How to Stop Your Dog from Destroying Your Garden

Even if your dog behaves impeccably indoors, some dogs view the garden as their playground, leading to frustrating damage to plants, lawn, and garden furniture. Instead of surrendering your outdoor space, there are practical, kind strategies to help protect your garden from canine mischief while respecting your dog's natural instincts.

Read on to discover six key methods to manage and reduce your dog’s garden destruction, ensuring a happier garden and pet.

1. Supervise Your Dog in the Garden

Allowing your dog to roam unsupervised outside often results in boredom-induced destructive behaviours such as digging or chewing garden items. To prevent this, supervise your dog closely when they're in the garden. Use this time together to engage with your pet, redirect their attention if they start to dig or chew, and avoid using the garden as a place to isolate your dog.

Consistent supervision helps your dog learn the boundaries of acceptable garden behaviour while strengthening your bond.

2. Ensure Your Dog Gets Sufficient Exercise

Physical and mental exercise is essential for every dog. While garden play is beneficial, it is not a substitute for regular walks and active outings. Insufficient exercise can lead to pent-up energy, causing your dog to seek amusement by digging or chewing in your garden.

Walk your dog daily, tailored to their breed and age, complemented by interactive play sessions to help burn energy healthily.

3. Provide Plenty of Entertainment and Suitable Toys

Dogs often create their own fun if they lack entertaining options. Offer a variety of toys, including outdoor-safe chew toys and puzzle games. Rotate these toys regularly to maintain interest and encourage positive play.

Remember to bring toys inside after outdoor play as damp toys left outside can attract slugs or snails, which carry lungworm – a dangerous parasite for dogs.

4. Fence Off Sensitive Areas and Use Dog-Safe Deterrents

If certain garden spots are frequent targets for your dog's digging or chewing, such as flowerbeds or muddy patches, consider installing physical barriers like low fences or garden netting to restrict access.

Additionally, use dog-safe natural deterrent sprays containing citrus or herbal ingredients on areas you wish to protect. This combination helps reduce temptation, but remember to use deterrents alongside supervision and training for lasting success.

5. Accept and Accommodate Your Dog’s Natural Behaviours

Behaviours such as digging, chewing, and rolling in various scents are instinctive for dogs and trying to eliminate them completely is often unrealistic.

Certain breeds, for example, Jack Russell terriers, have a natural digging instinct due to their history as hunters. To channel this behaviour suitably, consider designating a digging area in your garden, like a sandpit, where your dog is encouraged to dig freely. Similarly, provide chew toys or a special spot to satisfy their chewing needs.

6. Combine Training, Exercise, and Environment Modification for Best Results

Protecting your garden is most effective when you combine supervision, adequate exercise, interactive toys, environmental barriers, and acceptance of your dog’s natural urges.

Training your dog with commands like "leave it" or "no dig" gently but firmly can help curb unwanted behaviours. Pair training with plenty of positive reinforcement, physical exercise, and mental stimulation to reduce boredom and destructive energy.

By embracing a holistic approach that balances your garden’s needs with your dog’s instincts and happiness, you can maintain a beautiful outdoor space and a content canine companion.