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Next to babies, dogs can be the greatest sources of joy and comfort for families. Whether you are recovering from a major life crisis or simply want something to distract you from problems that can be too hard to bear at times, nothing makes you feel better and more hopeful than having someone around to offer you unconditional love.
However, the one thing babies and dogs have in common is that they are both great responsibilities and if you’re not serious about taking care of them, it can pose as a problem. Both warrant undivided attention and if you don’t think carefully about your decision to have either, you could end up feeling overwhelmed, like you got into something that’s way over your head.
Dogs can especially be a handful since you have to train them to be on their best behavior and not to mess up your homes so much. The first thing people worry about when they consider getting a dog for the first time is how their backyard will look once the dog is put there but the good news is, you will be able to come up with a great-looking backyard that is also canine-friendly with some compromising.
I’m not saying it’s going to be easy…in fact it can be a challenge to be honest. However, once you realize that you will have to make adjustments to your landscaping and make concessions to your four-legged friends, you will have a backyard that’s worthy of a feature in Architectural Digest magazine and you won’t have to worry about your dog dragging in dirt and soil your floors with dirty paw prints.
The first thing you need to know is that lawn grass and dogs don’t mix. If you have a small area allotted for your backyard, consider hardscape which actually goes beyond solutions to landscaping with dogs and in addition, offers very low maintenance since you don’t have to worry about watering them every day. Stone and masonry are especially recommended because they minimize the mess dogs usually make through urination, digging and the usual wear and tear.
Another thing you can do to minimize dog mess is to install dog fences. These are electronic systems designed to keep pets in the yard by means of predefined and invisible boundaries. When used properly to train dogs, this can actually prevent them from digging their way out of your backyard and thus, prevent them from accumulating more dirt that they can bring inside your house to mess up your carpets and clean floors with. These fences usually come in two types: one with a wire that is buried along the perimeter of your yard and as a pet collar that comes with a receiver. The one with the underground wire sends out a signal that makes the collar beep or emit mild shocks when your dog comes close to the fence perimeters.
These electric dog fences need to be used carefully and if you are using them for the first time. You will also need to review state legislations that tackle the establishment and maintenance of dog-proof fences in the area you live in. You will need to get help from veterinarians about how to use them as they can actually cause your dogs to want to escape more rather than learn how to confine themselves as they may learn to connect the shocks and pain with the yard itself – therefore, if they escape from the yard, the shocks will stop. Also, the fact that the shocks return when they come back into the yard may make them think that they are being punished for returning which is the last thing you want them to learn.
Installing a dog fence is not only a good way to help your dog stay within the allowed boundaries, it is also the best way to prevent you from erecting a fence that may not go with your landscape ideas or home décor. Plus, you don’t have to worry about violating any zone laws or building codes which you would have to check and adhere to if you were going to erect a fence.
However as far as fences go, if you really would like to erect them, then you can opt for building them around the delicate plants in your garden. Wood picket fences are especially recommended along with planting some perennial flowers like Adonis Vernalis, columbine and pasqueflowers if you plan to have a backyard similar to a quaint English garden.
And last but not the least, do your research on poisonous plants that can be a danger not just to your dogs but to your family. While nobody actually feels the need to nibble on their plants while working or taking a relaxing stroll around their garden, it is still good to know about which plants can pose as a danger to small children or even stray cats that happen to wander in your garden.
Pet Lover's Guide 