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You can have a dog and a nice yard

Plan around your pet's proclivities

By Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

published 06/22/2009 | View all articles from this day

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Summer is the time when we enjoy our yards the most — or would, if our dogs hadn’t pulled up the shrubs, sat on the flowers, dug holes in the lawn and left yellow spots everywhere.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. While it takes planning, work and dog-savvy, you can have a dog and a nice yard. You can’t just plant whatever you want wherever you want and then throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Here are the basic guidelines:

• Exercise your dog. Dogs who don’t get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure boredom doing things people don’t like — digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. A dog with too much energy isn’t one you want to leave alone all day — and yet that’s exactly what many people do. If you don’t take care of your dog’s exercise requirements, he’s going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard. (Leaving him inside just shifts the destruction — although it will keep him from bothering your neighbors with his barking.)

When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys. You can make them more appealing by praising him for using them and by stuffing hollow toys — such as a Kong — with something delicious, like peanut butter.

• Work with your dog’s habits when planning plantings. Observe how your dog uses your yard, and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Instead of fighting with your dog, go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line, and let him do his guard-dog patrolling behind those plants.

• Flush pee spots with water. After your dog relieves himself, flush the spot thoroughly with fresh water. This will dilute the urine and help to prevent the yellow spots in the lawn.

• Redirect digging. Some breeds were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. Give your dog a dig zone. While hardly clean fun, it is good fun, especially for dogs who are happiest with their noses in the dirt and their paws flying. In areas you want untouched, you can keep many dogs from digging if you keep them exercised, limit their access to dirt, and make the digging experience unpleasant. Sometimes, putting the dog’s own stools in the hole and covering them with dirt deters them. Many dogs won’t dig if their own mess is under the surface.

• Put special plants in safer places. Raised beds and hanging planters are the place to put your most precious plants. In borders, put the plants that can take being stepped on in front. What are some dog-friendly plants? Mint is a good one. This plant is nearly indestructible and greets each assault with a wave of cool mint smell. Some lilies are tough enough to be stomped or sat on, as well, and your gardening center may have suggestions for others that are dependable growers in your region.

Dogs don’t know a wisteria from a weed, and they never will. That’s why it’s up to you not to leave them unattended around plants you want left alone. When you leave for work, limit your dog’s space for his safety and to protect your plants. Most of a dog’s time alone is spent sleeping anyway, so he doesn’t need to have the entire run of the house and yard. Outings — for jogging, walking, fetch or swimming — should be done with your supervision.

If your dog is allowed in your yard under your supervision only, the chance of his digging or chewing is just about nil — you can stop him before the damage is done. And you can enjoy your beautiful yard together.