Whether you have a vacation home or a permanent residence in Bozeman, MT, we know that you likely have your pets with you as often as possible. If you’re anything like us, your dog (or dogs) are four-legged members of the family and they are incredibly important to you.
For that reason, you might be wondering about landscaping for dogs.
You want a landscape that helps you enjoy your outdoor areas to the fullest but you want to make sure that your furry family members can enjoy it too.
To help get you started, we’ve rounded up some important considerations and some backyard ideas for dogs.
Backyard Ideas for Dogs
These ideas and considerations will help you make the wisest possible choices when it comes to yards for dogs….and for you! After all, you want a dog proof backyard, but you want it to be a space that you enjoy, too.
#1: Choose Pet-Safe Plants
As you might know, some plants can actually be poisonous to pets. If you have a dog that is known to munch on the landscape, then an important consideration will be choosing pet-safe plants.
This is something that you should be able to discuss with your landscape designer.
When you work with a company that has horticultural expertise, they’ll be able to make recommendations for plants that will look nice on your Bozeman, MT property but that won’t compromise your pet’s safety.
#2: Incorporate Shade
Just like you, your pets need a place of escape when they are spending a lot of time outside. In fact, dogs can struggle to cool down as quickly as humans because they only sweat minimally. This is why dogs rely on panting to cooldown.
But just like you, dogs can experience sunburns and heat stroke, so it’s important that they have a place of respite.
A pergola can be a great way to add aesthetic appeal AND shade to your backyard.
Instead of the sun beating down on you, you’ll have filtered light casting through. Unlike a true “roof,” it doesn’t block all of the light, which is one of the great benefits of a pergola. You’ll still get lots of natural light and be able to fully immerse yourself in the outdoor experience of your Bozeman or Big Sky, MT home.
Similarly, a pavilion is another option. A pavilion has a fully covered roof that will not only provide shade but will allow you to bring the comforts of the indoors, outside. With a truly covered “room,” you can have a television, furniture, a kitchen, and more.
You might also consider mounting a ceiling fan to either your pergola or your pavilion to cool down your shaded area even more.
#3: Solve Drainage Problems
A dog proof backyard is also one that isn’t constantly muddy. You might have learned the hard way that dogs and mud just don’t mix! While dogs might enjoy playing in the mud, you don’t want to have to give your pet a bath every time they go outside! And there’s nothing more frustrating than constant muddy paws in the house.
Frankly, even people who don’t want pets desire that their yard drainage problems be solved so that their property can be more usable.
#4: Incorporate a Fence
A dog proof backyard might also be one that includes a fence. While we are all about keeping Bozeman, MT properties as wide open as possible, sometimes a fence is a necessity to keep your dogs on your property (or keep neighboring pets away).
Typically, we’d advise a fence that is open and doesn’t close off your view in any way. If you are looking to create privacy, there are other ways to achieve this, such as with landscaping elements like shrubs and trees.
#5: Create a Pet-Friendly Area
Another consideration for a dog proof backyard is where they’ll go to the bathroom. Urine burn is a real issue that can ruin your grass. This is because dog urine is high in nitrogen and urea which (in high doses) can burn grass.
At Blanchford Landscape Group, we like creating landscaping without tons of turn areas anyways. We often find that natural grasses and meadows can be an effective alternative.
But we know that some people really do love lawn areas. If you’re worried about how lawns and dogs will mix, you can train your dog to use areas of the lawn where there isn’t well-maintained turf. A mulched area (without plants), for instance, might be a spot where your dogs can use the bathroom without burning the turf.
Or, you might train your dog to use a spot of the lawn that isn’t highly visible (like a side area). There are often ways to make your lawn more pet-friendly so that it can be enjoyed by everyone.
These same pet-friendly areas might double as places where your pet can run without tearing up the grass.
Choosing a Company that will Consider Landscaping for Dogs
A lot of this boils down to working with a landscaping company that is considerate of all the details that are important to you and your family. While a lot of design/build landscaping companies talk about doing “custom work,” you need a company that takes that process seriously.
That ultimately means choosing a company with a comprehensive landscape design process.
At Blanchford Landscape Group, we listen to the wants and needs of our clients and come up with landscape design solutions that are right for them. For our clients with pets, this means taking into account how we can incorporate some backyard ideas for dogs.
When your project is complete, you want everyone (furry family members included) to enjoy it to the fullest.
Are you ready to get the process of bringing your outdoor dreams at your Bozeman or Big Sky, MT home to life? Let’s connect and talk about your project. Then, we can meet and begin talking about your ideas. We can’t wait for you to enjoy a beautiful outdoor living space.
