[CorkyMax]

Backyard Basics: Run Doggie! Run!
In an ideal world every dog would have his own backyard to run, jump, and play. Backyards are wonderful places for dogs to have some room to go crazy, and have a dog of a good time!

But not all backyards are created equally. Some are not safe for the dog to play in unsupervised, and other backyards are so dull and boring, that the poor dog would rather be in the house with you. How to make your backyard both safe and exciting.

Make It Safe: Doggy Proof the Backyard!

The first thing to do is to take an honest look at your backyard. Is it really safe? Imagine that you are a small four-legged animal who thinks with their nose, tongue, and stomach. Are there anything that if you were a dog you would find irresistible that could be either life threatening or mildly hazardous. Some hazards to look out for are paint chips, stray hardware, trash in piles or open containers, fertilizers, insect or rat poison, or other such chemicals and things lying about that could potentially cause your dog harm. Get a broom, a bag, and some good old-fashioned common sense and start cleaning.

The next step in pet proofing your backyard is to look around for things that might actually be in danger of being harmed by your dog. For instance, gardens and grass that you want to keep nice and free of dog chewing and digging. Keep your gardens inaccessible to your dog by setting up some sort of boundary. Select some type of wire mesh, low fence, or even a series of invisible fences, but be careful that whatever you choose won't harm your dog either. Make sure that they have no sharp edges or corners that jut out, so that your dog won't hurt himself. Especially if your dog is one of those breeds that are prone to be diggers or chewers, you will have a nightmare on your hands if you don't make sure you protect your backyard.

Pimp out your backyard—Doggie-style!

The first and most obvious thing you can do to make your backyard more exciting is to have some of their favorite dog toys outside. Now you can't just use any toy for an outside toy. Nothing made of cloth that will rot when exposed to rain and heat. You need some doggie toys that are made of rubber and plastic. These types of toys are safe and durable for continued outside use, and can be easily cleaned with a hose when they get to grimy. Keep them in some place special, like a plastic milk crate that can be used for a doggie toy box.

The next step is to have an area set aside in your backyard that is just for them. Ideally, this will be the entire backyard except for the parts you may have made off limits for your dog. But in places where this is impossible it helps to have a fenced in area where you and your dog can go to play. This can be a great place to go and play fetch, catch, or a variety of other dog games.
Pick up your dog's pooh too! Nothing will gross your neighbors or your dog even out more than a backyard that slowly becomes a landfill for dog crap! A good system is to have a trash can set aside just for dog feces, and a poop-a-scooper. Try and go out at least once a day and pick up those little packages that your dog likes to leave behind for you! Remember if your backyard is soiled with your dog's pooh, chances are they won't like playing there.

The final part of the "ultimate backyard experience" is the doghouse. Make sure your dog has some place to go to feel safe. Dog house's and outdoor dog crates come in a variety of shapes and sizes


Anybody got some good ideas to add to this subject--What have you done in your backyard for your dog that you can share!?

[LindaLinda]

Good article. My added 2 cents from experience: We have a fairly large city yard. We have a very good fence all the way around for Lily, but the next yard over is lower than ours and she was able to dig under the fence. My neighbor saw her doing it and thank God she landed in a yard that is dog friendly. They dont have dogs but love dogs anyway. What we did is put concrete blocks all along that side of the fence, and after two years she has never gotten out of the yard since! And the blocks dont look bad against the fence. You could even fill the blocks up with flowers as long as they are not poisonous! Concrete blocks are fairly cheap so if you have a big yard it would not ruin your budget. I realize many dogs dont even try to get out of their yards--I have had breeds that never tried to escape, but mostly I have had beagles and beagle mixes, and beagles do have that curiousity and wayward noses that can get them into trouble at times! I can probably think of more ideas but this is the one that stuck in my mind, and is time tested!

