11 Tips to Create a Dog-Friendly Yard, Straight From the Pros

Your dog is a member of the family. And just like any family member, your dog deserves a space of its own to run around, relax in the shade, or dig a hole. If you own a home with a backyard, renovating the space is the perfect solution to provide a space your dog won’t want to leave.

To help you get started, we reached out to dog experts from across North America, from Baltimore, MD to Penticton, BC to give us their best tips on how to create a dog-friendly backyard. From installing a porthole bubble in your fence to building a portable ramp to your porch, read on to see 11 backyard renovation tips you may not have thought of. 

1) Try pet-safe plants 

Pet-friendly landscaping goes beyond places to play and potty. Dogs’ brains thrive on smelling new things. So plant pet-safe plants like rosemary, thyme, and basil that you can also use in the kitchen. – Boston Terriers of Boston

Be responsible for the plants in your backyard. Some plants and fauna may be potentially harmful to animals, so ensure that your backyard is dog-safe before allowing your furkid to roam around. Remember to always keep an eye on what your dog interacts with when they are outside. – Pawjourr

2) Keep your landscaping dog friendly 

Certain plants and flowers, like daffodils and hydrangeas, can be toxic to dogs and should not be planted in a place where they may be accidentally ingested. Keep your minds at ease and your yard dog-friendly by saying no to plants that are harmful to your furry friends. – Dogs of Charm City

3) Ensure there is a fence, water, and shade for your dog

A fenced-in dog-friendly yard creates a safe space and gives your dog room to run, sniff, and explore. Just as important is making sure your dog has fresh water (a small fountain is a blast to drink from and even play in) and lots of shade to relax under after all that physical and mental enrichment. – The Inner Dog

4) Install a porthole bubble for your dog

While we love turf in an outside space, a grassy lawn is fun for your pets too – especially one with equal parts sun and shade. The one item that stands out in a yard that is one of our favorite features is a porthole bubble. We installed one in the fence in our yard at home at a dog’s-eye level so she could peek out at the neighborhood and see what’s going on. – Good Dog, Inc.

5) Create an enrichment area in your dog-friendly yard

Make room in your dog-friendly yard for an enrichment area for your dog to do some scatter feeding, digging, and ‘find it’ games. Every dog needs a job and designing an adventure area for your furry friend means they don’t have to create their own jobs. Tallgrass plus bark and wood chippings are ideal. – Wolfgangs Way Dog Training 

6) Build a secure fence to reduce barking

Fencing should not allow dogs to see through if you want to reduce barking. Securing under fences by using a couple of layers of pavers or by concreting under them should protect your yard from neighbors’ pets and should keep yours in. – Pets Training and Boarding

7) Install a dog door in the exterior wall of your backyard

Start by cutting a hole in the wall going through all layers and frame out the hole after installing the dog door so it looks nice from the inside. Then build or purchase a dog house large enough to cover the dog door with the back wall of the dog house, cut a hole in the back wall of the dog house, and slide the dog house against the dog door. No one can see the dog door from the outside. – Family Dog Club

8) Create a digging pit in your dog-friendly yard

Big holes and unseemly dirt piles are usually not what a homeowner thinks about as  “yard perfection.”The best way to handle this and create a dog-friendly yard is by creating a digging pit. Having an area of your yard set aside as a special place for your dog to dig, and encouraging them to dig there by hiding delicious treats, is the gold star treatment to avoid a yard excavation mess. – Kristi Benson

9) Create a dog-friendly ramp to the back porch

One of the best things I’ve done for my dogs is to create a dog-friendly ramp leading up to the back porch. Not only is it helpful for senior dogs, but dogs of all ages may have injuries that would make stairs difficult or impossible. It is important that the ramp is not too steep and that the ramp is wide enough to accommodate wheels for your dog if he ever needs them. – Beth Patterson, Daily Dog Tag

10) Add a water feature to your backyard

We know dogs love grass, but water is often a close second. Consider adding a water feature to your dog-friendly backyard. Big or small, it will add, soothing sounds, and variety to your yard that your dog will enjoy for years to come. – Adeo Pets

11) Build a DIY potty spot for your dog

If you want your pup to potty in a particular area of your yard, you can create a DIY potty spot, like a gravel pit. To get them in the habit of pottying in that area, make sure to take them out to that spot on leash at first, and consistently reward them for going to the bathroom in that spot. – Urban Pawsibilities

Originally published on Redfin.com

The Humpty Dance - All about humping

It’s embarrassing, one minute your dog is playing the next they’re humping their friends. But why do our dogs hump? Is it because of dominance? Is it because of stress? Well we’re here to tell you all the reasons why your dog humps.

