By Robin Rhea, PetSafe Senior Brand Manager
One of the best things that spring brings with it is the opportunity for more time in the yard. Many of us kick off our winter boots and throw on our gardening gloves as soon as the sun comes out. If you’ve had your green thumbs out in the garden already or you are thinking about enjoying more time in the yard with your pets, here are a few quick tips to help make this time even more lush and bright.
Fetching foliage It’s the natural law of garden - you can spend hours in the garden and your dog can happily destroy it in 5 seconds. My own dog, Buckley, loves to dig in my mother’s vegetable garden, much to the fear of the vegetable kingdom and my own embarrassment. If you’ve ever slaved in your yard only to have it destroyed by your pet’s mischief, a pet barrier or deterrent can be just what you need to keep the peace for your pansies. The PetSafe’s outdoor barrier is designed to look like a rock, making it a most inconspicuous way to protect your hard work from burrowing bulldogs like mine.
For determined diggers, it is important they have a space where it is okay to dig and you can redirect their behavior.
Can you dig it?
It can also help deter a determined digger to give them an area where it’s okay to dig. Consider finding a less visible spot in your yard, dig a hole and fill it with sand. Encourage your dog to dig here by letting them see you bury their toys, treats or bones an inch below the sand. Praise them to reinforce the behavior. Place your pet’s outdoor water source nearby. Make this area a place for fun and playtime so it becomes their own space where yard-ape behavior is welcome and encouraged.
Pick up the Poop Dog poop contains parasitic pathogens that that pose a threat to human health. Even if you aren’t planting crops in your yard that you plan to eat later, dog feces left on ground can end up getting tracked into your house without your even realizing it. Keep waste bags with your dog accessories near your exits so it’s never a chore to find everything you need to keep your yard clean.
Protect your pet Protect your pet from your yard by making sure you are using pet-friendly, organic fertilizer and insecticides so that your garden and pets are both healthy and happy. Take time to educate yourself on plants that are poisonous to dogs and cats and find safe replacements. If you have just moved into a new home or are visiting a new area, watch your pets carefully and redirect their attention away from plants that you don’t recognize as being safe.
Use these tips to love your yard and your pets and springtime will be an extra-happy time.
What do you have planned for your yard this spring?