[CorkyMax]

Installing Safe and Affordable Dog Fencing - Whole Dog Journal Article

[cigwyllt]

Our house is position right in the middle of our plot. The back garden (I'm a Brit LOL) is surrounded by high (8ft+) stone walls on three sides then the house is in the middle of the 4th side with high fences and a tall gate filling in the gaps on either side of the house. We have a dog flap in the back door so when we are at home and not in bed the dogs have access to the garden all the time. It's not a huge area but if you want to try and catch a dog that doesn't want to be caught it becomes apparent that the garden is quite big enough LOL! We have one part that is left completely wild for the dogs to play in. Toffee likes to hide out there in the long grass to eat any bones or treats she is given. We don't keep toys out there because we don't expect the dogs to spend much time there - they go out to go to the toilet and that is about it unless there is someone out there to play with them.

[lange]

I would love ideas on how to make my yard more fun, without me being in it!! It's a nice size for our area. But I look around and think, how boring it must be for them. In the summer we put up an 18ft portable pool and have tons of furniture & misc things about but come fall it is all put away. The majority of the year its a vast waste land. Any ideas that aren't too expensive or permanent?

[CorkyMax]

Lol, We seem to think a lot the same--Think it is the astrology sign, lol?!
I use to think about that too. I even thought about setting up some homemade type of agility type things--but of course I never got around to it--and now Corky is gone and Max has gotten lazier in his old age.

Wonder if you could get some ideas on the 'net?' Maybe words like--dogs/ boring backyard---dogs/making yard fun---You can prob. think of other words too to put in your browser. Maybe can find a library book on the subject. Just tell them what kind of book you want--Call your librarian--Have her check on her computer to try and find one/some- and have it delivered to your library--should be a free service---Leave your phone # with the library and have them call you if they get something or check back with them to see if they have anything arrive. You could also check out Ebay and Amazon.com They have many used books cheap and a big selection.

[CorkyMax]

Just found this on the 'net'---
How about enriching our yards for our dogs? A strong rope tied to a tree with heavy bungee cords lets the dog pull and tug. Big boxes make great tunnels and many dogs will fit through the play tunnels sold at many human toy stores. Small logs and lengths of PVC pipe (4" and 5" diameter) can be laid down for the dog to walk and jump over while playing. (For safety, dogs under 12 – 18 months of age should have all jumps very low). Make a digging area for your dog! Lay down a 4'x4' box and fill it with a soft sand and dirt mix. Encourage your dog to dig here and not in your garden. Use landscaping timbers to mark off the dog's digging box. A toy buried or some kibble sprinkled over the area can help redirect his digging from your Azaleas to his personal digging spot! Build a couple platforms for your dog to jump on and crawl under (just keep away from fences, as some dogs will learn to use these as means to escape).

Get out and play fetch with various toys to allow your dog to engage in chasing behaviors. Take a box, hide treats in it and drag it through the yard on a rope (you stay still, just drag the box). This allows the dog to chase and tackle! These are all things that we can do to help enrich our dogs' lives. In addition, if you have a higher- to high-energy breed, these games are wonderful for burning off that energy! Get creative. However, monitor toy use and if you suspect a toy is not suited for your dog, do not use it. There is no toy ideal for all dogs and safety with toys is essential!

Boredom in dogs leads to undesired behaviors. However, enriching their environment, getting them socialized and understanding that we make our dogs what they are goes a long way in making our lives together happy and healthy.

Also this: How To Create a Dog Friendly Yard | How To Do Things
And this: Homecheck: Pet Friendly Home - Making your Home and Yard Perfect for your Pet! You prob. will want to scroll about half way down on this link to where it is titled--Part II: Preparing Your Yard.

[lange]

THANK YOU, Corky/Max!!!!! I actually have a sturdy sandbox that isn't in use. I can definitely use that. It even has a cover for when it rains, that way they won't get any funny ideas of tracking sand in
when they're wet. I can hide some toys & treats once in awhile...I bet that will be a good one.

