Full Answer
Is it OK for my dog to eat grass?
If your dog is eating grass, be it in the backyard, in the park, or along the sidewalk, always make sure that it is not treated grass. Any toxic pesticides sprayed on grass will make their way into your dog’s body, and that’s not a good thing!
Can I keep my dog off my new lawn?
Planting grass seed is the perfect time to take your dog to the park instead of playing in the backyard! Let the grass get established so it can be strong enough to withstand dog paws. If you can’t keep your dog off your lawn for weeks at a time, consider planting the new lawn in sections.
What is the best lawn care for dogs?
While there are quite a few factors in effective lawn care, there are two key aspects for dog lovers: Plant tough varieties, like mixes of Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass in cooler climates and Zoysia Grass, Bermuda Grass, and Bahia Grass in warmer zones.
Can I plant grass seed with dogs in the House?
Planting grass seed with dogs in the household does require special attention, as your pooch is unlikely to read your well-meaning “Keep Off Grass” signs. Keep the dog off of the lawn completely for at least six weeks after the date of initial seed germination. Provide an alternate patch of potty grass while the outdoor grass gets established.
Azaleas
Azalea (or rhododendron) is extremely toxic to pets, causing problems that include damage to skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle and nerve functions. W...
Oleander
Oleander plants that thrive on the Texas coast. Every part of these flowering plants is toxic to dogs and other animals. Troubles including difficu...
Lilies
All parts of the lily are toxic, but the bulbs are especially so. Watch for low blood pressure, tremors and cardiac arrhythmia if ingested. Lilies...
Daffodils
The bulbs are the most toxic part of this plant. Eating daffodil bulbs can result in cardiac arrhythmia, tremors, convulsions, and low blood pressure
Sago Palms
Ingestion of a single seed can be fatal. The toxins in sago palms attack the dog’s liver. Refusal to eat, drooling, diarrhea and vomiting are the f...
Black Walnuts
A walnut that falls off the counter probably won’t hurt your dog, but if she eats moldy black walnut hulls that have been sitting in the yard, it c...
Dumb Cane
As the name suggests, the greatest risk of injury from ingesting dumb cane is pain and inflammation of the lips, mouth, and throat. Symptoms start...
Elephant Ears
Though they’re common as houseplants, elephant ears are toxic to dogs. Ingestion can cause skin pain, itching, and redness, but the most dangerous...
What is a dog friendly backyard?
A dog-friendly backyard is a place your pup can play, run, sniff, chase, and, well, be a dog.
What is the best ground cover for dogs?
Pea Gravel. Pea Gravel is another dog-friendly ground cover option. The smooth stones will be gentle on your dog’s paws. As a bonus, gravel is usually an inexpensive ground cover material. That said, if your yard does not have adequate shade, gravel can heat up in the sun and burn your dog’s paws. For larger dogs, small gravel can get stuck between ...
Why do dogs pee in the yard?
Dog urine spots in the backyard are a common complaint of many homeowners. The nitrogen content and pH of dog pee are the culprits for those unsightly dead spots in your lawn.
What is a dog run?
A dog run is an ideal spot for your dog to burn off her energy, play, and relieve herself without you having to worry about what she’ll do to the rest of the yard. With a dog run, waste is contained in just one spot, and brown urine marks are a thing of the past.
Why do dogs need a pool in Texas?
The Texas sun can be hot and unrelenting, so a small pool will help your dog stay hydrated, provide entertainment, and add a unique element to your dog-friendly backyard design.
What is the most popular ground cover for a lawn?
The most popular ground cover for any lawn is grass. It’s cool, looks appealing, and is (relatively) easy to care for. However, there is much more variation in the durability, growth pattern, and dog-friendliness among grasses than most homeowners realize.
Is natural grass dog proof?
No natural grass is 100% dog-proof, and digging and urine spots are inevitable. As a dog owner, if you’re committed to keeping a natural grass lawn, you should dial down your expectations and consider one of the following dog-friendly, natural grass options.
How to make a landscape for dogs?
When planning a dog-friendly landscape, strike a balance between your needs and your dog's. For example, if you want to grow vegetables, use raised beds to discourage your dog from trouncing or relieving itself on the plants. Paths provide walkways for humans and dogs that like to explore their surroundings. Designate a particular area of your yard as a doggy toilet and consider hiding it with a small fence or bushes. Place something for male dogs to hike their legs on, such as a hardy bush, a washable statue or even a large piece of driftwood stuck in the ground. And finally, no dog-friendly landscape is complete without a fence to keep your dog safe.
How to keep dogs from digging under fence?
For dogs that tend to dig to escape, line under the fence with flagstone or bricks. Be sure to provide shady areas for outdoor dogs to stay cool, as well as a shelter from extreme weather. For indoor dogs, plan a clean landscape that won't require constantly wiping muddy feet or picking off leaves and debris.
How to keep dogs from going to the toilet?
And finally, no dog-friendly landscape is complete without a fence to keep your dog safe.
What to do if your dog digs?
If your dog likes to dig, provide an area filled with sand and bury toys for it to find. If your dog is an escape artist, consider a high wood fence, which provides not only good security for your dog but privacy for you. For dogs that tend to dig to escape, line under the fence with flagstone or bricks.
