After more than thirty years I can say that it is possible to have a well-equipped garden and a happy dog too. Through trial and error, advice from nurserymen and master gardeners, and sharing ideas with gardener friends, I have learned about gardening with dogs. Actually, it is not too complicated.
I just have three things in mind. First, I start with the end in mind. The yard and garden should be adapted to the needs of all members of the family, including Lizzie, our dog. After all, she spends more time outdoors than we do. She needs a little open space to frolic (so do we), a comfortable spot in the warm sun with a bit of shade (so do we), and enjoy a cold drink on those warm summer nights … there seems to be a pattern here. Granted, our dog enjoys almost all of the same garden features that we do. But wait, we’re not quite done.
I’ve found that dogs rarely appreciate the fragility of those plant specimens that nurseries charge so much for. They also don’t appreciate cleverly winding roads. All the dogs I have met have taken the most direct route to their destination. I discovered this in my first garden many years ago. I was new to Oregon and I wanted some of those amazing rhododendrons. I looked for eight beauties in five gallon pots. Each day my Rhodies got a little smaller as my perky Springer Spaniel ran down the garden path and “bumpled” into them.
Susan’s Best “Dog Friendly” Plants
These plants do not appear on anyone’s “toxic” list and will recover from a little abuse.
- California lilac (Ceanothus sp.)
- ChokeberryAronia sp.)
- Bamboo grouping
- Coreopsis
- Golden streams Ribes sp. (Saxifragaceae)
- HoneysuckleLonicera sp.)
- Lavender (Lavandula sp.)
- Ornamental grasses (various varieties of Deschampsia, Eragrostis, Helictotrichon miscanthus, Pennisetum)
- Jara (Cistus sp.)
- SedgeCarex sp.)
- Bridal crownSpirea thunbergii)
- Viburnum “Spring Bouquet” (Caprifoliacceae tinus)
- Dwarf purple wicker willow (Salix sp.)
My advice is to observe your dog’s natural paths through the yard and plant strong, vigorous specimens near the play and running areas. See my list of some other hearty plants that can be “knocked down” and bounced back just fine.
My last planning point is to know your dog’s nibbling habits and what parts of the plants in your garden can be toxic. When I started gardening, if I had known that all parts of the rhododendron and azalea are toxic to dogs, I would not have planted them. Fortunately, my dog preferred the green bean and strawberry salads. Today, my garden is full of Rhodies and Azaleas, but I know that our dog, Lizzie, limits her bites to a couple of harmless ornamental grasses. It is easy to find out which plants and plant parts are toxic; just search: “toxic plants for pets”.
If you share your garden with your dog at work, play, and rest, your dog will be more relaxed and less likely to relieve boredom from chewing, digging, or other destructive behavior. So plan your garden with your dog in mind. In the end, you will be happily surrounded by beauty and your dog will be happy just to be with you.