What is pet-friendly backyard? At its best, it’s a wonderful, stimulating space, however we know that dogs can cause havoc by digging up plants and urinating on lawns and can also be at risk from certain plants and pests. When creating the ideal outdoor space for ourselves, we should also consider our pets!
Let’s explore what it takes to create a pet-friendly yard.
A well-designed yard doesn’t begin with selecting plants or laying out beds, but rather is about considering how we want to use the space to suit our needs.
Ticks wait for a host, resting on the tips of grasses and shrubs, holding onto leaves and grass by their lower legs. Their upper pair of legs are outstretched, waiting to climb onto a passing host. When a host brushes the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard and finds a suitable place to bite.
“Our previous dog died from kidney failure due to Lyme disease. We were not aware of the shots and oral medication necessary in areas where ticks are abundant. When we got our current dog 2 1/2 years ago he had been surrendered with Lyme. He needed 2 rounds of doxycycline and a lot of testing. He’s now on a year round preventative medication.”
Read More about Deer-resistant planting.
Additional Resources
Many dogs like to eat plants and bark. One of the challenges when selecting plants is determining if there are any impacts to dogs. Avoidance is better than dealing with the side effects of gastro issues!
Avoidance tactics:
Here are reliable resources listing common plants which may be toxic to dogs and cats and should be avoided:
Arum Lily | Autumn Crocus | Australian Flame Tree | Avocado |
Azalea Baneberry | Bird Of Paradise | Bishop’s Weed | Black Laurel |
Black Locust | Bleeding Heart | Bloodroot | Bluebonnet |
Blue-Green Algae | Boxwood | Bracken Fern | Buckthorn |
Bulb Flowers | Burdock | Cacao | Camel Bush |
Caladium | Calla Lily | Cardinal Flower | Chalice |
Cherry Tree | Chinaberry Tree | Clematis | Cocklebur |
Coffee | Coral Plant | Coriander | Dieffenbachia |
Elderberry | Elephant Ear (Taro) | Eucalyptus | Euonymus |
False Hellebore | Flame Tree | Felt Plant | Firethorn |
Four O’Clock | Foxglove | Glottidium | Golden Chain |
Ground Cherry | Heaths | Heliotrope | Hemlock |
Henbane | Holly | Honeysuckle | Horse Chestnut |
Horsetail | Hydrangea | English Ivy | Jasmine |
Jimsonweed | Lantana | Larkspur | Lily Of The Valley |
Easter Lily | Lupine | Marijuana | Mandrake |
Mexican Poppy | Milkweed | Vetch | Yellow Jasmine |
Mistletoe | Mock Orange | Monkshood | Moonseed |
Morning Glory | Mountain Laurel | Mushrooms | Nightshades |
Oak | Oleander | Periwinkle | Philodendron |
Pigweed | Poinciana | Poinsettia | Poison Ivy |
Poison Oak | Pokeweed | Potato Shoots | Privet |
Pyricantha | Rain Tree | Ranunculus (Buttercup) | Rape |
Red Maple | Snowdrop | Spurges | Sweet Pea |
Tansy | Tobacco | Wisteria | Yews |
By making a few plans to protect your pet (and your special plants), you can now happily relax and enjoy your outdoor space with your pet!