Oh My God Becky Look at her butt….

Humping is a natural behavior in all dogs of all ages. Whether spayed/neutered or not any dog can have the propensity to hump. While people usually think of it as “dominance” that’s just not the truth. Believe it or not your dog is not out to show you “who’s boss” or trying to dominate you. Despite what people may say humping has nothing to do with dominance. The term “dominance” when speaking about dogs refers to access to a resource such as bones, toys, food, or any other thing that can be viewed as a resource.

i mean, her butt, it’s just so big

Dogs hump for a variety of reasons and over-stimulation is one of the most common ones. When a dog gets over-stimulated some may do zoomies, some may bark and others will hump. It just means that they have reached a level of excitement and this is how they handle those types of situations. If your dog is humping in a social situation like our meetup it may just mean that they need a break. It’s okay to exit the meetup to give your dog a second to cool down.

I like big butts and I cannot lie

Some dogs hump because they’re anxious. Anxiety in dogs can often create displacement behaviors. Which means when they get anxious they feel the need to hump something. It’s a way for dogs to relieve that anxious feeling. If you have an anxious dog who humps it’s okay to let them have this time for themself. If you are really uncomfortable with your dog humping then try to find another outlet for stress relief like enrichment. If you’re not sure what enrichment is you can check out our posts on all things enrichment here and here.

Baby got back

Sometimes humping is just a form of play. Dogs play in many different ways. Stalking, chasing, biteyface, wrestling and humping are all forms of playing in dogs. When dogs play they often mimic behaviors that they would do in real life situations. Stalking and chasing are hunting behaviors, biteyface and wrestling are fighting behaviors while humping is a sexual behavior. It is thought that dog play is just practice for when they’re in the real world.

has your girlfriend got the butt?

Sometimes it just feels so darn good. While it definitely isn’t “dominance” sometimes there isn’t always a reason for humping other than it feels good. If you have a dog that humps then there is no reason not to let your pup have a little time alone. So long as it doesn’t create a problem. However, if they’re humping humans then you might want to redirect them to a toy or a chew.

April is Heartworm Awareness Month

We’ve all been there, we’re hanging outside in the summer having a relaxing time when bam a mosquito comes a bites you. They’re a pain in the butt for us humans but did you know that they can be deadly for dogs? The American Heartworm Society reports that more than a million pets in the US currently have heartworms.

What is Heartworm Disease?

Heartworm disease is a serious (preventable) and sometimes fatal disease in dogs (and other pets) in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body. If left untreated, the number of worms increases. Dogs can harbor up to several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone.

Heartworm disease has been reported in all 50 states, and while some areas may have more infections, it is equally important to have your dog on a preventative.

How can I tell my pup has heartworms?

In the early stages of infection dogs often will show little to no symptoms. However, as the disease progresses dogs will present with a mild yet persistent cough, be less active, fatigued after moderate activity, have a decreased appetite and weight loss.

How is Heartworm detected?

A simple blood test taken yearly for adult dogs who have already been on prevention. For puppies starting prevention at 7 months is appropriate. Puppies and adult dogs who have not been on prevention will need to be tested again at 6 months and 12 months later. It can take up to 6 months for a dog to test positive after being infected. It is recommended to have your dogs on heartworm preventative all year round.

What happens if my dog tests positive?

If your dog tests positive it is imperative you go to your veterinarian and start treatment. Treatment for heartworms is a series of injections called Immiticide®. During treatment it is imperattive that dogs are kept on crate rest and not be able to exercise after the injections. As the worms start to die and start to decompse they break up and are carried to the lungs. Here they lodge in the small blood vessels and are eventually reabsorbed by the body.

How is Heartworm Prevented?

