How to make your garden dog-friendly: 12 safety tips every pet-owning family should know

From toxic plants to tempting compost bins, these 12 simple changes can help make your family garden safer for your dog.

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Published: August 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM

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For families with dogs, the garden can be a brilliant extra space for playing, sniffing, exploring and, hopefully, burning off some of that seemingly endless energy. But there are a few hidden hazards worth knowing about before you let them loose.

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Common garden plants can be toxic to dogs, while everything from compost and slug pellets to cocoa mulch can potentially cause problems. Then there's the challenge of keeping an enthusiastic digger away from your flower beds and safely inside the garden.

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The good news is you don't have to sacrifice your plants for your pet. A few practical changes can help you create an outdoor space that works for children, grown-ups and four-legged family members alike.

12 ways to create a dog-friendly garden

1. Give your dog plenty to explore

Create different routes through the garden with paths and designated areas for playing or digging. Different surfaces provide new textures underfoot, while moving plants such as ornamental grasses can add extra sensory interest.

2. Choose tougher plants

An energetic dog can make short work of delicate young plants, so established perennials and sturdy shrubs may fare better.

Robust choices include nepeta, astilbe and hardy geraniums. Be careful with the name 'geranium', though, as Pelargonium species, which are also commonly called geraniums, can be toxic to dogs.

3. Know which plants can be toxic to dogs

Before buying something new for the border, check whether it's suitable for a garden used by your dog.

Plants that can potentially be toxic to dogs include:

This isn't an exhaustive list. If you think your dog has eaten a potentially toxic plant, contact your vet for advice, particularly if they're showing signs of illness.

4. Protect your lawn and borders

If your dog has appointed themselves chief garden excavator, giving them somewhere they're allowed to dig could help protect the rest of the garden.

Sand or bark can be used to create a designated play or digging area. Paths and clearly defined boundaries can help guide dogs away from flower beds, while raised beds can put more vulnerable plants out of the firing line.

5. Pick dog-friendly plants

Having a dog doesn't mean giving up on a colourful garden. Plants including snapdragons, asters, camellias, roses, sunflowers, elaeagnus, cornflowers, impatiens and calendula are among the options described as dog-friendly.

It's still sensible to discourage your dog from chewing garden plants and to check individual varieties before planting.

6. Check your fences and gates

Dogs can be surprisingly talented escape artists, so regularly check the bottom of fences for gaps or places where your pet could dig underneath.

The original gardening guidance suggests fencing of at least 6ft for a medium-sized dog, although what you need will depend on your individual pet and their ability to jump or climb.

Gates should also be kept securely closed, something worth remembering if children regularly run in and out of the garden.

7. Don't let your dog eat slugs and snails

Slugs and snails aren't just unappetising, they can potentially carry lungworm, which dogs can contract by eating infected slugs, snails or frogs.

Possible signs of lungworm can include coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy and bleeding for longer than usual.

If you're concerned your dog may have eaten an infected animal or is showing worrying symptoms, contact your vet.

8. Lock up the shed

From sharp gardening tools to chemicals, the average family shed contains plenty you wouldn't want your dog investigating.

Keep the door securely shut and store potentially dangerous products where neither pets nor children can reach them.

9. Be careful with garden chemicals

Avoid leaving chemicals where your dog could ingest them and always follow the manufacturer's safety instructions.

Particular care should be taken with slug-control products. It's also sensible to avoid putting additives into ponds or water features your dog might be tempted to drink from.

10. Avoid cocoa bean shell mulch

Cocoa bean shell mulch is a by-product of chocolate production and can be harmful to dogs if eaten. Its chocolate-like smell can also make it particularly tempting.

If you've got a curious dog, opt for an alternative such as suitable bark chippings instead.

11. Secure your compost bin

That compost heap might not look particularly appetising to you, but food scraps can make it very interesting to a dog.

Compost may contain foods that can be harmful to dogs, including grapes, raisins and onions, so make sure your pet can't get inside the bin.

12. Deal with dog wee on the lawn

If your pristine grass is developing mysterious yellow patches, your dog could be responsible.

Training your dog to toilet in a designated part of the garden is one option. Alternatively, hosing down the affected area after your dog urinates can help dilute the urine.

What should I do if my dog eats something dangerous in the garden?

Prevention is the priority, but even a carefully planned garden can't account for every determined dog.

If you know or suspect your pet has eaten a potentially toxic plant, chemical, compost, slug, snail or another dangerous substance, contact your vet for advice rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.

And if your dog is already showing signs of illness, seek veterinary help promptly. Knowing exactly what they may have eaten, and taking the plant or product packaging with you where appropriate, can help your vet work out what treatment they need.

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