What type of pavers are best for dogs?
Flagstone, brick and stone or sand pavers are soft, yet durable and create flat areas for your dog to run, play and explore. Hard sands, soft pebbles and decomposed granite are easy on a dog's pads and make aesthetically pleasing paths.
Why does my dog lick my paws?
Dog urine is high in nitrogen and can burn your lawn, leaving the landscape dotted with brown spots. In addition, many dogs have allergies to grass and may endlessly lick their paws after exposure. Most dogs are perfectly happy relieving themselves on substances other than grass as long the surface does not cause pain to their sensitive pads.
Can dogs eat cocoa mulch?
Avoid sticky and thorny plants and sharp stones. Do not use cocoa mulch because it is toxic to dogs. When deciding what to plant, check out the ASPCA's database for toxic and nontoxic plants. If you have a pool, make sure it's fenced off and has graduated steps that make it easier for a dog to escape.
How to keep dogs away from grass?
Lawns that are relatively flat are much easier to maintain than lawns with steep slopes (particularly with paw-traffic around). Grow long blades and deep roots. The healthiest grass plants have long blades and deep roots. These grass plants are the most dog-friendly.
How to keep dogs off your lawn?
Let the grass get established so it can be strong enough to withstand dog paws. If you can’t keep your dog off your lawn for weeks at a time, consider planting the new lawn in sections. Let your dog play on an existing area while you work on getting a separate area established completely.
Why is my dog's grass brown?
If you are dealing with brown spots of dead grass, don’t panic – it’s a natural part of growing grass with dogs. It’s easy to fix, and more often than not, it’ll take care of itself in time. These spots of dead grass can be caused by the high nitrogen concentration in canine urine (NOT pH). You can observe the same phenomenon in lawns that have been subjected to over-fertilization with nitrogen lawn fertilizers.
What is the best grass seed for Southern lawns?
Plant tough varieties. Don’t cheap out on generic grass seed mixes, plugs, or sod. Invest in high-quality, tough grass seed that will produce strong, resistant turf grass plants. In temperate-climate states, options like Tall Fescue, Perennial Ryegrass, and Kentucky Bluegrass (or a mix of these varieties) are good choices. For Southern lawns, Zoysia Grass, Bermuda Grass, and Bahia Grass are top picks for the best types of turf for dogs.
What is dog hardy grass?
This dog-hardy turf was grown from a mixture of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass seeds. These are tough types of grass used in professional sports fields instead of ornamental show lawns.
What is the best grass pad for dogs?
Some of the best dog grass pads are grown by DoggieLawn and by Fresh Patch. Use a pet-safe lawn fertilizer like Scott’s Natural Lawn Food or Kellogg’s Organic Lawn Food rather than a concentrated conventional lawn grass fertilizer. Read on to learn more about how to create and care for a healthy lawn for you and your dogs.
What to do if your dog has brown spots?
If you are dealing with brown spots because of urine, consider training your pets to go to the bathroom in a certain designated area. Doggy potty training is no walk in the park, but you’ll be eager to show off your pup’s new potty skills once they’ve learned to put their pee in a certain spot! Plus, your pooch will be so happy they’re making you proud with their pee placement skills.
What is the problem with grass when it's a dog?
Installing a tougher type of grass will solve only one lawn-care problem encountered in landscaping with dogs: namely, wear and tear on grass. It will do nothing to solve the problem posed by canine urine. Sometimes called "dog spots" or "puppy spots," these are the unsightly yellow stains or "burns" on grass caused by the nitrogen and salts in dog urine.
Which grass is tougher for dogs?
Some grasses hold up better to foot traffic, paw traffic, and various other forms of abuse. Among the warm-season grasses, Bermuda grass is among the toughest. If you need a cool-season grass for landscaping with dogs, try tall fescue grass.
How to stop dog from peeing on grass?
If you can't bring yourself to renounce the fragile type of grass that your pup is currently inflicting damage upon, you can still prevent urine spots with vigilance. When you see a dog urinating on the grass, rush to the garden hose. Turn it on and bring it over to the area where your dog has just urinated.
How to keep dog urine from reaching tree roots?
Wire Cages. Place wire cages around trees and shrubs to prevent dog urine from reaching their trunks and roots and damaging them. That way, dogs can go about their business, and you can relax knowing that your dog's urine won't be killing your favorite plants. Wire cages are fairly simple to build:
How to keep dogs away from plants?
One way to keep dogs away from the delicate plants in your yard is by building fences around them. Fenced-in gardens have a charm all their own, enjoying something of a courtyard feel. Wooden picket fences can be especially attractive, as can wooden lattice fences.
Can dogs grow in a fence?
If a fence surrounds your property, do not try to grow any plants in the area immediately adjacent to the fence. Dogs are territorial, and their favorite walkway in a fenced-in yard will be right along the fence, resulting in unsightly "dog paths."
Can you put crushed stone mulch on plants?
Make liberal use of crushed stone mulch. If you grow plants in such mulch in a sunny area, select drought-resistant plants, since stone gets hot in the summer. Do not place the stone mulch directly up against the plants.
