Adopting a puppy to be part of your family will fill your home with love for many years to come. Similar to babies, young dogs are full of energy, love, and curiosity. If you are not careful, these furry friends will wreak havoc on your yard. This doesn’t mean that you should prohibit them from entering the yard, but instead to make it a better place for them and your family. There are things to do to make your yard dog-friendly while protecting the landscape. Here are 8 ways to prepare your yard for a new member of the family, a cuddly puppy.

Ready the Fence

The yard’s fence has 3 jobs: to improve the aesthetics of the yard, to keep anything from going in, and to keep anything from going out like your new puppy. The first thing to do is to check your fence for any weak spots that the dog can sneak out from or break. If there are gaps in the fence, you should immediately fix them, so your puppy won’t escape. Keep in mind that your young dog will grow up and will get bigger, so the fence should be high enough to prevent your pet from jumping over it. The recommended height is 6 feet, as most dogs can’t jump higher than this. Add extensions to your fence if its height is less than 6 feet.

Splash Pool

After playing and fetching, your puppy will need to cool down. Their fur will make them feel hot, and the best way to cool down is to have a splash pool. You don’t have to pay a lot of money for it, as you can get a hard plastic kiddie pool for around $20 or maybe even less. Inflatable pools aren’t suitable for dogs as their claws will ruin them instantly. You can dig the pool a few inches deep to prevent your dog from dragging it around the yard. Fountains and shallow ponds made of smooth stones will improve your yard’s aesthetics, but they are expensive.

Remove Trash

Puppies are extremely curious, and they will bite, chew, and claw everything they find while exploring your yard. Some trash or debris might be too dangerous for your pet to play with. Before welcoming the young pooch to your home, remove trash around the yard, including plastic bags and sharp objects that might injure the dog, and are small enough to be swallowed, or choke on. If the garbage can is around the yard, secure it tightly, so your dog won’t topple it over and enjoy its contents.

Repel Unwanted Animals and Birds

Depending on where you live, stray animals and birds may get in your yard. These animals might harm your young pup or injure it. Birds can also be a bit aggressive, such as crows and geese. If you are looking for methods of how to get rid of geese, puppies might not be as effective as mature dogs. Depending on each creature, there are several ways to repel animals. One foolproof way to ensure that no birds or animals will come to your yard is to remove any food sources for them, such as feeding them or leaving your garbage can accessible for them.

Change the Yard’s Ground Cover

Your lawn can be damaged by your new furry friend in several ways, such as urine and digging. Dog’s urine leaves brown spots on the grass. Hosing down the areas where your puppy urinated will prevent the spots from appearing, but it is extremely difficult to keep up with them every day. There are grass alternatives that will keep the aesthetics of the yard while not worrying about the damage done to or by your young dog. Clover is an affordable ground cover that is safe for dogs to eat unless they eat it in huge quantities, and it doesn’t stain your clothes. Synthetic turf and grass blends give the same grassy look but are a bit more expensive than clover. Stone and mulch are excellent ground covers if you want a change from grass, but the stone is expensive.

Add Shade

In warm months, your loveable hound will need shade to cool down and relax. Having shaded areas will reduce the risk of holes in your yard, as dogs tend to dig holes and lay in them. They do that to remove the hot layer of ground and find a cooler layer to lay on. Heat-resistant artificial grass can also help keep the ground cooler for your dog, reducing the need for digging. You can provide shade by planting tall trees, which will also improve the aesthetic of your yard. A doghouse is an excellent way to provide shelter for your puppy not only from the sun but from the elements such as rain, strong wind, and snow.

Grow Dog-Safe Plants and Flowers

When you’re planning the design of your yard, you must keep your dog’s health into consideration when choosing which plants and flowers to grow. Puppies will eat anything while discovering their new home, and some plants are poisonous to dogs if ingested. Naturally, you don’t want your dog to chew on any plants, but you can’t keep an eye on them all the time. The dog-safe plants include marigold, sage, tiger lilies, and cilantro while the plants you should avoid are azalea, daffodil, and iris, among others.

Install a Sandbox

Do you want to let your puppy dig without ruining your yard? Install a sandbox that will keep him from ruining your grass and flowers. It will allow the dog to get the digging out of its system and have fun while you enjoy your garden. In the summer, you can keep the sandbox slightly damp, which will make your dog use it even more. They will dig to find a cool spot which is more appealing than digging in your yard.

Having a young dog fills your life and home with joy and love. You can enjoy your puppy and your yard at the same time if you prepare the yard to welcome the new member of your family. You don’t need to make drastic changes at all; just what’s needed to accommodate the new dog. Don’t forget to create a dog path once you know what path it usually takes every day around the yard.