March 28th, 2023 by Sarah Miles

Dogs love few things more than being outside and doing the things that dogs do best. This doesn’t have to be limited to their walks as there are lots of ways you can use your garden that offer fun, enrichment, physical challenge, and soothing calm.

We have compiled 5 ideas that you can implement in your garden that can make it the perfect outdoor space for your dog. However, before we go any further it’s important to point out that your garden should be secure so they can’t escape and that dogs should always be supervised, especially when climbing or playing in the water.

Sensory Stimulation

A dog’s senses are different to ours and while their perception of colour is more limited, their sense of smell is hugely heightened. The scent is very important to dogs and they use it to glean important information that helps them make sense of things. The principles of aromatherapy apply to dogs just as they do to humans and different fragrances will have different effects. For example, rosemary can be very calming while mint is energising. Include plants that will appeal to your dog. You could even create trails through the space.

You can appeal to their other senses too. Dogs can’t see the same spectrum of colours, but they can see blues and yellows so include these in your planting. You could even add plants that your dog will enjoy eating and will do them good like wheatgrass. By the same token, of course, it’s important to mention that you should avoid plants that can be toxic to dogs such as foxgloves, larkspur, and chrysanthemums.

Designated Digging

You may despair of your dog digging up the borders but digging is such an instinctive activity for them. You can achieve a double whammy of keeping them off the areas you don’t want them to dig while also allowing them to derive all the benefits of digging by creating a designated area where they are allowed to do it.

Set in a space away from your planted borders, create an empty border or use a large container filled with soil or sand where they can dig to their heart’s content. Place exciting objects in there such as treats or toys, especially strong-smelling items, so they know they are allowed to dig there. If they try to dig in areas you don’t want them to, issue a stop command and lead them back to their sanctioned dig zone where you can give them the treat to let them know that this is where they dig.

Agility Fun

Climbing at different heights, traversing raised platforms, or zipping through tunnels is super exciting for your dog. You can create an agility course in the garden with everyday objects such as boxes, planks, tree stumps, tyres or ball pits. Use treats, commands and lots of praise to guide them around and they’ll benefit from mental stimulation, physical activity, and lots of interaction from you, which they’ll love, plus it will really tire them out.

Just remember not to place objects at heights that could make it easier to jump over fences and always keep them at safe heights.

Water Play

Many dogs just love to play with water, whether that be chasing the stream of a hosepipe or splashing in a paddling pool. They are also really useful for keeping dogs cool when it’s very warm in summer. Combine water play with toys and games but be careful with things like hosepipes that have been left in the sun (water sitting in the pipe can be very hot) and never leave them unattended in a paddling pool.

Calm Corner

It’s not all about stimulation and expending energy, you can use your garden to provide a place for being calm and quiet too. This allows your dog to settle and decompress and is just as important as being active. Choose a quiet, shaded spot and create a comfy bed area with cushions or blankets. A structure such as an open dog crate or kennel can provide a safe space to relax, and a lick mat or special soft toy can soothe and comfort them.