Heartworm is prevented by giving your dog a monthly chewable that has different flavors like beef. You can get these meds from your vet. My dog Shyla takes hers willingly with no issues at all.

Non-Food Related Canine Enrichment

We’ve previously tackled food related enrichment in our blog post “What is Canine Enrichment” and we’ve also given you some ideas on how to keep your pups active during quarantine with your blog post “Top eight ways to keep your dog busy during quarantine”. But how can we create enrichment without using food?

What is non-food related enrichment?

As we’ve previously discussed enrichment is any sort of activity that is designed to create mental stimulation and enhances your dog’s mental state. Enrichment makes your dog use their brain to problem solve and pick up new skills. It could mean taking your dog out to a field on a long line to let them sniff or it could be it can also be letting your dogs shred cardboard boxes.

Why is non-food related enrichment so important?

It’s so important because letting your dog express natural behaviors can not only help them build confidence it can also help them relax. Local dog trainer Jenny Efimova of Dogminded wrote an excellent article on the power of non-food related decompression walks.

Ball Pit Amazon.com

Okay, so what can I do to create enrichment for my dog?

There are TONS of different things you can do for your dog. You can take them out for a decompression walk where they’re on a really long line or off leash and have freedom to move around and sniff as much as they want. You can make them a sand pit with a kiddie pool for dogs who like to dig. The sand pit is a really great way to encourage dogs natural foraging and digging abilities.

Okay, but my dog doesn’t like to dig or sniff.

First, I find it hard to believe you have a dog who doesn’t like to sniff. Dogs literally have 200 million olfactory cells and sniffing is the most natural thing dogs know how to do. My own dog absolutely LOVES to sniff. We call it reading peemail. I jokingly tell people she’s like your grandma who is just learning how to use email and hits reply all instead of just reply because she also leaves her own peemail behind all the time. You can also get flavored bubbles and blow bubbles for your dogs.

Okay, but this seems like too much effort, what can i do that’s easy?

If none of the above are of interest to your dog you could try a flirt pole. These are great for when you can’t get outside to do a lot of exercise. BTB member Gimli loves his flirt pole so much his parents have to keep it hidden. You don’t even have to make your own you can buy one on Amazon. You can even take your dog on a long car rides which are perfect for dogs who love the car. Or maybe your pup would like a ball pit instead? These are all really great ways to create enrichment for your pups.

Some words of wisdom

If your pup gives up and doesn’t want to continue because it’s too hard for them, you should bring it back to an easier point where they are having fun. You don’t want to make it difficult for them. Enrichment should be fun and exciting for your pups, not hard and challenging. Also if you have a dog trainer who is not actively talking about enrichment ideas with you and your pups, it may be time to find a new one. Enrichment is a huge part of training these days and a trainer who isn’t talking about it probably isn’t up to date with their training credentials. We’d also like to mention that laser pointers are NOT considered enrichment. They’re actually really bad for dogs and can cause behavioral issues.

Some places for inspiration:

As you can see here Johnny and Bodhi’s mom is always doing fun enrichment for them.

The Facebook group Canine Enrichment is an excellent source of inspiration. This is where I learned of Bindisbucketlist this woman takes enrichment to a whole different level. She is so creative and it truly amazes me. You don’t have to be as creative as her that’s totally okay. It’s just great to get some ideas when you’re running low. I also get really great ideas from our friends from down under Johnny and Bodhi. Their mom is always doing some fun enrichment. As a matter of fact if it weren’t for Johnny and Bodhi I wouldn’t have known about the Likimats that my dog loves so much.

Show us how you do enrichment:

On Instagram or on Facebook. Also check out our YouTube Channel for more DIY ideas. We’ve created an Enrichment playlist with a bunch of different videos for inspiration.

What is Canine Enrichment

You may have heard this term before but maybe you aren’t sure what exactly it is. We even talked about it in the beginning of quarantine with our blog post “Top eight ways to keep your dog busy during quarantine”. But what exactly is enrichment? For this post we’re going to explore ways to use food for enrichment.

What is enrichment?

