While some dogs prefer to remain indoors, many pooches relish their time outside. In addition to all the interesting sights and sounds they encounter outside, dogs love the many opportunities for play and exercise that being outdoors brings. So, if you have a canine who loves nothing more than spending time outside, why not take measures to enhance their outdoor experience? As you’ll find, creating an outdoor paradise for your pooch in your own backyard is much easier than you may think.
Give Your Dog Lots of Shade
Excessive sun exposure can take quite a toll on canines, especially during the summer months. As such, pet owners who leave their pups out in the sun for extended periods should make sure that they have shaded areas in which to cool off. For starters, this entails constructing or purchasing a doghouse that’s spacious enough to comfortably accommodate your pooch. A gazebo or awning-equipped porch can also serve as a good refuge from the sun. For good measure, you should also consider installing an outdoor ceiling fan.
Make Sure the Yard is Completely Fenced Off
No matter how much trust you have in your favorite canine, they cannot be left in an unfenced yard without a leash or tether. Not only is such behavior likely to draw the ire of your neighbors, it may even land you in legal trouble and potentially lead to your dog being taken away. So, if you intend to leave your dog outside unleashed, take care to fence off your entire yard.
When shopping around, make sure to seek out fencing that’s too tall for your dog to jump over. Additionally, the top of the fencing shouldn’t be pointed or jagged, as this stands to seriously injure your dog if it attempts to leap over it. Furthermore, in the interest of preventing your pooch from tunneling out of your yard, take care to bury thick rocks beneath your fencing.
Consistently Mow Your Lawn
While mowing your lawn on a consistent basis is among the most tedious parts of homeownership, doing so is liable to make your pooch’s time outdoors considerably more comfortable. Not only can tall grass prove difficult for dogs to run through, it can also be a breeding ground for fleas, ticks and other unsavory pests. Needless to say, keeping your lawn nice and short is particularly important throughout the spring, summer and fall months – i.e., the seasons in which grass tends to grow the most. If you lack either the time or energy for regular lawn-mowing, consider delegating this task to a professional lawn-care service.
Provide Ready Access to Clean Water
Your dog should always have ready access to clean water, especially when left alone. If your pooch is left outside during the sweltering summer months without water, it’s likely to become parched or fatigued – or worse. With this in mind, consider investing in a self-filling water dispenser. This will ensure that your dog always has water at the ready, regardless of whether or not you’re there to give it to them.
As is the case with insufficient fencing, a lack of clean water is liable to generate negative attention from neighbors and potentially earn you some costly citations. Given how much running around dogs do outdoors, providing your pooch with constant access to clean water should be a no-brainer.
Give Your Pooch Plenty of Toys
It’s no secret that dogs tend to get bored easily. While being able to run around your backyard will keep your pooch entertained for a while, it will eventually want to explore other avenues of play. To help your pup stave off boredom, provide them with access to an abundance of toys. From tennis balls to squeakers to rope toys, your pooch should have a wide variety of playthings from which to choose.
If there’s one thing dogs love, it’s the great outdoors. Not only does being outside enable dogs to get plenty of exercise, it provides them with ample opportunities to observe wildlife and bask in nature. However, if you intend to leave your pooch outside unsupervised, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take to ensure their safety and comfort. Fortunately, with the help of the pointers outlined above, giving your dog an outdoor oasis should prove anything but challenging.