It’s only normal that you love your pet and want to prevent any harm from coming to them. However, we cannot always keep our eye on them and that might lead to unfortunate incidents. To keep your furry (or not-so-furry) friends protected, you need to make sure space where they spend most of their time is safe and pet-friendly. Listed below are some tips on creating a garden that will be a real haven for your animal companions.
Consider the type of pet you have
The first thing you must take into account is the pet you have. It is important to design the space with them in mind. Dogs behave differently than cats, rabbits and tortoises, for example, and this is definitely something you shouldn’t neglect. All of them have specific needs and requirements. While dogs will roam around your backyard and guard the area around the fences, cats are more likely to climb and stray away.
Put up a fence
Once you understand the behavior of your pet, you will know what kind of fence you need to put up. If you have a smaller dog, the gap between the fence and the ground cannot be big enough so that they can squeeze through or dig their way out. On the other hand, you also need to think about the height of the fence, especially if your canine friend is a bit bigger.
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In case you have a cat, you are probably aware that you can’t keep it from wandering but you can consider building an enclosed cat run. If you own any smaller animals, such as rabbits or guinea pigs, you should ensure there are no small holes in your fence where they can get out.
Provide enough shade
You also have to think about providing your pets with plenty of shade. Dogs are especially sensitive to heat so you need to create a nice retreat where your animals can go on a hot day.
First of all, if you have a nice deciduous tree, you can plan this area around it. Then, you can build a dog house or put up some shade sails to always have a zone in the yard where the pets can go to avoid direct sunlight and cool off. Don’t forget to have a bowl of water there, as well, to ensure they stay hydrated.
Research the plants in your garden
Another thing you will have to do to ensure the safety of your beloved pet is to check the plants in your garden. In case you were not aware, there are certain types of plants that can be toxic for our animal friends, such as white snakeroot, azaleas, English ivy, daffodils, and lilies. Furthermore, also be aware of plants with thorns and the injuries and scratches they could cause to your pet. To avoid any incidents, you should look into what you have in your garden and get rid of anything potentially harmful.
According to this blog post, cat-friendly plants include sword ferns, spider plants and Areca palms. If you have tortoises, you can make them a miniature dandelion garden as they love snacking on this plant. In case your pup suffers from nausea or indigestion, you can add some peppermint to your garden as that will help them a lot.
Cut back on the chemicals
Not only are some plants dangerous for your pet but the chemicals you use for keeping those plants pest-free and thriving can also pose a threat. It is very important to check whether the products you use in your garden are safe for pets. It would be best to either contain the area where you use these pesticides and insecticides and prevent your pet from going there or look into some natural ways which will not cause any harm to your four-legged friends.
Also, if you must use these products, wait until they are dry before you allow your pet back into the area. If you want to be extra careful when it comes to your pet’s health, you can always get a plan with Bivvy pet insurance, so you can be prepared in case of any unfortunate events.
Keep dangerous tools out of reach
Other than being poisoned by a toxic plant or some chemical, your pet could accidentally injure itself on a sharp tool. This is why it is important to keep all garden tools and machines in a place where animals can’t access them. Whether it’s a shed or the garage, make sure to store them on a high shelf or under lock and key.
Think about the hardscape
Finally, you need to think about the hardscape options as well. Seeing as how you want them to avoid injuring their paws, you should stay away from the asphalt as it can get pretty hot, as well as gravel, which can get lodged between their paw pads and present a choking hazard. In this case, your best option might be decomposed granite.
To create a truly pet-friendly garden, you need to keep these seven tips in mind. Depending on the type of pet you have, you might have to implement some particular ways of keeping them safe but putting up a fence, providing them with some shade and making sure the plants you have in your garden are not toxic are the basic things that you have to do.
