Contents Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Foreword by Anthony Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Making a start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Keeping your dog safe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Living areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Garden surfaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Garden features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Plants for the garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 How does your garden grow? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Pest control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Enjoying the garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 The indoor garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Garden emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Goodbye, dear friend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Contacts and resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Dog-friendly gardening
Some dogs can be incredibly agile and athletic, and may put these skills to use in escaping from the garden. (Courtesy Claire Colvin)
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for your dog; I suggest that you don’t leave your dog outdoors unattended – for his own safety and that of others – until you’ve been able to do so. Depending on your tastes and what you can afford, screens of mesh, woven willow or birch panels are options, and can also be used to increase height: alternatively, use planting in the form of shrubs. A hedge can also create a wonderful screen, although it may take a while to establish, during which time it will need protection from your dog. Even if it is mature, dense and prickly, don’t rely on it as the sole method of containment, as he will invariably discover any weak spots that appear long before you do, and if the temptation is strong enough, may push through to the other side, regardless of discomfort. Where friction exists between your dog and that of a neighbour in an adjoining garden, be prepared to create a really solid barrier, such as a wall or sheet metal fence between the properties:
anything less may be destroyed in their efforts to reach each other. Although screening off the outside world so it can’t be seen will help, your dog will still be able to hear what’s going on (and, depending on the height of the fence, still be able to see the heads of people walking past), so you may need to do some training with him as well. Teach a good recall cue so you can call him to you if necessary, and divert his attention elsewhere. Setting up a Tellington-Touch ‘confidence course’ can help him develop self-control and calmness in potentially stressful situations when others are passing by (see also Enjoying the garden), and you can also make sure there are plenty of rewarding things to engage his interest within the garden. If you find yourself struggling with this, seek help from a behavioural trainer rather than risk matters getting progressively worse. Height How high your fence should be depends on the size of your dog and his athletic ability (which can often be much greater than you think!). Whilst a height of 4ft (1.2m) might be fine for most canines, 6ft (1.8m) may be necessary for large breeds. In the UK, planning permission isn’t normally needed to erect a fence or wall unless it exceeds 6ft 6in (2m), or 3ft 3in (1m) if situated next to a road, footpath or pavement, but check covenants, nevertheless, just in case there are any special restrictions. New fencing If you’re thinking of erecting new fencing, check for any local regulations on type and height – or indeed, on putting up any form of barrier at all. Then check your property deeds to determine where the boundaries are: all supporting posts should be entirely on your property and not encroach on that of your neighbours’. If a fence which divides your property from that of your neighbour belongs to him, even though it butts up against your boundary, legally you can only hang things on it, add trellis, or use it as a support for plants if he gives you permission to
Keeping your pet safe collar getting caught up on something and injuring or strangling him, use a non-tightening flat collar which incorporates a safety breakaway section. Because collars can sometimes become separated from your dog – or intentionally removed if he is stolen – a further means of permanent identification is also a sensible precaution. This can be done by tattooing the skin in an ear or on the belly or inner thigh (ears are not always the best place as it is not unknown for them to be cut off to prevent identification), or microchipping. A microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted beneath the skin, and has a unique code number that can be read by a special, hand-held scanner and used to identify you as the owner. Although there have been occasional hiccups with this system, these have been minimal, and on the whole it has proved an effective and easy way to reunite lost pets with owners (and is compulsory for foreign travel with your dog). MAINTENANCE The best fence in the world will become useless if it’s poorly maintained. Check regularly for weak areas – a small gap can rapidly become large enough to escape through if your dog discovers it first and decides to enlarge it. Replace and repair rotted posts or wobbly panels before the wind blows them down or your dog pushes them over; if you can’t attend to it immediately, keep a close eye on your pet while he’s outdoors, or if necessary, keep him on a leash until the area is secure again. Before using any preservatives, stains or paints on timber fencing, check that they are pet-friendly, as there is always a risk that surfaces they are applied to will be licked or chewed, and certain precautions may need to be taken during application, or while drying. If you need more information about safety and usage than is provided on the labelling, contact the manufacturer: see also the chapter Garden surfaces. Mind the gap! Regularly check fencing for weak areas.
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