Tips for making your backyard dog-friendly

​Spring is the season of transformation, revitalizing and refreshing. It is a time when everyone cleans away the winter to start a fresh new season of warmth and sunshine. De-cluttering and reorganising are often on people’s minds when they think about spring, as is cleaning the backyard.
 
If you have a dog, the backyard will play a big part in its life in the coming seasons, so you want to be sure that it is a haven that your furry loved one will thoroughly enjoy. There are many ways to liven up your backyard for your pet. Here are the top tips for making your backyard dog-friendly.
 
Keeping your dog Safe
Safety should be the first priority for your dog, making your backyard its safe haven. A fence is the best way to do this. It needs to be sturdy and tall enough that your dog can’t jump over it. Dogs love to dig. So your fence should also be set into the ground so that your furry family member can’t dig its way out.
 
Keeping your dog cool
A cooling station is a fantastic way to keep your dog cool in the heat. This could be a water feature in your garden, like a waterfall or a pond, or you can actually get a pool for your dog. If none of these options are possible, you should, at the very least, always have fresh drinking water in the yard.
 
Create some shade
Trees are the obvious choice this, but if your yard doesn’t have a tree it is an expensive proposition. Another idea for creating some shade in your backyard for your dog is by using overhead tarps or shade cloths. You can also buy or build a dog house. This will not only protect your fluff from the sun, but also from the wind and the rain.
 
Create play areas
Dogs love to play, and without having things to keep them occupied they can get bored. It is easy to create play areas in your yard to make it more dog-friendly. A sandbox is a favourite amongst many, especially if your dog loves to dig. As well, depending on what type of sand you use, it is a way to keep your dog cool. You can also build obstacle courses using things like old car tires, PVC pipes, scrap wood and old garbage cans.
 
Get rid of toxins
There are a few plants and flowers that are toxic to dogs, including azaleas, lilies, daffodils and mums. You want to make sure that none of these are in your backyard to ensure that it is safe for your beloved dog. You should also make sure that any landscaping or gardening that you may do is done using toxic-free materials. You can read more about toxic materials that are harmful to your dog here.
 
Make peep windows
Your curious dog will want to be able to see beyond the fence at the world outside. Build windows in the fence so that your dog can peep out or craft one yourself out of chicken wire. If you have a wire fence, then this is, of course unnecessary. But for those of you with a wooden fence, windows will make your dog extra happy.