You can live with a dog and be a happy gardener, too. It just takes knowledge and planning. Dog parents can build and maintain gardens that bring both themselves and their canine companions pleasure, fun, and a sense of inner peace and tranquility. Adjust options and advice discussed below, depending on the way you and your companion will use your garden or yard.
Observe and Plan Accordingly
Observation and study will suggest to you what designs and plant selections are likely to work for both of you. But while your dog can show you what she needs and prefers, the responsibility for interpretations and execution is in your hands.
Whether you’re designing a new garden or making adjustments to an established yard, understand the extent to which your dog will use the space. Know your dog. Breeds will differ in their propensities, and specific dogs of a specific breed will differ as well. While all dogs share commonalities of behavior, some are more likely to patrol a fence and others are more likely to dig. For your dog and you to enjoy the garden or yard, it should be a fun place for both of you.
You can train your dog to practice garden-friendly behaviors, but you may want to structure your garden to encourage those behaviors. For example, you may decide to fence off a portion of a larger space for delicate plantings or you may decide to prevent damage through other design elements that won’t diminish your companion’s pleasure. For instance, you might create protected areas with hedges or even dense plantings of woody shrubs or sturdy perennials to discourage browsing. Some textures – such as pieces of pine cone (or whole cones) in mulch, large wood chips, some gravels, or rocks — create an unpleasant walking surface that may deter dogs. Some gravels and rocks may also be especially good at discouraging digging as well as lounging. Depending on your dog, any of these may be hazardous. All will define a break between areas, which may help with training. Bare spots left devoid of mulch or plantings will attract your dog’s attention as well as weeds. Consider planting some raised beds. Dogs usually perceive them as walls and they will elevate delicate plantings out of harm’s way. Container gardening is also a flexible option.
A dog’s sense of smell is profoundly better than ours; but there is no definitive research on the smells emanating from garden plants that reliably deter dogs. Some natural smells that have been long held to deter dogs are garlic and onion, but both plants are toxic to dogs. Some suggest vinegar, but do not apply it to plants. Citrus smells – oranges, lemons, and limes – may help, and the scent of cayenne pepper is often mentioned. Cayenne pepper can be harmful if swallowed and is a general irritant. With little, if any, scientific confirmation, the “Scaredy Cat” plant or Coleus canina, with its skunk smell, is widely touted for repellent qualities. On the other hand, some plants may be a sensory delight for your companion, these include violet, fennel, rosemary, peppermint, lemon thyme, catnip, and sage. Embrace this and create a separate garden of dog-safe edibles. A diversity of walking (or running) surfaces, here and elsewhere, will add interest.
Not Everything is Good to Eat
Considerations of plant toxicity — as well as resilience to your dog’s curiosity and even appetite — should be important considerations in plant selection. Some plants are toxic to dogs, but some experts advise that many toxic plants generally do not taste good to them; most dogs do not single out azaleas and rhododendrons for a snack. Both are poisonous. Of course, generally the amount of a toxic plant consumed is important. In addition to observing your dog’s daily behavior, examining feces is often a good way to become alert to problems. Symptoms caused by the ingestion of toxic plant material might include vomiting, convulsions, drooling, diarrhea, extreme salivation, lethargy, decreased appetite, lack of coordination, a racing heart, shivering, and nausea or dry heaving. When in doubt, immediately consult your veterinarian. While these symptoms may never afflict your canine companion, it is critical to be aware of the unfortunate possibility.
Lists of plants toxic to dogs, and other animals, are readily available online and in some of the sources listed at the end of this article. Natural plant toxicity is not the only threat to dogs. Plants with thorns can hurt paw pads and scratch eyes. Seeds from decorative grasses can endanger eyes and ears. Even if gardens and plants are safe, we can make them dangerous with fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides. Instead of these harmful chemicals, encourage the presence of beneficial insects, which some pesticides agents will kill, along with the intended victims. Read directions carefully and limit use and – better yet – fertilize with fish fertilizer, and use strong sprays of water and horticultural oil to control aphids and spider mites. Finally, do not use slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde.
Levels of toxicity vary widely by plant and, as noted, sometimes large quantities must be eaten to cause harm. For this and other information, consult the encyclopedic American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Poisonous Plants: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List [dogs, cats, horses] as well as the American Kennel Club, Poisonous Plants for Dogs: A Full List and Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat.