Enrichment is any sort of activity that is designed to create mental stimulation and enhances your dog’s mental state. Enrichment makes your dog use their brain to problem solve and pick up new skills. It could be different ways of feeding your dogs, and it could also be taking your dog out for a sniff walk. With enrichment you want you give your dog an opportunity to engage in activities that come natural to them like sniffing, scavenging, shredding, licking and chewing. There are many different types of enrichment.

Why is enrichment so important?

Enrichment is important because it helps keep your dog’s brain active by creating new and exciting ways for them to do new things. Enrichment gives your dog the chance to engage all their natural senses like sniffing, or scavenging.

West Paw Toppl Photo Amazon.com

Okay, so what can I do to create enrichment for my dog?

There are TONS of different toys out there that can be used for food enrichment. We gave you some awesome ideas here but there are even more you can use. Some of our favorites include the Westpaw Toppl, the Holee Roller ball, a snuffle mat, the Nina Ottosson toys for Outward Hound, the SodaPup toys, and the PetSafe Chilly Penguin.

Okay, but I don’t want to give my dog lots of treats.

That’s okay you don’t have to use treats for everything. You can use your dog’s daily food for almost anything. You can also add in some dog safe fruits and veggies for something extra. There’s all sorts of ways to mix things up with your dog’s food instead of just feeding them out of a boring bowl. You need to look beyond the bowl and be creative with how you feed.

Okay, but I don’t want to spend a ton of money on new toys!

Honestly you don’t even have to spend a cent with enrichment. You can use lots of household items for these activities.

• What are you doing with those toilet paper rolls? Nothing? Hide food in those and then hide them around the house. I’ve even seen people make advent calendars with toilet paper rolls.

• Have some spare towels? Throw some food in there and roll it up.

• Empty Amazon boxes? Throw some paper in there with food and let them forage for their food.

• Have some empty plastic bottles going in the recycling? String a rope through them and hang it in a doorway for your pup to try and get their food out.

• Have a muffin tin hanging around? You can use that too for enrichment.

Some words of wisdom

If your pup gives up and doesn’t want to continue because it’s too hard for them, you should bring it back to an easier point where they are having fun. You don’t want to make it difficult for them. Enrichment should be fun and exciting for your pups, not hard and challenging. Like when I feed my dog in her Toppl, if she can’t get to the stuff at the bottom and gives up I happily loosen it for her so that she can easily access it. Also if you have a dog trainer who is not actively talking about enrichment ideas with you and your pups, it may be time to find a new one. Enrichment is a huge part of training these days and a trainer who isn’t talking about it probably isn’t up to date with their training credentials. In an effort to make things last longer we’re a big fan of freezing things. It makes the enrichment activity last longer without upping the difficulty. It’s not necessary to use a freezer I just happen to like this option for my own dog.

Some places for inspiration:

As you can see here Johnny and Bodhi’s mom is always doing fun enrichment for them. What pup wouldn’t love a shark fin?

The Facebook group Canine Enrichment is an excellent source of inspiration. This is where I learned of Bindisbucketlist this woman takes enrichment to a whole different level. She is so creative and it truly amazes me. You don’t have to be as creative as her that’s totally okay. It’s just great to get some ideas when you’re running low. I also get really great ideas from our friends from down under Johnny and Bodhi. Their mom is always doing some fun enrichment. As a matter of fact if it weren’t for Johnny and Bodhi I wouldn’t have known about the Likimats that my dog loves so much. Not only does their mom do some really awesome enrichment but their account in general his absolutely hilarious.

Show us how you do enrichment:

On Instagram or on Facebook. Also check out our YouTube Channel for more DIY ideas. We’ve created an Enrichment playlist with a bunch of different videos for inspiration.

Counterconditioning and Desensitization for Fear of Fireworks

It’s that time of year again and if your neighborhood is anything like mine fireworks have already been going off for weeks now. It’s no surprise that dogs can be afraid of the sound fireworks make so we’re here to help your dog understand that fireworks aren’t so scary.

What is counterconditioning?

Counterconditioning means changing the dog’s emotional response, reaction or approach toward a stimulant, whether it be other dogs, skateboards or in this case fireworks. In other words, by feeding your dog delicious treats while you’re playing fireworks on the TV your dog will start to associate fireworks with yummy treats and so fireworks aren’t so scary.

What is Desensitization?

