There’s nothing quite like playing with your dog in a luscious backyard. If you’re planning on introducing your pup to the great outdoors, whether for occasional ventures or as a permanent living space, you will want to take a few precautionary measures to ensure that your yard is safe for man’s best friend. Dog-proofing your yard is a quality investment that will benefit your family for years to come and help to ensure that your pet will live a long and happy life.
Install a Quality Fence
Unless you intend to keep your dog on a leash at all times, you will need to install some sort of security fence to prevent her from escaping. Many dog owners choose to fence in their entire backyards, and this choice provides them with additional privacy as well as a safe area for their dog to run and play. If you want more of a home for your pooch, look into a dog kennel that separates your backyard and provides a stable surface and roof for your dog.
Remove Dangerous Items
There are a number of items in the typical yard that could prove hazardous to dogs. Small items such as decorations or children’s toys can become choking hazards to an unsupervised pet. Exposed power cords, if gnawed through, can electrocute an animal with deadly consequences or ruin an essential part of your home. Some household plants are poisonous if eaten as well. Unchecked pests such as wasps may attack animals that wander into their territory.
Perform an inspection of your yard before setting your dog loose, and ensure that there are no items that could pose a risk to your pet’s health or to your belongings.
Provide Shelter
If your yard will become your pet’s primary area of residence, you will want to provide her with a doghouse or kennel so that she can escape inclement weather. Some dog owners will also hang a tarp or other source of shade above the doghouse so that their pets have a larger area in which to avoid the hot sun or heavy rains. Perform regular maintenance on these items so that they perform their best, and replace broken pieces promptly.
Regularly Clean Waste
Accumulated dog feces is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. If left unchecked, these bacteria can spread throughout your yard through rain water and infect your pet as well as your family and surrounding animals. It is very important to clean your dog’s waste areas on a regular basis to prevent this. Use a shovel or rake and disinfect your tools with bleach when you are finished with your task.
Taking on a dog is big responsibility and you want to have a space that’s safe for him or her to live or play. It might take a little while but making your backyard dog-friendly can be the best thing you do for your pet.
If you’re needing a new fence to keep your pet in or a dog kennel for him to live, call on us.
