dogs
While a lawn is one of the most comfortable surfaces for dogs and people to wander on, a common problem when you have a dog is brown spots, due to the nitrogen in dog urine. Keeping the lawn well watered and the blades somewhat long will help dilute the urine and hide the browning. There are also products available to help prevent or lessen the burn.
While a lawn is one of the most comfortable surfaces for dogs and people to wander on, a common problem when you have a dog is brown spots, due to the nitrogen in dog urine. Keeping the lawn well watered and the blades somewhat long will help dilute the urine and hide the browning. There are also products available to help prevent or lessen the burn.
Dogs dig, and some dig more than others. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t have to contend with some digging. Before you condemn all digging out of hand, remember that dogs often dig for a good reason — to create a cool place in which to lie or to bury a bone. They may also dig to escape, to alleviate boredom or simply because that’s what their breed has been bred to do. If a dog is trying to escape, add chicken wire or boards at or below the soil line. If your pet is digging in other parts of the garden, try laying down chicken wire or installing small, round wooden stakes upright just below or at soil level to make digging uninviting.
If your dog also loves the bounty of your garden, you have options. The classic set-aside vegetable garden, complete with a fence, will always work, but it may not be necessary. A low fence around a vegetable garden can be enough to keep even larger dogs out. They may be able to jump over it, but it might not occur to them.
Kaufman Construction Design and Build If your dog has already created a path through your yard, you can try to retrain him or her by creating new paths and blocking the old route. In the end, though, it may be easier to give in and go with what’s established. Use paw-friendly materials to turn it from a dirt path to something that's inviting to everyone. Concrete, brick, flagstone, smooth river stones and smooth gravel are great for dog paws. Using fine bark as a mulch works too, but not cocoa mulch — ever. For smooth-coated dogs, thicker mulch is good; for dogs with longish fur, you may want to avoid even small mulch, because it will attach to your dog and end up all over your house.
Dogs feel it’s their job to patrol the perimeters of the yard. Rather than fight this instinct, include a running space at or near the edge of your yard and add a clearly designed route to get to it. Make the route straight or softly curving; your dog will probably cut the corner rather than make a 90-degree turn.
Every dog is unique, but different breeds tend to have different traits. Terriers will dig, beagles will try to escape and golden retrievers will dive into water. What's more, every dog has its own special personality and character traits, too. Knowing how your dog approaches life — will he or she be eagerly exploring the yard and checking out what is new, or simply settling back and watching things go by? — will help you be aware of issues that may come up.
Wine Barrel Bungalow is the very definition of upcycling, the process of converting materials or products headed for the trash into something new and useful. Spicewood Vinyards donated a barrel no longer capable for containing wine, while a walnut scrap became the front porch atop table legs from IKEA. A cushion inside provides a soft respite for weary canines. The succulant-heavy green roof is a low-maintenance, attractive toppe
Please note the front porch complete with Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired lantern and plantings on the side of the structure. Can you believe this is a doghouse? I almost can't. This one took the cake for me. And the materials used are so Austin. What a beaut! The sloped roof promotes water drainage while the little gutter collects water.
Another option is to create a fun play area. Take a hint from dog play courses and consider using plants and hardscaping to create obstacles to weave through, balance beams to walk on or tunnels to roam through. The one shown here is also people size, but you can always create one that’s just dog size. It can be your pet’s hiding spot. Even dogs sometimes need to get away from it all.
Opulent Items Dog Peek - $25 8. Add extra features. If your dog is friendly and curious but not prone to barking at everything that goes by, you might want to create a window in a fence or gate for watching the outside world.
A chain-link fence is easy to install and provides a safe enclosure, but it isn’t necessarily the most attractive approach. As an alternative, consider a fencing material that matches your landscape style, whether you’re opting for a fully enclosed yard or a dog run. Go with picket fences for a cottage design, sleek horizontal boards for a contemporary look or posts and wire for a rustic feel. No matter what style you choose, make sure it is sturdy enough to contain your family friend and designed so a curious dog can’t get stuck between the boards.
For male dogs, consider adding a marking post. Surely your dog needs a private fire hydrant.
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