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Picture this: you’ve just finished work on your front yard. You now have a gorgeous green lawn that impresses family, friends and neighbors all year long. But by the end of the week, you notice that there are holes on the ground and some of your flowers are looking a little worse for wear. And you know who the culprit is: your dog.
While pet owners consider their pups as members of their family, it doesn’t make it easier when your dog destroys your garden. Your pets love fresh grass, but they don’t understand your efforts in keeping it nice. To them, the yard is the playground meant for their love of digging, as well as for bathroom purposes.
You love your dog but you hate that they destroy your lawn. What’s a frustrated dog owner supposed to do? Should you enroll your puppy with a trainer? Is there a reward-punishment system to follow?
Fortunately, you can stop your dog’s destructive behavior in many ways and improve your garden in the process. The suggestions listed below can help your puppy maintain some outdoor freedom and protect your precious lawn from damage.
Addressing the Urination Situation
Every dog’s urine has a high nitrogen content, which can affect your lawn, especially if your dog pees on it constantly. One of two things can happen: either patches of grass quickly and thickly grow from your dog’s diluted urine, or they become brown and die off. Pet owners with female pups tend to see more damage on the grass since male dogs urinate on fence posts, trees and other objects.
Flushing the urine spots with water may seem like the first thing to do. But it dilutes the urine, which increases the urine’s nitrogen content and eventually destroys your lawn. Instead, cover your dog’s favorite pee spot in pea gravel or mulch so their urine won’t damage the grass. You can also walk your dogs in a wooded area or a nearby park to keep them from urinating on your lawn.
Pick Up the Dog Poop
Dog feces do not affect the quality of the grass as much as urine, but the poop still contains nitrogen. Since the feces is solid, it takes a longer time for its nitrogen content to harm the lawn. Instead of leaving the poop on the lawn, pick them up after your dog poops.
You can also train your dog to defecate in a specific area of the lawn. Confine their “poop time” to gravel or mulched area so you can finally consider planting an avocado tree.
Build a Dog Run
If your dog loves to destroy the garden or if you want your pup to be isolated when they do their business, build them a dog run. A dog run gives your pup more opportunities to run without being tethered to a leash plus you don’t have to be with them the entire time. Dog runs can also make it easy for you to clean up after your dog.
Keep Your Dog From Digging the Yard
Dogs love to dig. When you find your pets guiltily digging up your newly planted shrubs, flowers or vegetables, it’s time to take action.
If your dog loves to dig, fence off the areas with a tall fence to keep your dog from accessing the dirt. Protect the area close to the fence’s base, so they can’t breach the wall and escape.
Place large rocks along the bottom of the fence to prevent them from gaining access. You can also secure the garden with a chicken wire pinned to the ground. This serves as a protective barrier that keeps your dog from digging or working its way through the fence.
Give Your Pet a Cool Place to Relax
Dogs love to dig shallow holes in the surface of the dirt, especially on hot summer days. The soil cools them down, which is why your pup loves laying down on the dirt.
If your dog loves to sunbathe in the garden, cover a portion of the dog run or make them a bed on the patio. Make them a bed in the shade or on concrete to help them stay cool on long and hot summer days.
Keep Your Dogs from Getting Bored
Bored dogs love to dig holes or chew through anything they can get their paws on. Dogs with plenty of energy always run around and never seem to get tired. To protect your lawn, you have to give them something to do at all times. Make sure you have plenty of rawhide bones or chew toys. If you’re outside, throw a Frisbee or toss a ball to distract them from the digging.
Lawn protection from your dog need not be an impossible task. Practicing simple lawn care and landscaping habits ensures your garden stays gorgeous while your dog enjoys its freedom.
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