The Yard
The backyard is a place you'll want to spend a lot of time with your puppy, yet it, too, can be one of the most dangerous places for a dog. Common yard plants like rhododendrons, azaleas, laurel, crocuses, daffodils, lilies of the valley, irises, amaryllis, and delphiniums are all poisonous to your dog.
This doesn't mean you need to rip out any plants, but keep a careful eye on what your pup takes interest in while in your yard (and on walks). Dogs are survivors, and most won't be interested in these plants in the first place. But for bored or stressed pups, especially, discrimination is not a faculty of theirs, and danger can ensue.
In our quest to have perfect lawns, Americans resort to the use of plenty of dangerous chemicals to promote growth, kill bugs, and rid a lawn of weeds. Have you ever noticed the flags that lawn companies put around after they've treated a lawn? They usually show a dog in a circle with a bar through it, indicating that pets should not be allowed on the grass for a certain amount of time.
Before you let your pup (or pups) outside in your yard off-leash, be sure you have examined it for any places where they might escape or get into something harmful or dangerous. Even then, you'll want to keep a close eye on your pups — like these young Airedales — while they're exploring the great outdoors.
Because dogs are basically bare-footed all the time, and they clean themselves by licking (often their paws and also sensitive areas like their genitals or anus), it is easy for them to ingest and expose sensitive tissue to dangerous substances. If you want your pup to grow old with you, reconsider how important a picture-perfect yard is to you and your family.
The All-Important Fence
While it isn't absolutely essential that your yard is fenced in, it is safer for your dog and a whole lot more practical. The idea of the fence is to keep your pooch safely enclosed. For this to work, the fence must be high enough and either extend into the ground or at least reach the ground and be difficult to push through.
Just as it is cruel and potentially harmful to imprison your dog in a room by himself for long periods of time, it is equally cruel and harmful to leave your dog outside by himself for any length of time. Without proper supervision, your pup is free to explore and get into any number of things. He may also take to running the fence out of boredom, chasing down or barking at others passing in the street. He may dig or claw his way out of the yard, risking becoming lost or being hit by a vehicle. Children and neighbors who should know better may intentionally or unknowingly taunt your dog. And there is nothing sadder than the sight of a dog tied to a rope that only extends a certain distance from a dog house.
As horrifying as the thought may be, many dogs are abducted out of fenced yards. The fate of these poor creatures is grim, including being sent to a puppy mill or even sold to an animal research lab. If you live in an area where you think dog theft is a possibility, never leave your pet outside unsupervised, especially at night. These areas include any heavily populated areas, or any area with a history of pet theft.
On the other hand, a safe yard is a truly wonderful place for your dog. He can sniff and explore off-leash for short periods of time, play with your children, and you can let him out at night while he does his business (without having to put him on a leash and walk him). It is the place where naps in the sun and family picnics will be enjoyed and special memories will be made. Now that's the life!
