Now that warm weather is finally arriving throughout the country, everyone is eager to get outside and that includes the family dog.

We didn’t have a bad winter, but it seems like we’re all more than ready to get out of the house and into the sunshine.

We’ve already chatted about how dog moms can create their very own She Shed for a little peace and quiet. But what about making a place that your dog will love?

Creating a dog-friendly backyard is an important part of helping your pet enjoy her time outdoors. In this post, I’m sharing a few of my own tips, tricks, and ideas for creating a space that is safe and welcoming for your dog, as well as beautiful and comfortable for everyone in the family.

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5 Tips for Creating a Dog-Friendly Backyard

1. Dog-Friendly Plants

Whether you’ve got plants in flower beds in your yard or in containers on your porch or patio, you’ll want to make sure they’re not toxic to dogs. If you have questions about which plants are safe, visit the ASPCA website to learn more.

Some common plants that you will want to avoid include:

1. Azaleas
2. Lilies
3. Daffodils
4. Elephant Ear
5. Sago Palm

When designing your dog-friendly backyard, you’ll find more plants to avoid in this blog post. 

Always be sure to keep the ASPCA’s 24-hour emergency poison hotline number on hand in case of emergencies. Reach them at 888-426-4435.

2. Give Me Shelter

Even if your dog enjoys being outdoors all day long, she still needs a comfortable place to get away from the elements.

Consider a dog house; you can find some super cute ones, and many can be customized to match your home and landscape style.

Photo courtesy of Wayfair.com

3. Provide Plenty of Fresh Water

Do you know that your dog requires an ounce of water for every pound of body weight every single day? Especially during the warm months of spring and summer, it’s so important to provide plenty of fresh water.

I’ve found that using a pretty planter or urn is a great way to make my dog’s water bowl look attractive on my deck. Just add a stainless steel water bowl.

Be sure to clean the bowl often and replace with cool, fresh water.

Photo courtesy of JossAndMain.com

4. Secure Your Pet

No matter where you live, no matter how safe your neighborhood is, your pet must be secured at all times. This means a fenced yard, a leash, or you being present all the time.

Dogs are stolen right out of their own yards all the time, and no matter how well behaved a dog is, it’s easy for them to become distracted and wander away from home.

My best advice is, never leave your dog outdoors alone. Always make sure they are secure in the yard and that the gate is latched. See gate signs like the one below here.

Photo courtesy of Antique Farm House

5. Excuse Me, May I Use Your Restroom?

Having a designated potty area in your dog-friendly backyard is such a great idea. This will help prevent urine burns on your grass and unexpected piles of, well, you know. 

It’s so easy to create a potty area for your dog, and you can get the simple instructions here. 

Photo courtesy of WelcomePup.com

These are just a few simple tips for creating a dog-friendly backyard that the entire family will enjoy. 

How do you create a safe, happy yard for your dog? 

I’d love for you to share your tips in a comment below, or stop by my Facebook group for dog moms and join in the conversation there!