20 Tips for Gardening With Dogs

Start Young

The earlier you start training your dog, the better. Old dogs can learn new tricks, but if you have a puppy, begin training as soon as you bring it home. Let it know right away what parts of the garden are off limits. And don't assume puppies can't learn. Even puppies as young as six weeks old can master basic commands.

Don't Leave Your Dog Alone

If you want a perfect lawn or garden, don't just leave your dog outside while you're at work. Dogs require exercise and get bored easily. Left alone, they quickly find ways to amuse themselves—and that may mean digging up your favorite plants or tearing out your sod.

Teach Your Dog Obedience

Take your dog to an obedience class so it understands basic commands, such as sit, stay, and down. Larger dogs, especially, make better gardening partners if they know how to hang out without causing trouble or getting in the way.

Latch Your Gates

To keep your dog from getting out of your yard, make sure your garden gates have strong latches. A gate lock will prevent delivery people or neighborhood children from leaving it open.

Here's a Hint: Make sure your dog always wears a collar with ID tags, and have it microchipped as soon as possible. That way, if he or she gets loose, your chances of recovery will be greater.

Use a Fence

When all else fails, protect your beds and borders with a low fence. Here, a low picket fence was all that was required to keep this bouncy bruiser at bay. You'll be surprised at how even the most meager fence can be a visual barrier for your dog.

Here's a Hint: Check your fence once a month to be sure your pet hasn't dug an escape route or gnawed a hole through a hidden corner.

• See a number of cool fence ideas here!

Try a Kennel

If your dog has to spend a lot of time by itself, build a kennel where he or she can remain safe during the day. Most kennels are chain-link, but you can create something more eye-catching with ornamental fencing. Cover the ground with gravel and be sure your dog has plenty of fresh water and shelter from the elements.

Use Your Deck

A large deck can be a great place for your dog to enjoy the outdoors when you can't watch him or her every minute. Install a sturdy railing and gate, making sure that your dog can't get its head stuck between the supports.

Here's a Hint: Give you dog plenty of chew toys to keep it occupied. This will also protect your deck from becoming a snack for your dog.

• See a number of great decks here!

Play with Your Dog

Dogs need physical and mental stimulation each day. So carve out time to give your dog a long walk or playtime each day. Active breeds like this Border collie can cause a lot of damage to your beds and borders if they're bored.

Here's a Hint: Walk your dog for 45 minutes every day to keep it fit and happy.

Include Your Dog

As you're gardening, provide your dog with an activity. This happy hound gets a tennis ball tossed throughout the day as the owner works in her greenhouse.

Keep Toys Handy

Keep a stash of dog toys in your garden. These can be special toys your dog only gets to play with while he or she is with you in the garden. Here, a lucky golden retriever has a personal selection of colored balls.

Provide Water

Dogs get hot easily, so always be sure to have a source of fresh water available in the garden. This Cavalier King Charles spaniel quenches its thirst from a handmade dog bowl that doubles as a piece of garden art.

Give Them Shelter

Even though your dog lives in the house, it will appreciate having its own retreat outdoors during stormy weather. And remember that doghouses don't have to be eyesores. Design one to match your home, so it fits in with your landscape.

Pave Pathways

Keep feet and paws dry by paving your garden paths with brick or gravel. Most dogs will quickly learn to stay on the paths, which prevents your lawn and garden soil from being packed down.

Here's a Hint: Mulched paths work well, too, but avoid using cocoa bean hulls as they can make your dog sick.

• Don't miss these garden path ideas!

Grow Barrier Plants

Even the most rambunctious dog will avoid garden beds planted with tall, fragrant, or thorny plants. Barberries, roses, euphorbia, Joe Pye weed, and bamboo are just a few rugged, yet beautiful plants dogs prefer to walk around rather than through.

• Don't miss these tall perennials!

Try Container Gardening

If all else fails, plant your favorite flowers and vegetables in containers. Most plants do well in large pots or planters, and they'll be less likely to be trampled by pounding paws. Here, a beautiful assortment of summer bulbs bloom in safety from the owner's sheltie.

• Check out our container gardening guide!

Know Your Breed

Dogs have strong natural instincts you should be aware of before you turn them loose in your backyard. Terriers, such as this Airedale, love to dig and if left unattended, can eventually turn your garden upside down. Be sure to give them lots of exercise and toys to chew on to keep excavation to a minimum.

Care for the Elderly

As dogs age, their hearing or sight may decline, or they may have difficulty getting around. If you have an older dog, be willing to help it up and down steps and be alert to prevent accidental falls into swimming pools or wandering behind cars. This older basset hound occasionally requires a lift up the garden steps.

Here's a Hint: Elderly dogs can suffer when temperatures soar. If your older dog is with you in the garden, be sure to provide a shady place for it to relax.

Include Your Dog

Dogs are pack animals and don't enjoy being kept in another part of your house or yard when visitors arrive. So make sure your dog is well trained and invited to all family functions. This little West Highland white terrier waits patiently for the festivities to begin.

Here's a Hint: Never feed your dog from the table. It will encourage begging, which can be annoying.

Introduce Children

Dogs and kids are a great combination, but if your dog isn't used to being around children it could become fearful. So find some kids in your neighborhood or at the dog park and let your dog spend some time with them. Socialize your dog as much as possible so it maintains good manners around any visitor, young or old.

Have Fun

And finally, enjoy your dog and don't get too upset when pots are knocked over, or a plant killed. Remember, plants grow back, but your relationship with your dog can be a lot more rewarding. In this garden, for example, the owners allow their Jack Russell terrier to dive into their water garden in an attempt to catch koi. The koi aren't bothered, the dog enjoys herself, and the owners get to laugh at her antics.