From picking out the perfect name to buying toys for them to play with, welcoming a new pup into your home is incredibly exciting. However, it’s also a big responsibility for the whole family, which means it is not something that you should take lightly.
For example, you should ensure you are going above and beyond to prepare your home for your new arrival. While puppy-proofing your interiors is important, don’t forget to take care of your garden, too. After all, they’ll have a lot of energy to burn through, and being able to play in your yard is a great way for them to do so!
With that in mind, here are some steps that you can take to ensure your backyard is safe and tidy for your new pup.
Start by cleaning up the space. The first step toward preparing your yard for puppy fun and play is to clean up the space. For example, you should remove debris and weeds while also investing in an electric mower to cut the grass. This way, you’re well on your way to making the space safer for them.
Remove potentially toxic plants. A wide range of common plants and flowers are toxic to dogs, such as daffodils and lilies. As such, you should make sure that you remove them from your garden ahead of time, in order to protect your four-legged friend from any harm. Before planting anything new, make sure to do a quick online search to determine if it’s pup-approved or not!
Secure your exits. Puppies are inquisitive by nature. While this can be adorable to watch, it also means that they’re similar to escape artists and are always on the lookout for ways to break free of your yard. As such, you should make sure that all exits are secured, such as by securing holes in your fences and walls, and making sure that they are of a specific height. Of course, you should also make sure that they are always supervised when playing outside.
Clean up after them. Pups are not the best at cleaning up after themselves, so you should make sure that you clean your yard (and pick up any dog poop) on a regular basis. This is because dog poop is not only unsightly and smelly, it also contains high amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus that can damage your lawn. As this is part of the process of being a responsible pet owner, you should take it in turns to take over this duty.
Make sure they have access to shade. While dogs love playing outside all day long, they are also prone to overheating when temperatures climb. As such, you should make sure that there are plenty of shady areas within your garden, where they will be able to relax and cool off. On hot days, be sure to fill up their outdoor water bowl as often as you can, as they will likely drink a lot more during this time, to.