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- Do give up on having an absolutely perfect yard; don’t let your pooch completely rule the yard. Teach him to respect boundaries and have a designated area for doing business.
- Do include a water feature that your dog can use to cool off in; don’t put in a pool or pond that is difficult for your pet to get in and out of.
- Do think about adding a sandbox that your dog can play in and bury bones and treats in; don’t assume the sandbox is maintenance free. Keep a shovel and rake near by to clean it out when needed.
- Do use gravel, wood chips, or shredded hardwood mulch that will not stick to long haired coats; don’t use cocoa mulch which contains theobromine which is poisonous to dogs.
- Do edge your flower beds with rocks or tall shrubs in order to protect your flowers; don’t edge with sharp materials that can harm your dog.
- Do use urine-resistant plants in your yard (such as Japanese Spindle Trees); don’t stress when you find brown or yellow spots in your grass. Reseeding these areas will remedy the problem.
- Do use organic herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides on your lawn and plants; don’t spread toxic products on your lawn. Studies have shown these to be harmful to pets and professionally applied pesticides are connected to a 70% higher risk of dogs developing cancer.