Desensitization is the slow introduction of your dog to it’s phobias at a low level. Starting slowly you can over time build up your dog’s exposure to its triggers, in this case fireworks. Ideally this would be done so that your dog never has the opportunity to react towards fireworks so you’ll need to find that sweet spot where they can hear the fireworks and not get upset.

How does counterconditioning and Desensitization work?

Counterconditioning and desensitization works by exposing your dogs to their triggers (fireworks) while rewarding them with high value treats. Starting at home with you and your dog you play fireworks on the TV at a low volume while simultaneously giving your dog treats like say hot dogs or chicken. Over time you’ll gradually increase the volume so that you can work your way up to almost real life.

How do i know if I’m doing it right?

You’ll know you’re doing it right if your dog is not reacting to the stimuli (fireworks on TV) in the background. However, if your dog starts to show any signs of stress you need to go back to the level where they’re comfortable.

Okay but my dog isn’t food motivated!

That’s okay, not all dogs are pigs like mine (who will sneak off to eat the garbage any chance she can get). Some dogs have a favorite toy or crave affection. You can use any of these things. Does your pup have a favorite ball? Then you can teach this with their ball. You just want to make this as positive experience as possible.

Can I use this for other things as well?

You can absolutely use counterconditioning and desensitization for other things too. The world can be a scary place for dogs. Counterconditioning and desensitization can be used for police sirens, car backfires, skateboards, bicycles, barking and even other dogs. There are a myriad of ways that counterconditioning and desensitization can help your dog live a long, stress free life. Using counterconditioning every chance you get, you can give your dog confidence.  It is not necessary to wait for fears, phobias and anxiety to start showing.

Does my dog have to sit to get the treat?

No. There’s no reason that your dog should need to sit to get the treats you are offering during your work. You just want them to be calm and relaxed and if that means they need to stand then that’s okay too.

See it in action

Here’s a great video of counterconditioning and desensitization for fireworks. Note that while he has his dog sit it’s not a requirement for your dog to be sitting.

How to Find a Responsible Breeder

I’m often asked about breeders and people wanting puppies and truth be told I don’t know any breeders.  I only know the ones you guys mention in your Meetup Member of the Month posts. While in a perfect world everyone would chose to rescue I do realize that it’s not for everyone. So here’s some tips for finding a responsible breeder.

home is where the heart is

A responsible breeder will allow you to visit their house and shows you all areas where puppies and breeding dogs spend their time.  The areas are clean, spacious, and well-maintained. Meeting your puppy will let you see first hand that he/she does not have any existing health or behavior problems and that he/she is being raised in a caring environment.

MEET THE PARENTS

Responsible breeders want you to spend time with the puppy’s parents when you visit.  The parents are a glimpse into the kind of the dog your pup will become. Everyone should be healthy and friendly. 

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE GENETICS

A good breeder will know about potential genetic and developmental problems native to the breed and provides documentation that the puppy’s parents and grandparents have been evaluated in an effort to breed those problems out. (This should include genetic testing for diseases where a valid testing protocol is available).

CHECK THEIR REFERENCES

Provides references from other families who have previously purchased one of their puppies.  Has healthy, long-lived adult dogs and contact info for previous buyers. The health and lifespan of a breeder's dogs are a sneak peek into the pups' futures. Find out as much as you can about them. Speak to people who own adult dogs bought from your breeder. Have there been any recurring medical problems like chronic ear infections? Do any of them have high-maintenance health issues like food allergies? Epilepsy? How long do the dogs generally live for?

TALK TO THE BREEDERS AT DOG SHOWS

Good breeders are often actively involved with local, state, and national clubs that specialize in the specific breed; responsible breeders may also compete with the dogs in conformation events, obedience trials, tracking and agility trials, or other performance events.  They love to show off their dogs and will often have pictures of the dogs in competition on their websites.

SELLS TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW

Sells puppies only to people he/she has met in person or even in a detailed phone conversation, not to pet stores or to unknown buyers over the Internet.  Reputable breeders don't sell their puppies to strangers! They want to get to know you. They'll ask you about your family, if you rent or own your home, who will be caring for the pup, etc. etc.  Watch out for those who don't ask for much more than your credit card number.  

