Having a pet is a responsibility and part of that responsibility is keeping them safe. Your garden should be a small paradise for your pet, a space where they can relax, play and explore. But is your garden safe enough for your pet? Here are six ways to make you garden more pet friendly.
Keep Your Garden Secure
“UK police forces dealt with 1,774 dog thefts in 2016 according to figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request, which works out to just under five a day. The equivalent of 1.5 million people in Britain – have had a dog stolen in the past five years.” – The Express
Now, until you read stories about this you don’t believe it’s true – but it is. Five dogs are stolen every day but only one is recovered and returned to their rightly owners – heart breaking, right?
To try and avoid this happening we recommend keeping your garden as secure as possible with ColourFence!
ColourFence is made from Colour Bonded Galvanised Steel and can withstand gusts of wind up to 130mph, so trust us when we say this fence is going nowhere! It lasts for 25 years so you can be rest assured that your pet won’t be escaping through a broken fence panel or jumping over fences that simply aren’t tall enough.
If you have a big breed of dog, you should think carefully about the type of fence you need to keep him safe. Look for a fence that is pleasing on the eye but one that will also stop your furry friend from escaping and going on adventures with his doggy pals. Before purchasing, just remember… big dogs need big fences. Not so much with little dogs but the fence needs to be sturdy and secure either way. Six feet should be sufficient. Height isn’t the only factor—a large dog is also a strong dog. With ColourFence being made from Galvanised steel, your dog won’t be knocking this one down!
Non-Toxic Plants
There are quite a few plants that can be harmful and sometimes fatal for your pets. When planting new plants, you should be aware of what can be dangerous and what isn’t. Some plants that are harmless to your pet and a great addition to any garden are:
- Gerber Daisy
- Orchid
- Pincushion Flower
- Rose
- Sunflower
- Thea Japonica
- Tickseed
- African Violet
- Zinnia
- Petunia
- Lavender
- Marigold
- Snapdragon
- Impatiens
- Spider Plant
Water features
Keeping your pet hydrated during the hot summer months is extremely important, because if you’re outside sunbathing all day, then so are they! Pets love drinking out of things that aren’t theirs, so purchase a low water feature and ensure its topped up with fresh water. Your water feature will also create a soothing atmosphere for your pet to enjoy.
A range of materials
Pets like to explore and having a range of materials in your garden can help stimulate their senses and make it much more fun for them. Some great materials to have in your garden are bark, gravel, non-toxic sand, grass and stone. When choosing different materials though, be aware of their paws as you don’t want them to get cuts or splinters.
A personal spot
If you’re trying to train the cute new addition to your family, then ensure he’s got a breakout spot to call his own. Most dogs prefer to do their business in private or on grass. If your garden doesn’t have an area for your dog, then simply make one! Plant some grass or use turf. Artificial grass is easy to maintain, just like your new fencing! It only needs a hose down to get it looking brand new again. In the summer make sure your dog does not lie down in direct sunlight. Dogs dehydrate very quickly, and it can leave them with severe fatigue. To avoid this happening, buy a fixable shade cover and attach it to the side of your house. You can then simply pull it out so he has somewhere to lie that is shaded.
TOP TIP: Dogs also love lying on cool flooring or cooling matts! Buy a cooling matt and keep it in the freezer for those extra hot summer days.
Pet-friendly weed killer
Weeds are a problem for any garden and getting rid of them is essential, but many pesticides that you buy from the shop are harmful to your pet. You should consider homemade weed killers as they are non-harmful and still effective. Three homemade options that will still do the job are salt, vinegar and cornmeal. If you put them all together with a bit of soap you will have a much stronger pesticide, but they can also just be used separately.
For a pet-friendly garden fence, choose ColourFence. Get in touch for your free quote.