It reminds me of one of our neighbors. He has a couple Malamutes. In the winter he'll bury fish in the snow and let them hunt for them.

Maybe Some sort of wooden climbing platform. I can have my husband think that one up. I'd be willing to bet our son would like it just as much as the dogs. LOL

[CorkyMax]

I like the idea of the rope tied to a tree also ---just so they wouldn't somehow strangle themselves---supervision! And I had thought of a kind of climbing platform before--with steps. I figured it would also make for a good place for them to lay down and 'watch the world go round'--up high enough to see over a fence, lol, just don't place it too close to the fence so they could jump over it! And underneath the platform would be a shady spot too with a few things to chew on (toys, etc.) You could even enclose it and treat it like a den retreat if your dogs are the type. You wouldn't necessarily use wood--You could even 'skirt' around 3 of the sides with some kind of material--even old sheets or if want sturdier--Sew together some old jeans or whatever. Maybe nail it around the top platform board(s) with some 'short' nails/ I would not place this platform on the cement---If the dog is going to jump off the platform---hard on the spine and may cause injury. I had a patio table close to my indoor steps in the backyard which was setting on cement---My dogs use to go from the steps to the top of the table---It was Corky's favorite spot outside. But I finally got smart and moved it away from the steps so he couldn't get up there as he would jump off the table onto the cement! You can see what I mean in my pic. album--Have a pic with Corky laying on it when I still had it next to the steps. I hated to take it away as he really liked being there but better safe than sorry.

I even tried a kid's wading pool--but they didn't care for it and it is something you would have to keep dumping every other day or so or you would have a mess of mosquitoes hatching!

Hey anybody else got any good ideas--home made and cheap the best of course!!

I just thought of something---If a person could attach some kind of slide to this platform and teach your dog to use it and if they would go down it and not jump off the platform--- Hey another idea--Take a look in my album and see the 'ramp' I made for the doggie door and it is fairly high--I used trellis--(Is that the word I'm looking for?---You will know what it is when you see the pic!---Lattice is what I mean!! I would put the ramp straight across the platform from the steps. Make them use both!

[CorkyMax]

The theme of this article is about stopping your dog from digging but it also shows how to do a sandbox for dogs!
How to Solve Canine Digging Problems - Whole Dog Journal Article

[cigwyllt]

But would they actually do those things if you weren't there to encourage them? If I'm outside with the dogs we play fetch, they might play tug with each other with a piece of rope but if we're all indoors the dogs are with us, they don't actually choose to play outside on their own, they want to be with their human pack.

But I love the idea of having a doggy playground in the back garden. Just think my kids would feel a little left out LOL!

[lange]

Cig, Kuma is constantly in and out. Sometimes when I tell her to come in she doesn't budge,especially when its cool out. Other times she follows me like a shadow. Wrigley on the other hand doesn't like being out for long.

I also crate when no one is home to watch them; and at night. Kuma hates it, unless it's bedtime she complains. When the weather is nice & I know I won't be gone over 2 hours I'll leave them out in the yard verse crating.

As for showing them what to do..I don't think I need to show Kuma to dig as she already started doing that. She does it even when we're with her. She's already figured out she can dig and find rocks & roots to chew on. I've been trying to break that rock/pebble habit especially.

[cigwyllt]

I'd be afraid to let my dogs outside if there was no one home. Our three are left in the kitchen.

Although Toffee will sometimes go out into the back to lie in the sun if the door to our veranda is open she will lie there instead because she is nearer us.

Bit off topic but I love to watch the dogs dig - real dog behaviour - but like you I discourage the stone chewing.

[Lunareclipse]

My dogs like to be wherever I am at. They only like to go out to use the bathroom and take a quick gallop around the yard before they come right back.

[cassyparks]

I think the dog wouldn't mind at all whether it's a small or big back yard as long as they can run, play and giggle around. Allow them to stay outside and they will give you a sign if they want to go in.