Dog friendly: tips for creating a garden you and your pet will love

Sunset, March, 2005 by Sharon Cohoon

Get a dog and--doggone it--there goes the garden. That's what many homeowners conclude, but it doesn't have to be that way, insists Bud Stuckey, Sunset's test garden coordinator. Stuckey speaks from experience: He and his wife, Maxine McClellan, have been breeding champion American cocker spaniels for 14 years. His home garden in Felton, California, provides a safe, comfortable environment for the dogs as well as an attractive space for plants and people.

The best way to accomplish both goals is to design your garden to meet your dog's needs, Stuckey advises. That way, Fido will be able to romp and race without injuring himself or trampling your flowers--well, most of the time, anyway. Owning a dog also means giving up perfectionism and learning forgiveness, says Stuckey.

Step one in creating a "dogscape" is learning to think like a canine: If you were a dog, what would you want? Spaniels, terriers, retrievers--each breed has a different personality. Stuckey says. "The better you can accommodate its particular traits, the happier your dog," he explains. "And the happier your dog, the better your chance of maintaining a garden you'll both enjoy."

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Several dog-oriented features that Stuckey has incorporated into his garden are shown at right. We also queried Sunset readers, and hundreds of them shared their tips for canine-friendly landscapes, including the ones illustrated on pages 50 and 51. In addition, we consulted veterinarians and other dog-care experts; their recommendations are reflected on these pages.

Paths to run and patrol

Dogs need exercise; paths give them a designated space to do it as well as a venue to perform their perceived job--to patrol your property line and keep out intruders. Readers suggested sacrificing a few feet along the fence for a perimeter path to simultaneously satisfy both needs. If your dogs have already created their own paths through the garden, don't try to redirect them. Instead, turn their well-worn routes into proper pathways.

A 3-foot-wide clearance is sufficient for most canines. Plant a screen to hide this dog run if you like; pets seem to like having their own "secret garden." If you have a Houdini and need to keep your escape artist from tunneling under the fence, you may need to install an underground barrier made of rebar, chicken wire, or poured concrete.

Shade and shelter

Like humans, dogs enjoy basking in the sun. So by all means, give them a deck or a patch of lawn for sunbathing. But remember that dogs can overheat easily, so it's even more important to provide them with cooling retreats. They'll happily share arbors, pergolas, and other shade structures with their owners. But most dogs seem to appreciate having a shelter of their own, such as a doghouse.

A place to answer nature's call

Your dog needs a spot to relieve himself, but it doesn't have to be your lawn or flower bed. Set aside a corner of your yard as a toilet area, and train your pet to eliminate there and nowhere else. This learning process may take a puppy about three weeks and an adult dog longer. Consult a dog-training manual for instructions.

Cover the designated area with material Fido will accept and that you can clean easily. Flagstone, pea gravel, bricks, and cedar chips are all good choices. If you have a male dog, consider adding a marking post so he can define his territory (Stuckey set up a driftwood stump).

Plant densely and wisely

If you plant landscaped areas densely, dogs will stay out, our readers say. Still, most dog owners recommend additional precautions: Plant in raised beds or on mounds, and start with 1-gallon or larger plants. Put up temporary fencing around newly landscaped areas; when you remove it, add a rock border or low fencing as a reminder to stay out.

Plant romp-proof shrubs and perennials like ornamental grasses around the edge of the garden. Put brittle plants like salvias in the center, where they'll be protected.

Pet-safe landscaping

Avoid thorny and spiny plants, which can cause serious eye injuries. Be very cautious about growing poisonous plants, like castor bean or hellebore, in readily accessible areas. Visit www.aspca.org/toxicplants for a complete list.

Many wild mushrooms produce aflatoxins, which can be fatal if ingested by dogs; if mushrooms appear, dig and dispose of them immediately. Your compost pile should be off-limits for the same reason. Weeds can be dangerous, especially foxtail grasses with barbed seed heads, which dogs can accidentally inhale with serious consequences.

For more information and experts' answers to reader questions, visit our website (www.sunset.com).

RELATED ARTICLE: Elements of a dog-friendly garden

Gentle hardscape

Smooth flagstones set in pebbles form a dry creek bed dogs can comfortably tread.

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Border control

Pieces of driftwood persuade dogs to stay away from planted areas.

Comfy mulch

Small cedar chips are easy on paws yet large enough so they won't cling to silky coats.

Marking post

A sculptural piece of driftwood gives Toby, a male cocker spaniel, a suitable spot to mark his territory.