5 Ways to Create a Dog Friendly Yard

When we bought our house, one of the must have requirements was a backyard. Why? For Chuy of course! Learning how to create a dog friendly backyard was a must for our family. I love having a backyard where Chuy can run around, do his business, and hang out with us when we’re grilling or spending time by the pool.

In this post, I’m sharing 5 ways to create a dog friendly backyard for your dog and the entire family.

1. Select Dog Friendly Plants & Grasses Only

There are lots of plants that are poisonous to dogs. Select dog friendly plants and grasses to give you total peace of mind. Instead of planting flowers and plants all over, I prefer a backyard container garden. This way, all of your plants are in containers that can be easily moved or put away. You can see a list of my favorite dog friendly flowers and I recommend checking out the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic garden plants .

Bonus Tip:  Pesticides, weed killers, and certain types of mulch can be hazardous. Look for products that are pet safe.

2. A Secure Fence

The essential element of a dog friendly backyard is a secure fence. It drives me crazy when dogs are left to fend for themselves in the backyard all day. A lot of the stories I hear about dogs running away happen because of this!

We never leave Chuy in the backyard alone. Even when I let him out to do his business, I go outside with him or watch from the patio door if it’s too hot or cold. Chuy is a Chihuahua so I’m paranoid about a massive Hawk swooping down and picking him up.

This dog fence window is such a cool idea!

3. Keep the Grass Cut

Tall grass is a breeding ground for insects and slithering creatures. For a small dog, this is super important. If our grass is too tall, Chuy looks like a Lion walking through the Savannah. Keep the grass cut to prevent fleas and ticks from hopping on your dog. Even with cut grass, it can happen so make sure to check your dog before going indoors.

4. Dump Standing Water

The summer heat and standing water are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Not only are they annoying and leave you itchy, they also can transmit heartworms to your dog. Make sure you don’t have areas outside that can easily pool with water. If you do, make sure to dump the water on a regular basis.

TIP: Is your dog on a monthly heartworm preventive? If not, talk to your vet about starting one ASAP!

5. Cut Down on the Clutter

The more clutter you have in the backyard, the more opportunities there are for other creatures to set up shop. READ: Snakes. Eliminate piles of wood, old toys, leaves, etc. Plus, these things could be a safety hazard to your dog.

Do you have any dog friendly backyard tips that we didn’t share? Let us know in the comments.

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-Aimee & Chuy