The examples that follow are offered only to spark your curiosity. Levels of toxicity as well as toxicity associated with plant structures or parts are not given. Note that bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers can be especially dangerous. Regarding the examples that follow and others, check and double-check each selection you make in the above sources. Among common non-toxic plants are abelia, daylily, tiger lily, Easter lily, marigold, petunia, zinnia, and sunflower. Among common toxic plants are autumn crocus, begonia, boxwood, bluebell, chrysanthemum, daffodil, daisy, granny’s bonnet (Aquilegia vulgaris), hyacinth, hibiscus, hydrangea, foxglove, geranium, iris, oleander, peony, rose of Sharon, spring crocus bulbs, and tulip. Toxic shrubs and trees include American holly, English holly, Japanese holly and Chinese holly, chinaberry, ficus, avocado, and yew. The Piedmont’s ubiquitous crepe myrtle and dogwood are not toxic. Some sources have reported the latter’s berries as harmful to dogs, with the ingestion of large amounts causing vomiting and diarrhea. It is common for dogs to eat grass. Sometimes they do it out of boredom; in some cases, it may indicate a nutritional deficiency. Finally, even the ingestion of non-toxic plant material can result in stomach upset.
Fruits and Vegetables
If you plan to install or already have a vegetable garden, there are many non-toxic things to plant and many plants to avoid. For any garden, a fence is always the ultimate safety measure, short of exclusion. Defecation and urination in a garden in which human food is grown is a health risk. Toxic herbs and vegetables include chives, onions, chamomile, garlic, hops, leeks, oregano, some parsleys, and rhubarb. Among other toxic plants are cherries, grapes, and tomato leaves and stems and green tomatoes. Edibles include apple (remove seeds and core), peach (thoroughly remove the pit), pear (remove the pit), and pumpkin. The leaves of fruit trees present a danger because a chemical present at ingestion metabolizes into cyanide. Fallen leaves in the fall are most dangerous.
Considerations for a Shared Habitat
There are many things to consider for your shared habitat. Things that make you happy will make your dog happy as well, for instance: shade, water (for pleasure and hydration), and shelter from wind and rain. Paths can make travel across a large space efficient for canine and human alike; but a path that forces your dog to take an inefficient route to a favorite space may be ignored to whatever extent possible. However, for art’s sake, you can play with your dog’s navigation by building a snaking path that incorporates within its boundaries a straight line to her habitual destination. Further, consider that some path surfaces may become too hot in the height of summer.
Some mulch beds may present unanticipated danger. For instance, cocoa bean mulch might prove deadly if ingested in large quantity. It has an enticing rich chocolate scent but contains theobromine. Symptoms of poisoning are similar to those experienced from chocolate ingestion: vomiting and diarrhea and, in instances of significant consumption, muscle tremors and other signs of neurological distress. If your pal is an indiscriminate eater, consider another option. Cedar, cypress, and pine are good mulch choices. Some dogs may be sensitive to dyes and any mulch with sharp edges can be hazardous, especially if swallowed. Discourage mulch chewing.
Even the spacing of deck boards can be hazardous. Your dog’s name tag might become wedged between them, pinning her. Be sure deck material is safe. The space between railings can be hazardous, too.
Deep-water features can be deadly as well, if there is not a way for a dog to leave them. Also, discourage drinking from ponds. Something as simple as an ultra-safe kiddie play pool will provide your companion with hydration and seemingly limitless hours of fun. To that play pool, add some or all of the following: toys, a dig-pit, a den, a pad for sleep or rest, a run, a tunnel, and some snacks or even meals and you have a dog resort! Play and landscape features and structures for a dog, which may be purchased or built, can be portable for optimal positioning. Add your interaction as trainer and camp counselor, playmate, and masseur and everyone will have fun. Remember, if your dog is bored in the garden she may create a more interesting space on her own – and you may not approve! Dogs love to run, so be certain to allow space for fetching, sprinting, and endless and varied kinetic eruptions. Finally, don’t let “bugs” spoil the fun: fleas and ticks lurk in leaf litter and tall grasses, while mosquitoes breed in standing water. Rake, cut, and empty as appropriate.
