Dogs and cats are naturally drawn to gardens for good reasons: interesting smells, soft soil for digging, sunny spots for napping, and endless opportunities for exploration. Understanding these natural behaviors is the first step in creating a pet-friendly garden design.

Common Pet Garden Behaviors:

• Digging: Dogs dig to cool down, bury treasures, or simply because it's fun

• Marking territory: Both dogs and cats use gardens to establish their domain

• Plant exploration: Curious pets investigate new plants through sniffing, pawing, and sometimes tasting

• Sunbathing: Cats especially seek out warm, comfortable spots for relaxation

• Patrol routes: Many pets establish regular walking patterns through outdoor spaces

Before redesigning your garden, spend a week observing your pet's natural tendencies:

• Where do they prefer to rest? (sunny spots, shaded areas, elevated surfaces)

• What captures their attention? (specific plants, wildlife activity, water features)

• How do they move through the space? (along fences, through flower beds, on pathways)

• Which plants do they interact with most? (through digging, sniffing, or nibbling)

This observation period will inform your pet-friendly garden design and help you work with, rather than against, your pet's natural instincts.

Rather than creating completely separate areas, design integrated zones that serve different purposes:

1. Human-Priority Zones

• Raised vegetable gardens

• Delicate flower beds

• Container gardens

• Greenhouse or cold frame areas

2. Pet-Priority Zones

• Designated digging areas

• Play and exercise spaces

• Comfortable resting spots

• Pet-safe plant buffets

3. Shared Garden Spaces

• Sturdy perennial borders

• Lawn areas for play

• Garden pathways

• Water features (with safety considerations)

Pets respond better to clear, consistent boundaries than confusing restrictions. Use these techniques to guide your pet through the garden while redirecting common problem behaviors:

• Raised beds: Elevate delicate plants 10-12 inches above ground level (perfect for deterring diggers)

• Natural barriers: Plant ornamental grasses or sturdy shrubs to create soft boundaries

• Decorative edging: Use stones, bricks, or garden edging to define off-limit areas

• Designated pathways: Create clear routes through the garden using mulch, gravel, or stepping stones

• Strategic plant placement: Group plants by hardiness and pet-appeal

• Redirect unwanted behaviors: If your dog digs in flower beds, create appealing digging zones elsewhere with loose soil and buried treasures

Digging Zones

Create a designated digging area with:

• Loose, sandy soil or sand/dirt mixture

• Buried toys and treats for treasure hunting

• Clear boundaries using logs or stones

• Regular "reseeding" with new surprises to keep it interesting

Cooling and Rest Stations

• Shaded areas under trees or structures

• Elevated dog beds for air circulation

• Shallow pools or kiddie pools for hot days

• Strategic placement near your gardening areas so they can supervise without interfering

Exercise and Exploration Features

• Simple agility elements using garden-safe materials

• Winding pathways for sniffing adventures

• Sturdy plants that can withstand some roughhousing

• Open areas for running and playing fetch

Water Features

• Gentle slopes and shallow areas for easy access

• Multiple entry and exit points for safety

• Non-slip surfaces around water features

• Dedicated drinking stations separate from decorative water elements (my dog Jax loves his step-activated fountain!)

Catio Construction

• Screened enclosures that provide safe outdoor experience

• Multiple levels for climbing and perching (cats love vertical space!)

• Weather protection with roof coverage

• Easy access from house through cat doors or windows

Cat Garden Plant Selection

• Sensory plants with interesting textures and scents

• Cat-safe climbing plants for enrichment

• Herbs and grass varieties for nibbling (cat grass, wheat grass)

• Vertical gardening elements like wall-mounted planters to keep plants safely out of reach while providing visual interest

Space-saving tip: Use vertical garden elements like hanging baskets and wall planters to maximize your growing space while keeping plants safely elevated.