dog – high and low
-Set up a cozy place for your dog to relax in the shade
-Pick the right materials – soft, sturdy, non-toxic foliage and paw-friendly paving materials like mulch (not cocoa mulch)
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👋Hi! I’m Amy and over at PrettyPurpleDoor.com, I help home gardeners design landscapes that are uniquely you.
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15 Comments
My problem is the female dog I have, has pee'd enough to kill all the grass and I am left with dirt. Do you have any recommendations for vegetation that will survive the female urine?
I’ve always had dogs and we currently have a chocolate lab, a St Bernard and a 10lb mix. Three years ago we needed to dig up our yard and have it graded away from the house. I spent the winter before the work began paying attention to the paths they created in the snow and designed my back yard around that. I put six 4’x4’ raised beds on an angle to make it easier for them to run around, I put in paths where they were already running and added tall Karl foerster grasses and Joe Pye to make it more fun for them to pop out and surprise each other. The bonus is the entertainment value from watching them play. I did use your PLANT PERFECT ACTIVITY BOOK to guide me and it was the best money I’ve ever spent on landscaping. I highly recommend. I wish I could post pictures here.
Great tips. As a long term owner I have seen a lot. So agree about taking their needs into account.
Amy, your dogs are beautiful and your cats too. I could see the joy on your face talking about your dogs. This video is so helpful for those with dogs.
We have used the water dispenser that dogs can lick to release water – they work great and we leave them on all the time.
Nice ideas when we have hot plants and dogs, too. Sometimes they don't get on very weell at all! I have hot two diggers as You show in the video and they did huge caves under the salvia! So I think I should create a kind of fence or something…
I really enjoyed the video. Regards from Argentina.
The winter before I started gardening seriously I paid attention to the path my dog took in every part of the yard by watching her paw prints in the snow. There were large areas that she never walked through and those becamegarden beds.❤
Thank you for this thoughtful video. I loved the tip about cutting a window in a gate or fence for my nosy dog. My dog is a patroller. He delights in being stealthy and loves to hide under shrubs while doing “reconnaissance.” Thus, I have limbed up a few shrubs so he can enjoy more of the garden while doing his thing.
Nice ideas! Do you have any guidance on plants that can tolerate being peed on? I'm thinking of those poor short plants that typically line the paths. I just know my and the neighbor's male dogs are going to pee on them.
I have 4 little human boys and this gave some good ideas for them too 😅. I gave them a digging area right away and we've got some climbing stuff. I've got one who loves to deconstruct plants into tiny pieces year round and had a long "chewing" phase that I'm glad has finally passed 😅
I love all of the pictures of the dogs you chose. Also, I never would have thought that the dogs would actually use the paths. I don't have a dog yet, (our both sadly passed away) but I LOVE dogs and plan to get one in the future and will keep all of the great tips you gave in mind when I redesign my backyard (also, hopefully in the near future). Also, just a note, if anyone buys the dog watering spigot that attaches to your water spigot, be sure it is not where it will get too hot (I live in Phoenix Arizona). I don't know how cold snowy weather would be with one. I love your content! Thank you Amy 💜
Amy, I just downloaded your Master the Mixed Border (Free Guide & Checklist) and purchased your Designing Landscape Layers. Thanks 😊
This is the first video I've seen from you that didn't cause me immediate anxiety about a garden faux pas.
My only problem with my dog in the garden is the hose. I basically can not water around her because she thinks it's a game to catch the stream.
Great Tips! THX👍👍