PROVIDES A HEALTH GUARANTEE

Provides you with a written contract and health guarantee and allows plenty of time for you to read it thoroughly.  Has a veterinarian individually examine and vaccinate each puppy and has verifiable proof of this. Proof of veterinary care is NOT a vaccination schedule with dates written on it by the seller. This is a common way sellers will deceive puppy buyers. True proof is paperwork from a licensed veterinarian. All puppies should have been vaccinated and examined by a licensed vet and you should be provided with paperwork that details the results of the exams.

what kinds of health testing

A lot of breeders will say that they provide health testing but don’t mention what specific tests they perform or sometimes they’ll say that they did health testing through Embark. Unfortunately those are big red flags. The kinds of testing you want to ask your breeder if they do are, Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) which measures the electrical activity as the brain receives the auditory stimulus of sound, Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER) which screens dogs for inherited eye problems . Breeders will also test for Juvenile Hereditary Cataracts and check the patellas since Bostons are prone to Luxating Patella.

COLORS

A reputable breeder breeds for the betterment of the breed and to breed standard. According to the AKC website the breed standard colors are Black & White, Black Brindle & White, Brindle & White, Seal & White, Seal Brindle & White. Anyone saying we breed all colors or off colors or even non-standard colors doesn’t actually care about preserving the breed standard. They only care about money. Anyone selling any sort of merle dog is not a reputable breeder so please stay far away from that.

It’s a Waiting Game

Reputable breeders often have waiting lists so anyone who has puppies available right away is very suspect. IF you’ really want to get a well bred puppy then we suggest getting on a few waiting lists. It takes time to find the right fit for your family so don’t rush it. You’ll get there eventually.

STILL UNSURE?

Come to a Meetup and talk with our members about their experiences. They’re happy to talk to you about their breeders and what to look for.

What to Get Your Pup for the Holidays

Still looking for that perfect gift for your pup for the Holidays? Well, we’ve complied a small list of some fun things you can get. We’ve got some great recommendations for you but want to see what you got your pups. See the end of the article for more!

A new perch bed from Perch Pet Products.

If your pup is anything like mine then you know that one bed is never enough. Even if your pup sleeps with you there’s always the need for another bed. I saw this really awesome bed and knew I had to share.

New mugs from Boston Terrier Love

No holiday is complete without a nice hot drink and what better way to get your morning cup of joe than in a seriously cute Boston Terrier mug.

A new fleece from Wag The Nub

It’s no secret that we LOVE Wag The Nub sweaters. Seriously we own probably closer to ten now. Nothing else fits as well as these do which is why we keep ordering them. With the option to customize it with a heart or as I just recently saw a star your pup will be warm and stylish all winter long.

Winter boots from Pawz Dog Boots

Truth be told we have tried on so many different pairs of dog boots. So far these are the only ones have have not only fit but also stayed on. These are not super insulating so if you’re scaling the Matterhorn you might want more warmth. The best part about these boots is that all you have to do is hold your dog’s paw to the back of the packaging to see if they fit.

For the naughty pup Lumps of Coal from Bocce’s Bakery

We love all the Bocce’s Bakery treats and found these hilarious Lumps of Coal at Wag Nation and had to pick them up. With limited ingredients these are great for pups with allergies. They come in all sorts of yummy flavors too. For the good pup Bocce’s Bakery also makes Ginger Snaps.

A long lasting Summit Dog Chew from 2 Dogs Treats

All the time I see people looking for something that lasts a while to keep your pup occupied while doing chores, etc. Look no further than these amazing chews, they’re made from cow & yak milk, lime juice & salt. The best part is when they’re down to a nub you can pop them in the microwave for a few seconds and they puff right up.

An interactive slow feeder bowl from Amazon

Does your pup inhale their food in seconds? I know my dog does for sure which is why I have a slow feeder for her. This bowl combines mental stimulation while also slowing them down when eating. It’s a two for one.

A Knottie candy stripe Santa from Hugglehounds

What pup doesn’t love new toys? I love the entire line of Hugglehounds toys. They’re always so cute and so much fun to watch my pup enjoy!

Did you get something special for your pup for the Holidays? Show us on Facebook or Instagram