Hide or Camouflage
In your design, you can use plants to hide things, from a fence to a trash bin. Vines, for instance, can turn a fence into a trellis and bushes can hide a path worn deep along a fence line by your dog’s patrolling. In some locations, creating a solid barrier will limit or eliminate external distractions. It will also afford more security. Hide your compost bin, but even more importantly, secure it. Ingestion of its contents can kill.
Dogs and Lawns
Some dog feces and urine can be a fertilizer, but concentrated amounts will burn your lawn. Nitrogen is the culprit. When your dog squats while eliminating, only a small area is targeted, but concentration – not volume — is the problem. Lawns that are highly-fertilized are especially vulnerable to nitrogen overdose. Female dogs are most likely to squat; but male dogs are most likely to spray. This can reduce the impact on your lawn,; but puts trees, shrubs, and other plants at risk. The greater the urine dilution, the less the potential lawn damage. While you will find advice on ways to dilute urine, the safest way is to increase the water in your dog’s food. The same principle applies when you see urination occur; heavily irrigate the area as soon as possible. Feces are not as destructive. The nitrogen is released slowly and the possibility for removal exists. Often the surrounding grass will close the spot; otherwise, sod or seed the affected area.
Be prepared for lawn damage by growing “replacement” turf. You might also grow grass or oats in a pot for your dog to nibble on. In fact, when considering salad for your pal, think of planting a garden for her comprised of some canine-safe edible herbs (mentioned previously): violet, fennel, rosemary, peppermint, catnip, lemon thyme, and sage.
Short of training your dog to eliminate on her walks (poop and pee responsibly and carry a poop bag), establish a comfortable and easily- cleaned elimination place, surfaced with rocks or safe mulch, and train and encourage her to use it. Appropriately sized pea gravel (small rounded, very smooth stones the size of a pea, available in sizes) can be a functional surface for toilet areas as well as for walks and dog runs. Based on the size of your dog, a pea gravel size should be selected which will not become wedged in paw pads. Note that pea gravel can become hot in the sun. For male dogs especially, include a pee post. To put the odds in your lawn’s favor, plant grass that is resistant to dog urine. Tall fescue is a good choice. For a deep dive into dog pee and your lawn, read Dr. Steve Thompson, DVM, “Dog-On-It” Lawn Problems.
It’s Up to You!
Gardens and yards can be places of joy and rejuvenation. They can be all this and more for you and your canine companion with a little planning. This article, and the sources listed below, invite you to learn about dog-friendly gardening. Be limited to neither; your dog is depending on you!
SOURCES
Books
Bush, Karen. Dog-friendly Gardening: Creating a Safe Haven for You and Your Dog. Hubble & Hattie, 2012.
Shelbourne, Toni and Karen Bush. Help! My Dog is Destroying the Garden: How to Have a Garden Friendly Dog. Copyright Toni Shelbourne and Karen Bush. Ebook. Available from Amazon 2017.
Barthel, Tom. Dogscaping: Creating the Perfect Backyard & Garden for You and Your Dog. BowTie Press, 2009.
Smith, Cheryl S. Dog Friendly Gardens: Garden Friendly Dogs. Dogwise Publishing, 2004.
Web Resources
American Kennel Club. Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat.
American Kennel Club. Poisonous Plants for Dogs: A Full List.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Poisonous Plants: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants List [dogs, cats, horses].
Colorado State University Extension. Dog Urine Damage on Lawns: Causes, Cures and Prevention. CMG GardenNotes #553.
Goatley, Mike, Jr. (Virginia Cooperative Extension). “What grass should I use for my lawn?” Crop and Soil Environment News (March 2008).
Michigan State University Extension. Growing Fruits and Vegetables for Your Dog.
Michigan State University Extension. Cocoa Mulch and Dogs.
The National Wildlife Federation. Create a Dog-Friendly Wildlife Garden.
Pennsylvania State University Extension. Petscaping: Creating a Pet-Friendly Garden.
Piedmont Master Gardeners. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Best Turf Grasses for Central Virginia.
PETMD. How to Keep Dog Pee from Ruining Your Lawn.
River Road Veterinary Clinic. Norwich, Vermont. Compost Toxicity in Dogs.
Thompson, Steve, DVM. “Dog-On-It” Lawn Problems.
University of Maryland Extension. Dog Urine Damage on Lawns.
Walther, Richard, DVM. What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat? A List of Good (& Bad) Veggies for Dogs.
