How to Make Your Yard Pet-friendly

If you have recently moved into a new property, ensuring that your yard is pet-friendly should be one of your most important priorities so that your animal can get outside and enjoy the fresh air as soon as possible.

This is because, although your yard might belong to you in theory, it may well be somewhere that your pet ends up spending a great deal of time. This is particularly true if you have a dog or cat, but rabbits, tortoises, snakes, fleas, ticks, and other animals can also benefit from a great back-yard.

One of the biggest mistakes of pet owners is assuming that their yard is going to be safe for their beloved animal. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and you may have to make a few adjustments to the space before you can even let your pet go outside. Not only do you need to think about ensuring that you can keep your animal safely contained in your yard, but you also need to make sure you are doing all you can to keep other animals, particularly those that could pose a threat to your pet, out of your backyard.

Here are our top tips to make your yard a safe and fun retreat for your pet.

Secure the perimeter of your backyard

Animals are talented at escaping enclosed spaces, so unless you want your little escape artist to be at risk, we strongly recommend that the first thing you do is to secure the perimeter of your yard space. Make sure there are no gaps under or between fences, and that they are high enough to keep your pet in. Animals can be resourceful, so ensure that there isn’t anything your pet can use to help scale walls or fences.

Make sure the plants are appropriate

While greenery in your yard might look lovely, there are a surprising number of plants and flowers that are actually toxic to animals. Since your pet is properly not too fussy about what they sniff, lick, and try to eat, it is imperative that you do a little research to ensure that there are no poisonous plants and flowers present to come into contact with. If so, these will need to be removed or your pet carefully supervised outside until they are.

Create shade for your pet

Summer days can be hot, and it is important that your pet has somewhere to retreat to when the sun gets too much. If your yard doesn’t have any natural shade you will need to create some, which you can do by purchasing a large canopy or even using a big patio umbrella. If you have a dog, you could consider buying him a kennel and placing it in the coolest part of the yard. Keep an extra close eye on your pet during the summer months to ensure there is plenty of cool fresh water and doesn’t become dehydrated.

Discourage other animals

Wild animals are a nuisance regardless if you already have pets. They carry diseases, can damage your yard, and make a mess. In most cases, the main reason for a wild animal or another local pet to try and get into your yard is for food or to try and interact with your dog. Some of the best ways to keep other pests out are to ensure that your fences are sturdy, your garbage is disposed of properly and inaccessible to any creatures that might try to get into it and you don’t leave food or water outside unless you are also in the yard. Keeping your backyard mowed and eliminating clutter such as piles of logs or leaves will eliminate the hiding places that any unwanted visitors can use – in particular creatures like snakes.

Keep your yard in good condition

Fleas and ticks love to lurk in overgrown gardens, so by keeping your yard maintained, you could reduce the likelihood of your pet being affected by these pesky creatures. Trim your lawn regularly, cut back overhanging trees, bushes and plants and keep walkways clear.

For further advice on how to make your yard pet-friendly, please call the experienced team.