Introducing a puppy into your home is an exciting time indeed. For many people- especially first-time owners- it can be overwhelming to think about all the different ways you can keep your new pup safe and secure at home. It can feel like your puppy is your child. So of course, you don’t want anything to go wrong. Especially while they are in the comfort of their own home! In this blog, we will discuss the various things you can do specifically in the garden to make it a puppy-friendly space. 

Table of contents

Secure the perimeters

The garden is the perfect place to start off-lead training your puppy. Ensuring it’s safe and secure is key to getting the most out of the space. In the beginning, there may be a fear of him or her getting out of the garden and running onto a road or running away. Of course, this situation would be awful but thankfully it is also one easily prevented. By ensuring the fencing and gates around your garden are secure and complete. Consider replacing old or damaged fencing panels; make sure there are no gaps big enough for your dog to wiggle under or through.

Also, think about the height of your fences- some dogs can jump very high so the taller the fence the better, with 6ft probably being a good bet. Also, make sure your friends/ family members know when the puppy is outside to prevent miscommunication and a gate being left open accidentally!

If you have any sheds or outhouses ensure also that these are properly secured. Place locks on the doors and lock the windows. Puppies are curious and will probably be keen to investigate buildings like this! Sheds in particular have lots of sharp tools and pointy objects that could be very dangerous to puppies.

Ponds too could easily be covered at the beginning if you are scared your puppy may fall in and struggle to get out. This applies too if you are leaving them unsupervised for any amount of time. Aside from that you could also secure loose tiles or stones. Aswell as fill in cracks in and around the pond area.

Remove dangerous/ toxic things

Having a good tidy-up prior to your puppy’s first venture into the garden to remove any pointy garden tools or breakable objects can prevent injuries and give you peace of mind. Puppies love to play of course and so any loose objects are an open invitation to them. Try to get into the mindspace of a dog to identify potential risks at the ground level!

If you have any chemical products lying about like fertilisers or insecticides then you can move these indoors to prevent your puppy access to them. Remember, they are often toxic so should never be used in places the pup can access them. Even compost heaps containing rotting organic material can present harm to dogs who eat from them. So restricting access to these by either relocating them to a secure location behind a fence; or placing the compost into a bin rather than in a pile would be good.

There are certain plants to avoid in doggy homes too. Obviously prickly or thorny plants can injure unsuspecting puppies so these would be good to remove or relocate from your garden. Certain flowers can also be mildly or severely toxic to dogs when consumed so should also be avoided. Take a look at our Pet Poisons Guide or this link to a Gardener’s World article about plants that are no-gos. 

Consider a dog’s natural behaviours

Puppies are playful and inquisitive beings and their natural behaviours should be considered and encouraged in the garden setting. 

Firstly dogs need a lot of space and a lot of exercise.

Most gardens will not be large enough to keep a dog of any size fully satisfied. Therefore, you should always take your dog for a walk separately to playtime in the garden. It is not sufficient to think that just running around the garden will be a good substitute for a proper walk! This being said, allowing the puppy a good amount of play space on the lawn (and away from your crops!) would be greatly appreciated by your pup. And alongside company or toys will keep him or her entertained for hours.

Digging is another natural behaviour in dogs.

So don’t be surprised if your puppy attempts to dig around in your garden! Rather than telling the puppy off for doing this which can lead to resentment or mistrust from the puppy’s perspective. You can instead encourage him or her not to do it by cleaning up excess and tempting soil and bordering flower beds. As well as reinforcing positive behaviours (i.e. times your puppy goes on the soil but doesn’t dig) with treats. Alternatively, providing them with a specific dig box. This could be a great solution if you want to protect the rest of the garden from being upturned!

Again, puppies have a reputation for chewing and destroying pretty much anything they can get their paws on.

So be prepared for this and remove primary targets from easy access! Some puppies tend to chew small stones which can cause dental issues or may even be accidentally swallowed. If you have a gravel bed then try to keep the puppy away from this with fencing; or consider changing the surface altogether. Especially if stone-chewing seems to be an issue for your puppy. 

Lastly, your dog will need a comfortable space to rest in the garden when they are tired from playing.

A comfortable bed in the shade would be perfect for this. Also keeping a fresh water bowl outside. This can encourage your puppy to drink while playing where they can become thirsty quickly, especially in the sun!

Finally, remember that you can always call an expert

Your vet will be happy to help if you or your puppy get into any trouble! If you haven’t got a vet sorted out for your new arrival, check out our Find a Local Vet tool here.

So there we have it. Keeping your puppy safe at home will be a great concern at the beginning whilst you and your puppy are both getting used to navigating these new experiences. Hopefully, this article has inspired you with easy things you can do in the garden to keep your puppy content and safe.