Dogs simply love the outdoors. Are you looking for ways to keep your puppy safe in your yard? Your backyard is your darling puppy’s playground. Pups roll around on the ground, nuzzle the garden plants and dig in the dirt. All of this is done in harmless fun, but sometimes your canine’s pastimes aren’t truly harmless. There may be many hidden dangers in your yard that could affect your puppy’s health. Read on to learn some ways you can protect your pet by making your backyard puppy-proof.
Build a Fence
Building a fence is one of the most important things you can do to keep your puppy safe while it is playing in your backyard. Having a fence defines the puppy’s boundaries and keeps it contained. Keeping your puppy contained will prevent it from running into the street and getting hit by cars. Depending on what is on the outskirts of your property, a fence can also prevent your dog from running into places such as wooded areas where there are ticks or from trespassing into the next yard, which could upset your neighbor. When dogs wander off into strange territory, they may eat things that are bad for them, including dangerous plants or even poison. Some people dislike dogs so much they will deliberately do them harm. Stray dogs are also picked up by animal control.
When choosing a fence, it is important to know which type is best for you and your dog. There are many kinds of fences, including wired electric fences, wireless electric fences, wooden fences, chain link fences, and others. Be sure to do your research in advance of your purchase. Electric fences can be dangerous if you do not select the proper voltage type. The most important thing is to keep your dog away from dangers by creating boundaries around your property.
Take Care of the Lawn
It is important to take care of your lawn, not just for your property’s aesthetics, but also for the health of your dog. There are potentially many hazards in your yard than could affect your pet’s health. One important way you can take care of your lawn is to maintain the proper height of your grass and trim the bushes. Overgrown grass is a favorite hiding place for ticks and other pests. Be sure to use flea and tick prevention treatments on your dog.
An unkempt lawn might also harbor other insects or rodents. These pests can live within the grass and bushes, and they can burrow holes in your yard. When your dog sees a hole in the ground, it will be triggered to dig further. This can disturb a nest and cause injury to the dog.
You may decide to use a pesticide to prevent these unwanted guests. In that case, be sure to do more research and choose a pesticide that will not harm your dog. You may also have trees just beyond the edge of your yard on municipal property. If so, stay abreast of when these trees are treated with pesticides. Usually, the town will leave a note, but it does not always remain posted. The pesticides used on trees can sometimes be harmful to dogs.
Taking care of your lawn also includes cleaning up toys. Many families have pool toys or small children’s toys that a dog can easily play with or chew. If a dog eats plastic or certain other materials toys are made from, it can cause damage to the intestines. Your dog could also choke on a toy if it is small enough.
Lastly, when you cut your grass, it is better to do it when your dog is not around. Dogs like to chase lawnmowers, and this can be quite dangerous. When you are finished, do not leave the lawnmower or any of its parts lying around. Taking care of your lawn includes making sure there are no tools left in the yard. A properly maintained lawn equals a happy puppy.
Remove Any Hazardous Plants
Removing hazardous plants is important for your puppy’s safety. Some plants will merely make a dog sick, but others are so toxic they can be life-threatening. How do you know which plants are safe and which aren’t? This can be a tricky thing. If you have a garden, were you aware that tulips, hyacinths, and irises are toxic?
There are also many others to beware of. You need to take an inventory of your yard. Make sure you are conscious of all the plants in it. This includes those in your garden and the ones scattered around that appear to be harmless bushes or weeds. Remember to look for plants that may be leaning into your yard from a neighboring property. They can sometimes grow through a fence or hang over it. It may take some time to identify all the types of plants you have, but this step is most of the work. The local branch of your state horticultural service can probably be of assistance.
Once you’ve identified them, check to determine if any are dangerous. Those should be eliminated immediately. Be sure to remove them from the root so they don’t grow back, and remember to pick up residual leaves that have fallen during the extraction. The best way to be sure you have removed all dangerous plants properly is to hire a landscaper. If there are any plants that you are unsure of, ask your vet for more guidance.
Now that you’re aware of these ways you can keep your puppy safe while it plays in your backyard, don’t forget that there are still many other things you can do. Ask your veterinarian for more information and suggestions on what you can do to protect your dog. Whether you choose a fence or make any of the other changes to accommodate the needs of your pet, it can be a little expensive and time-consuming. Just remember that it will be worth it to know your dog is safe.