Cindy's Pet Corner

Dogs can play havoc with your garden! So, you'll need plenty of patience when your new pup starts to dig holes everywhere and starts to rip up your prized plants but i'm afraid to say that it's just part of the package. Don’t worry, they will reward you with plenty of love to compensate for the damage. Before you introduce your new pet to his or her playground, it’s important to assess it carefully for risks. Here’s how...

Clean up the garden

Put away garden hoses, tools, and plastic toys. Look for anything your puppy can fall into or put in his mouth and secure it somewhere safe.

Block access to the pool, ponds, water-features and other hazardous areas

Fence off any area you don’t want your puppy to be in and make sure he can’t squeeze through the grating. Even a dog bred to swim can drown in a pool if he doesn’t know where the steps are to get out.

Cover your pond with strong mesh prior to your puppies arrival is he/she probably won't be able to swim yet and will need to be introduced carefully.

Put away chemicals and potential poisons

This includes insecticides, paint products, lawn and or plant fertilizers and anything else that my cause harm to your pup.

Checking boundaries

Make sure there are no gaps in your fencing and gates – even if they are too small for a dog to get through, your new pet may try sticking his head through anyway, which could cause an accident. Check that gates have latches that are out of the dog’s reach. If you have any steps, make sure they are clear of debris.