How to Turn Your Garden Into a Pooch Paradise
There’s nothing a dog loves more than being outside. Well, except maybe licking leftover food off your fingers. Or scaring away the postman. But it’s certainly up there.
It shouldn’t come as any surprise. Dogs are naturally outdoor animals. There’s nothing that will get their tails wagging quicker than the great outdoors. Their instincts are constantly telling them to explore, which can make being cooped up in the house all day quite frustrating for your pet pal.
Think about how excited they get when the time comes to take them for a walk. The mere sound of their lead being picked up can cause an instant state of uncontrollable excitement. You daren’t even mention the word ‘walkies’ around them.
Of course, we all lead busy lives. We can’t be expected to spend every waking moment letting our dogs roam around in fields.
That’s where your backyard comes in. With a little investment, you can turn your garden into a doggy paradise. Trust us, there’s no easier way to earn the gratitude of your pet than giving them their own space to explore.
Of course, the dog’s life isn’t all action. Sometimes they just need to unwind like the rest of us. It’s hard work rolling around all day, didn’t you know? Ideally, they’d love to spend their down time relaxing under the sun, too.
Here are a couple of ideas for kitting out your garden with everything your dog will need to enjoy life on the outside.
Outdoor Bedroom It may seem a little odd to give your dog its own bedroom, but it’s not as drastic as it sounds. By kitting out a corner of your garden, you can give them their own living space to chill out happily in.
After all, you’d love to spend the summer afternoons lounging on a hammock with a cocktail in hand, wouldn’t you?
Your dog will love its own space just as much, and there’s only a few things you’ll need to keep him happy. First, some shelter is a good idea. If the sun is beating down a little too heavily, they need somewhere to cool off. Just like humans, dogs can suffer the ill effects of too much sun.
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It doesn’t need to be anything out of the ordinary. If you already have trees planted in your garden, this could be the ideal place to situate your dog’s living quarters. They could take refuge from the sun under the trees.
Otherwise, there are other options, such as a wooden dog house. Try to keep it open plan if you opt for this, as no dog likes to be cooped up with no means of escape.
You also need a comfortable outdoor bed for them to sleep on. It’s a little bit different to buying a bed for inside, as it’ll need to be weather resistant. The last thing you want is to pay out for a quality bed and have it ruined in the rain. Pets Get The Best has a wide range of weatherproof bedding for dogs.
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Water Features Dogs love water. They love drinking it. They love swimming in it. There isn’t a more satisfying way for them to cool off on a warm day.
If you haven’t already got one, digging out a pond in your back garden can fill your dog with joy. Though you’ll need to make sure it’s shallow enough for them to climb back out, and always supervise them.
You can get ponds installed in your garden fairly cheaply these days, and it doesn’t take much planning. Just making sure they have access to clean water and doing a basic risk assessment is all you need to get going.
Another option for the water-bound canine is to get a water feature installed. It gives them all the access they need to running water without any of the risks of a pond.
They’ll love running through the fountain or sprinklers. Just make sure they shake themselves dry BEFORE they come back in the house. That isn’t any fun for anybody.
You don’t even need to think of it as a luxury gift for your dog. You’ll find plenty of users for a sprinkler system yourself, such as to water the grass or your plants. And let’s be honest, the kids will love is just as much as the dog.
Plenty of Play Your dog loves to play. You know it all too well. How often have you been trying to unwind after a long day, only to have your pet vying for your attention? All too often, it becomes too difficult to concentrate on your favorite reality TV.
This is most likely because your dog isn’t getting enough exercise. When dogs aren’t tired, they’re restless. Their bodies are built for plenty of exercise.
In fact, if they aren’t sleeping, they’re looking for things to play with. If they haven’t got any other options, they’ll usually opt for the thing that gets them in trouble later on.
You can avoid this easily by having a designated place for them to play in your garden. As they’ve already got plenty of space outside, all you need to do is fill it with their favorite toys and they’ll do the rest. This is the best way to keep them out of trouble. Having an area in which they can bound around at will is enough for them to burn off all that pent up energy.
Keep It Safe It should go without saying, but your dog’s safety should be your utmost priority. Keeping their outside area free from any potential pitfalls is the most important thing you can do.
You know your pet better than anyone, and you know what kind of trouble they can get themselves into.
Is your dog a particularly keen climber? Make sure your garden is surrounded by taller fences than usual, at least high enough so they can’t jump over it. Does he have an insatiable appetite? Remove anything that might give him trouble if ingested.
All dogs love to be outside, so putting these tips to good practice will mean a healthier and happier dog.
