Dog Proof Plants - Gardening with Dogs

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This is how it usually goes!

I lovingly grow my favourite flower from seed, find the perfect spot for it in the garden, plant it, tend to it and keep slugs at bay.   My little plant matures and in return for all of my loving care, it blooms in delight. 🌱🌸

Then, out of nowhere, my dogs gallop through my flowerbed!  I rush outside to see the damage done, groan and shake my fist at the dogs and now it’s back to square one! ARG!!  😩

Over the years I've tried blocking areas with rocks or protecting the flowers with cages, but if the plant itself is not hardy enough, it’s not going to survive in my backyard because at some point some of the dogs are going to pee on it or run through it.

dog proof garden

Sturdy Garden Plants for Dog Owners 🌻🌱

Here are a few plants I have had success growing in my yard with 3 large dogs running/urinating over them. I try to select larger, mature starters.

- Hostas

- Heather

- Osteospermum

- Russian sage

- Cedars

- Euonymus

- Periwinkle or Boston ivy groundcover

- Coneflowers or Echinacea

- Shasta Daisy

- Flowering trees/shrubs such as Butterfly Bush, Smoke Bush, Sandcherry, Dogwood, Lilac, Weigela, Viburnum, Spirea, Hydrangea, Magnolia or Fruit trees

- Ornamental Grasses

- Vertical plants such as Trumpet Vine, Silver Lace Vine, Honeysuckle, Grape or Virginia Creeper are a few easy vines to grow up and away from your pets.

dog proof garden


Ideas for dog-friendly yards 🐶💕

  • Create raised beds or use containers/pots for vegetables and flowers devoting the rest of the yard around them to your dogs.

  • Around the raised beds and containers/pots design grass pathways or pathways made from patio stone, or woodchips that your dogs could use for exercise while playing in the yard.

  • To protect a specific plant, you can install an obelisk, decorative fencing, chicken wire cage or a tomato cage for support.

  • Keep in mind, if your dogs are running on grass, you will need to water any urine spots regularly or the ammonia in the urine will yellow the grass out.

  • Consider training your dogs to “potty” in a designated area.

  • Consider installing a fenced-in dog run which is separate from your gardening area.

  • Create a spot for Rover to sunbathe on the deck or in an area with patio stones or grass away from your gardens.

  • Of course, your dog will also need a shady spot where they can relax away from the sun. Don’t forget to keep the water bowl cleaned and filled close by.

  • Avoid planting prickly or thorny plants anywhere your dog can access.

    Watch out for these “poisonous to dogs” areas ☠️👎🏻

  • There are some plants that you should avoid planting in your yard because ingesting them may mean illness or death for your pet. These plants would be best planted in areas that your dog cannot access.

  • The Ontario SPCA provides a list of common poisonous plants.

  • Cocoa mulch is made from cocoa bean shells which is a by-product of chocolate production and can be toxic.

  • Fertilizer can also be life-threatening for your pet. Be sure to follow the directions and keep your pet off of the fertilized area for the recommended amount of time.

  • Compost piles may contain mouldy food, coffee grounds or leftovers which could be poisonous to dogs. It is a good idea to keep your compost bin off limits to your dog.

  • Chemical herbicides and pesticides are not only damaging to the environment but they can also have disastrous effects on pets, including causing cancer.

By following some of these simple tips, it is possible to have a resort-like backyard which you and your dogs can enjoy together.

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