How to Turn Your Yard into a Pet Friendly Place

A pet-friendly garden showcasing pictures of a dog.

Pets are part of the family. They are just as entitled to enjoy the yard as anyone. In fact, they probably spend more time out there than you do. This is why it’s so important to create a pet-friendly environment in your outside space. That way every member of the family can be safe, and have fun, during long summer evenings spent outside.

Pets love spending time outside, so it makes sense to consider their needs. There are several things you need to consider when creating a pet friendly zone, according to WikiLawn. Here are some of the most important ones.

Make sure your pet is safe

The most important thing you need to do is make sure that your pet is safe at all times. This does not apply so much to cats, who tend to head off across the neighborhood, when they feel inclined. It does apply to pets that stay at home, such as dogs. If your pet is going to be running around in your yard, you need to make sure that the space is fenced off from the street. Alternatively, you can build a large run, so that your pet remains safe.

Two pet-friendly dogs sitting in a wooden dog house.
dog’s house

Allow your pet to get shade from the sun

Direct sunlight without protection is not good for you, and it’s not good for your pet either. Dogs can be prone to sunburn and heatstroke if you do not take action to protect them. The same applies to other animals. If you have trees in your yard, these are ideal for providing shade. You may also want to think about investing in a tarpaulin, or even an animal house. These last two solutions are ideal as they also provide a place to put fresh water for your pet, where it can remain cool.

Related:
7 Tips to Decrease Pet Anxiety When Moving HousesĀ 

Two pet dogs laying in a grassy area.

Think about the poisons in your yard

Ideally, you should opt for an organic yard as chemicals can be lethal to pets. They are also bad for the environment. The materials you use, in your garden can also be a problem. Check that wood, stone and mulch that you use are not toxic to animals. More surprisingly, the plants that you love can be toxic to your pets. Check which plants are dangerous for cats and dogs, before you plant out your yard.

Create a great play area

You are not always going to be able to entertain your pet yourself, so they need to be able to keep themselves entertained. If you have a large dog, they need a large area in which to run about. If you do not have enough space, you need to make sure that you take them out twice a day, to a local park or field. Include toys in the play space you create, to add to the fun and relieve boredom.

Creating a pet friendly yard is well worth while. It helps your pets to remain safe and healthy. We will leave you with this thought. Animals like dogs, and especially rabbits, dig. Make sure that they are not in danger of digging up your favorite plants, or even digging a tunnel into the yard next door.

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