Barkitecture Is the Smart Way to Design Pet-Friendly Gardens – Your Dog Will Be So Happy He'll Forget All about Digging Up Your Flowers

If you're a dog person, you aren’t likely to want a “no-dogs” garden. Dogs love to be in the backyard on a sunny afternoon, romping around while you pull weeds, or enjoying a nap on the patio.

Is it possible to build a landscape that will welcome your pet while keeping those flowers and shrubs happy as well? A dog friendly garden isn't an impossible dream, as long as you take time to think through the arrangement.

I’ve had dogs all my life and currently travel with my best girl Delilah, a 50-pound rescue pup who feels at home in both my backyard garden in San Francisco and my bigger landscape in Sare, France. I’ve got lots of ideas on how you can make it work.

Letting the Tail Wag the Dog

Some gardeners design their dream garden, then look for some small part of it that can accommodate their dog. Not me. I never make any garden plans without thinking through what will work for Delilah. Some of my friends call the way I garden “letting the tail wag the dog.” And I assure you, it’s easier that way.

That’s because dogs naturally need places to sniff and run and play. Since these pathways must be an integral part of the garden, it’s a lot easier to plan for them in advance.

Doggy Runways

Sometimes dogs amble down the garden pathway, stopping to sniff here and there, then flop out in the sun. But many times, especially first thing in the morning, your dog needs something akin to an airport runway that allows them to dash along and work off some of their energy.

Creating effective dog pathways will not only make the garden inviting to your dog, but it will also keep big paws and sniffing noses out of your herb garden. Make sure that the path is wide and made of tough, stable material. This is not the place to use a gentle groundcover like thyme plants. In San Francisco we installed a flagstone pathway that runs up to the end of the garden, then circles around and comes back on the other side. Compacted gravel or decomposed granite would work well too.

These spacious side paths work well for me too, since it’s easy to wheel up the wheel barrow up wide passage ways. The stone pathways stay cool for dog paws and also look elegant.

Pet Service Areas

One of the big “problems” cited for mixing pets and gardens is the fact that pets use the bathroom outside. You could keep your dog out of the garden completely... or you could set up service areas.

Find a good bathroom area for your pet, far from veggie and herb gardens. The spot should have good drainage and, ideally, slope down and away from irrigation or other water sources. Cover the area with materials that drain well, like gravel, then plant “screening” shrubs to give your pet some privacy. You’ll need to steer away from dog-toxic plants. You'll want something dog-safe with lovely flowers, like hydrangeas or camellias. Install a stepping stone path through the planted area for ease of doggy access.

Patio for Sun and Shade

I have a wooden patio in San Francisco, a stone patio in France. There is a comfy dog bed on each patio plus a bowl of water, and each offers areas of sun and shade. My dog loves to hang out on the patio, moving from sun to shade as the mood strikes her. Sometimes she changes lounging areas from sun to shade then back again every 10 minutes.

I’ve planted shrubs and also trees around the patios to offer natural shade, but even shade from a pergola or an umbrella will work. Both pergolas and gazebos can create lovely shade where dogs can keep cool on hot summer days. The overhead coverage (cover them with grapes, kiwis, or other vines!) give this backyard area a natural, airy atmosphere.

Play Areas for Bouncy Pets

My dog is happy to run up and down the doggy walkways and lounge on the patio. I installed a veggie garden in the center of the garden in raised beds and my dog never romps there or even steps into that area.

But Delilah is quite calm for a young dog, and other dogs can be bouncier. If this describes your doggo, you’ll want to consider creating a dedicated area for puppy to play. The bigger your backyard, the more space you can devote to a fenced play area. Even the smallest dog will need at least 200 square feet (18 square meters) and bigger dogs may need twice that space to exercise.

What to plant in the doggy play area? Use ornamental grasses – they're tough, drought tolerant, and look attractive as play area borders. I’ve seen dog areas rimmed in sunflowers. They also provide food for wild birds when they're mature. But don’t forget that this spot is for the dog, not for guests. So logs and rocks are even better than gorgeous flowers, since dogs can incorporate these natural elements into their play.

Other Great Additions

These are just a few great ideas to add to the “barkitecture” of a pet-friendly garden. But with a little more time and money, you can make the backyard a doggy Disneyland. Try one or more of these and see how happy your canine becomes.

• Water feature – add a shallow wading pool in the dog area. If your dog is anything like mine, they adore splashing and playing when the weather is hot. Some of my friends have put in fountains - elements that both give the dogs flowing water to drink and play in and add beauty to the backyard.
• Tough turfgrass – you can replace your tender green lawn with a tougher turfgrass like resilient bermuda grass. It's renowned for its ability to tolerate heavy use without dying back, so your dog can run and play there.
• Doggy herb garden – some herbs just smell so good that even dogs enjoy passing by. Mint is one such herb that dogs enjoy. Plant it near the dog pathway, together with other safe, aromatic herbs like lemongrass and rosemary.

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