How to Make Your Denver Landscaping Puppy Friendly
December 18, 2019
The holidays are a time of gift-giving. For many families, the best gift they receive is a new puppy and with more than 6.5 million pets entering shelters every year, the holidays are the perfect time to adopt a new dog to be your best friend. But once you bring them home, you’re faced with a challenge you probably aren’t ready for: puppy-proofing your yard and landscaping. Here are a few simple tips to help you avoid emergency calls to your Denver landscaper after your four-legged friend starts romping around your yard.
Fence Off Garden Beds
It should come as no surprise that dogs LOVE to dig. Unfortunately, they often dig right where you don’t want them to. If you have garden beds in your yard, consider fencing them off, especially while your dog is learning the rules around your home. The fence can even be decorative and add to the appeal of your landscaping. You just have to get a little creative.
Make Sure You Have Puppy-Safe Plants
Unfortunately, some plants are toxic to dogs. This means you’ll want to review the plants you have in your landscaping to make sure they’re safe for your puppy. Avoid flowers like irises, dahlias, begonias, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums in areas where puppies can access.
Grass, herbs like sage and cilantro, and sunflowers are all easy to grow in Colorado and will add color to your yard without putting your pup in danger. Keep in mind that you’ll still want to discourage them from eating plants whenever possible, but these options shouldn’t make your pup sick.
Create Shade
Dogs love lying in the sun, but they’ll also need a safe place to cool off when the temperatures rise. Consider planting some new trees to add shade in your yard or construct a patio or doghouse where they can hide out from the sun if they get too hot. No matter what the weather is like, make sure you give them access to plenty of fresh, clean water anytime they’re outside. Dogs, like humans, need to stay hydrated at all times.
Bury Your Irrigation System
Irrigation tubing looks like a tempting chew toy to even the most well-behaved dogs. This means you’ll want to bury those lines whenever possible. If you can’t, consider upgrading to a new automatic sprinkler system or switch to hand-watering while your dog gets over their chewing phase. You can also try to distract them with plenty of toys and dog-parent-approved chews to further deter them. If all else fails, cover the tubing in bitter apple spray or tobacco sauce and reapply as needed.
Getting a puppy is exciting, whether they’re a few months or a few years old. Just make sure your yard can handle your new furbaby before you bring them home. Use these tips to help you get started and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a little extra help revamping your landscaping. At Wild Irishman, we’re here for you whether you’re puppy-proofing your yard for the first time or the fifth.
Go Back Fence Off Garden Beds
It should come as no surprise that dogs LOVE to dig. Unfortunately, they often dig right where you don’t want them to. If you have garden beds in your yard, consider fencing them off, especially while your dog is learning the rules around your home. The fence can even be decorative and add to the appeal of your landscaping. You just have to get a little creative.
Make Sure You Have Puppy-Safe Plants
Unfortunately, some plants are toxic to dogs. This means you’ll want to review the plants you have in your landscaping to make sure they’re safe for your puppy. Avoid flowers like irises, dahlias, begonias, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums in areas where puppies can access.
Grass, herbs like sage and cilantro, and sunflowers are all easy to grow in Colorado and will add color to your yard without putting your pup in danger. Keep in mind that you’ll still want to discourage them from eating plants whenever possible, but these options shouldn’t make your pup sick.
Create Shade
Dogs love lying in the sun, but they’ll also need a safe place to cool off when the temperatures rise. Consider planting some new trees to add shade in your yard or construct a patio or doghouse where they can hide out from the sun if they get too hot. No matter what the weather is like, make sure you give them access to plenty of fresh, clean water anytime they’re outside. Dogs, like humans, need to stay hydrated at all times.
Bury Your Irrigation System
Irrigation tubing looks like a tempting chew toy to even the most well-behaved dogs. This means you’ll want to bury those lines whenever possible. If you can’t, consider upgrading to a new automatic sprinkler system or switch to hand-watering while your dog gets over their chewing phase. You can also try to distract them with plenty of toys and dog-parent-approved chews to further deter them. If all else fails, cover the tubing in bitter apple spray or tobacco sauce and reapply as needed.
Getting a puppy is exciting, whether they’re a few months or a few years old. Just make sure your yard can handle your new furbaby before you bring them home. Use these tips to help you get started and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a little extra help revamping your landscaping. At Wild Irishman, we’re here for you whether you’re puppy-proofing your yard for the first time or the fifth.