Dog friendly garden

A garden is a great space for your dog to play, explore and use their senses. But it's important to make sure your garden is safe for your dog, too. Here's how to make a safe garden space for your dog to explore.

Safety in the garden

Fencing

It's important to consider the height and security of your fence according to your own dog. If your dog is prone to escaping or digging, check the boundary fence every day for holes or gaps. If you spot any, it's best to keep your dog on a lead in the garden until the gap is fixed.

Grass lawns

A lawn is great for playtime with your dog – here you can spend time with them playing lots of fun games. Grass also provides interesting smells for your dog to explore. Try letting some areas of grass grow longer than others for your dog to snuffle in. 

Remember that some artificial grasses can retain more heat than real grass. In summer, artificial grass may be too hot for your dog to stand on. If you have an artificial grass lawn, avoid the hottest parts of the day, and check the grass temperature with your hand before your dog goes outside. If it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your dog.

Shaded areas

Summer sun can cause your dog to get too hot, so provide shaded areas. Planting large shrubs or trees or placing large umbrellas will help keep your dog cool in the summer heat. Place sources of water in these shady spots to keep water cooler for longer.

Paved paths

Paving your garden will be better and safer for dogs than using other options, like gravel or stones, which can get stuck in paws or pose a choking hazard. Some dogs (especially older dogs) may also find walking on gravel or stones uncomfortable.

Be aware that paving can heat up in the sunshine, especially if it's dark in colour.

Dog proofing

If there are areas in the garden where you don't want your dog to roam (such as flower beds), you can use a strong mesh or a simple border to create a boundary.

Enrichment in the garden

Paddling pools

If your dog loves a swim or a paddle, a paddling pool is the perfect thing to keep them nice and cool in warm weather, along with providing a fun sensory experience. The best pools for this are hard plastic pools, so that your dog doesn’t have a chance to deflate it with their activities.

Remember that, during hot weather, even an excitable game in a paddling pool can cause your dog to overheat. If it looks like your dog is drinking too much of the water or splashing about too much, give them a little time out so they don’t overdo it in the heat. A good way to calm them down is to throw some treats on the ground in the garden and ask them to ‘find it’.

Dig pits

For dogs who like to dig, a sand pit or a bit of soil in the garden can give them a manageable outlet for their instincts. It can also help to stop them digging up your flower beds.

Platforms

Many dogs enjoy a snooze in the sunshine. Benches and raised platforms can create spots your dog loves to rest in. Varying levels are also fun for your dog to explore.

Dog friendly plants and flowers

Plants and flowers encourage wildlife and insects to your garden.  They can also provide variety for your dog. For example, you can plant taller plants to encourage them to explore areas they can't see. 

Plants can also create places to hide treats and toys so your dog can sniff them out. Basil and sage are safe options that create an interesting area for your dog to sniff. Just be careful that you're dog isn't eating any plants instead.