Yikes, My Yard Has Gone to the Dogs

Yikes! My Yard Has Gone To the Dogs!
Does this phrase sound familiar? I have received frantic phone calls from pet owners beckoning me to help them take back their yard. Fortunately, there are ways to create a sustainable, abundant landscape that you desire while providing a safe, happy place for your dog.  Creating this “dogscape” will take a little extra planning.  We can look to permaculture design for some ideas in planning these friendly environments.

The primary consideration is to provide a protected, secure environment for you and your pet. At a minimum, dog friendly yards will have a reliable sturdy fence, access to water, shade, shelter (either living or constructed), running space, and bathroom areas. Within these guidelines, there are many opportunities for creative thinking.

LOOK TO PERMACULTURE DESIGN:

Permaculture is a holistic, thoughtful design system  that imitates the characteristics of a natural, diverse and productive ecosystem. This is based upon a set of principles derived from ecology, indigenous cultures and sustainable technologies. Some of the design principles that relate well with creating dog friendly landscapes include: observation, relative location, working with nature, maximizing edge effect, and collaborating with succession.

To begin the design process, determine a few goals for the project. Having a vision or theme establishes an image of how the property may be used.  Creating this vision is a practice used in all design modalities. Building a dog- centered landscape can include edible landscapes, herb gardens, native gardens, or a combination of them all.

OBSERVE, WATCH, FEEL AND OBSERVE AGAIN

To me, observation is the key to creating an effective design. Take lots of time to analyze the land, your interaction with it, and your dog’s behavior. Some people recommend observing throughout each season for a year.

Survey the lay of the land. Map out the slopes, wind direction, areas of dryness and moisture, sun and shaded area, types of soils, vegetation and views. This exercise will draw you closer to understanding the unique features of your land and what it offers.

Make note of a few characteristics such as: Where do your dogs go when they are let out? Are they attracted to one specific area or romp around the whole yard? At the same time, notice how the household uses the property, too. What’s attractive? What is not? Are there areas that you really dislike being in?  Review the strengths of the land and the challenges.

Watch your dog’s unique behaviors and determine how they affect the property. Dogs have a variety of innate behaviors that need to be taken into consideration. Some dogs are diggers leaving large holes in the yard. Others patrol and protect running along the fence carving dusty paths. Chasers run after everything that moves and leave dirt trails. Then there is the pooch who is content to lay amongst the flowers. However, one thing they all have in common is they deposit waste.

Take note of where these activities occur and the paths created. Often, dogs will define bathroom areas. Sometimes they use the whole back yard. In either case, the information will indicate where planting beds and other elements should be placed..

LOCATION, LOCATION- BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS:

Relative location: this permaculture principle concerns the placement of design elements, such as structures, objects, and plants in areas that interact to create an efficient working system. Some examples for the dog -centered landscape include: a large rock placed in a garden bed to provide warmth for heat loving plants, a trellis for climbing plants, and a seat to sit on. A fence keeps the dog safe, acts as wind barrier, creates microclimates and can be used for growing vines. Fruit trees provide food, shade for the dog and for vegetation, and their leaves provide mulch.

Utilize the zone approach for placement of design elements. Zones are used to outline use and management of the property. Zone 1 incorporates the area closest to the house and comprises the plants and structures that need daily attention. Food producing plants and herbs can be easily managed and accessed in this area. Locate less managed shrubs, perennials and maybe even dogs in Zone 2. Consider placing less managed and used elements in zones 3-5 according to their use. Dogs may fit into all these zones. The zone configuration will differ for each property, household, animal and plant need.

WORK WITH NATURE…THE NATURE OF THE DOG
Consider the behavior and characteristics of the dog. A garden that gets in the way of an active, feisty dog will soon be destroyed. For dogs who love chasing and romping, provide lots of space. Build a raised garden, a fence, or incorporate plants to deter the dog from running through.

Dogs who are passionate diggers can do so in locations that are appropriate. Perhaps there is an area of the property that needs holes or soil turning. But, in most cases, the dog may need their own area for digging.

The patroller needs space to do his protecting. Often his territory is along the fence line. Keep this area free so he can perform his duties. But lay down some pea gravel or wood mulch to avoid those mud tracks in the house.

MAXIMIZE EDGE:
Edge is the space between two ecosystems or environments. It’s also the area where a diversity of plants thrive. I think of edge in the dog- friendly space as building height and texture to invite (or deter) dogs in the garden, and to create microclimates for plants.  Using raised beds, for instance, defines space. It creates the edge between garden bed and lawn or path. The edge between path and lawn may incorporate tough ground covers like multiple varieties of thyme.

PLAN FOR SUCCESSION: PLANTS GROW, SO DO DOGS.
Dogs mature over time and their needs change. Plants also grow and materials wear down. Be aware of this natural occurrence and design for these transitions. Dogs who are now feisty and energetic may need more resting areas in the future. At the same time, shrubs and trees mature and can provide greater shade and comfort for less active dogs.

In addition, the young dog may be trained to stay out of garden areas. In the meantime, portable fences and temporary structures can be placed around gardens for immediate protection. Training may take a little extra work. The future benefits may be worth it.

SUMMARY    Yes, there are ways to have an abundant landscape and nurture dogs at the same time. Thoughtful planning, observation and some creative strategies will assist in this process. Also, invite me to help you develop a plan. Meanwhile, here are a few resources to assist you in getting started on your journey:
¬    Dog Friendly Gardens: Garden Friendly Dogs by Cheryl S. Smith
¬    Dogscaping: Creating the Perfect Backyard and Garden for You and Your Dog by Tom Barthel
¬    Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway

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