We are about to get our garden done.

Commisioned a design over two years ago but then couldn't afford to have it realised as inherited old house with collapsing kitchen. 
House now sold so garden can go ahead BUT in the interim have realised that a) I have totally lost interest in gardening and b) I intend to get another dog making three in total.  (Current two have already done some 're-designing' of their own in terms of peeing, holes, trampling plants to get at squirrels, birds etc. and general larking about.)

Am just about to contact garden designer to update her but would like any ideas people have regarding a dog-friendly or at least dog-proof garden that still looks attractive so I can steer her in the right direction.

Thanks

Mutts

PS It's a small square suburban patch.

After 15 years of OES boys wrecking my nice garden, I decided to start again.  I now have a large patch of artificial grass in the middle which looks fab and it's easly to hose down when the gang pee and poo on it.  Nice slate and block paved areas around the perimeters to give a different textured look.  Again both can be hosed down.  I do have some deep borders with large shrubs just to break up the lines.  Artificial grass from the Artificial Lawn Company at the following link:    www.artificiallawn.co.uk

Wish I'd known about this stuff years ago.  Loads of OES peeps have it now!

Nelson - what a brilliant idea. It would never have occured to me.  And no mowing or weeding.

Thanks, just the sort of advice I was looking for.

Mutts

I saw an artificial lawn company at Crufts. It hadn't occurred to me before then. If you tell them it's for dogs they can recommend the right product and underlay.

Serious question here - would you have to hoover it to get rid of the dog hair? Our GR leaves his hair all over the place with the garden being no exception.

re "totally lost interest ingardening" comment, Im the same, i dont care about the plants any more and believe me I used to be superkeen, now id rather be wandering though the woods with the dog.................

Sorry Harley I never got the artificial stuff so I can't answer that question. I would think one of those rubber brooms might work well but maybe an astro-turfer will come along with some answers.

We looked into getting fake grass. Trouble is its so expsensive, especially for large areas!

we have woodchip with casual planting dotted around ,easy to pick up poo and wee doesnt spay everywhere and cheap (if you want a lot contact your local tree surgeon.)

We have chippings in the borders. I guess I'm a little traditional in my ways and would love a lawn (and would much prefer a real one)! But you cant have everything right ;)

I like a traditional garden. If I had to drastically change my garden to accomodate the dogs - I'd never have got the dogs in the first place :D :D

Daisy

lol, I think our garden is designed around the dogs ;) As is the house and my choice of car..lol!

I'm not 'garden-proud' - but I would hate not having a proper garden :D :D

Daisy

depends what you call 'proper' ;) proper could be full of freshly dug holes with burried bones...well to a dog anyway

Personally I prefer to like to be able to let my dogs have a play and have fun without worrying to much. That said I still have flowers, plants, garden furniture and decking etc and like it nice enough that I can still sit outside and enjoy it. I would love to have a nice lawn but ours is rather patchy, but I'd rather have a patchy lawn than no lawn at all!

Ours sounds much like yours :D :D Fortunately digging holes in the lawn etc finished some years ago - now Tara just makes 'nests' in/behind shrubs :D Bramble just enjoys harveting the crops of fruit and tomatoes :D

Daisy

Our dogs, thankfully, have never really been into digging holes. However, we've got a 13 week old border collie puppy who keeps trying to find where the bottom of the drain pipe goes ;) Thankfully its just gravelled so its easy to fill in..but it reminds me how you cant keep your eyes of puppies for a second..bit like kids really :-D

Thanks for all input.

Current garden very traditional; large lawn (now with two new 'lines of desire', one through back bed and into hedge in pursuit of local cats and wildlife, the other right across middle towards tree harbouring squirrels, birds etc. plus two holes now large enough for me to fall into when mowing) paved areas with (trampled) interplanting and informal mixed (mashed) borders. 

I used to love tending my little patch; it was my equivalent of valium/drink and got me through some very difficult times but I'm 'in a different place' now as the therapists say so roll on the slate paving, raised beds and pergola.

(OH has vetoed articifical grass as 'naff'; this is rich coming from a man who has only mowed the lawn twice in twenty years and cut the  pull-cord on the mower the second time thus ensuring he never got asked again.)

Cheers, Mutts