Designing Your Landscape When You Have Dogs: The Questions Homeowners Don’t Know to Ask (But Absolutely Should)

By Archer Services — Magnolia, TX When you have dogs, your backyard isn’t just an outdoor space — it’s your dog’s playground, racetrack, bathroom, and living environment. And here’s the truth most people don’t realize:

Dogs completely change how a landscape must be designed.

Your dog’s size, habits, energy level, sensitivities, and behaviors affect everything from turf selection to drainage to fencing. At Archer Services, we design real-world landscapes for real dogs, not just “pretty” pictures that fall apart within a season. This guide will help you understand the questions dog owners should be asking — and the questions to ask your designer — so your next landscape project truly works for your family and your pets.

How Does Your Dog Actually Use Your Backyard?

Most people tell us, “We have a dog,” but that tells us almost nothing. A Chihuahua and a German Shepherd do not use their yards the same way. Understanding who your dog is — and how they behave — is the foundation of good design. High-Energy Dogs (Labs, Shepherds, Huskies, Heelers, Retrievers, Spaniels) These dogs create natural run paths. They sprint, chase, and zigzag — and if your design ignores that, they’ll destroy beds and tear up turf. Design Considerations

• Reinforced turf zones
• Wide, open movement paths
• Durable edging
• Beds kept out of “race lanes”
• Boulders or masonry edges for protection

High-energy dogs will run through obstacles, not around them. We design the landscape to match their movement patterns. Small or Low-Energy Dogs These dogs allow more flexibility in design because they are gentler on turf and less likely to damage beds. Design Considerations

• Smaller potty zones
• Cooler surfaces
• Softer textures
• Fewer trip hazards
• Clean landing areas near doors

Dogs That Run Through Landscape Beds Bed shape does not matter to a dog. They don’t care if the edge is curved, straight, or serpentine — they run where they want. How We Solve It

• Dense, structural plantings
• Boulders or masonry edging
• Reinforced bed borders
• Redirected traffic paths
• Strategic bed placement away from dog “highways”

Does Your Dog Dig — and Why? (Understanding Real Digging Behavior)

Digging isn’t random. If your dog digs, it’s almost always for a purpose. Before designing fixes, we identify where and why they dig. Common Digging Hotspots & What They Mean ✔ Along the foundation Cooling off, looking for cool soil, or wanting shelter. ✔ Along the fence line Trying to escape, reach a neighbor dog, or guard territory. ✔ Random spots in the yard Triggered by smells, pests, buried organic matter, or boredom. Create a Designated Digging Zone Give your dog a place where digging is allowed. This reduces destruction elsewhere and satisfies natural instincts. Use Paw-Safe, Low-Mess Materials

• Fine pea gravel
• Soft sand blends
• Select soil mixes

Avoid mulch — it’s messy and many dogs will eat it. Materials for Areas Where Digging Is NOT Allowed

• Larger gravel or angular stone
• Buried barrier systems (2–6 inches below grade)
• Boulders or reinforced edges

Some dogs will move their digging spot, so the landscape must anticipate that. Fix the Root Cause

• Add shade for heat-related digging
• Block visual triggers for fence diggers
• Solve pest/grub issues
• Remove underground odor sources
• Reinforce fence bases for escape-driven dogs
• Provide stimulation zones for boredom-driven digging

Good design eliminates the reason dogs dig.

Does Your Dog Eat Plants or Materials? (Safety First)

Many common landscape plants are toxic to dogs. Instead of listing plants that may change over time, we link to the most accurate and regularly updated databases: ASPCA Toxic & Non-Toxic Plant List https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (Toxic Plants) (Provide your preferred link or I can pull one.) If your dog mouths, chews, or eats plants, plant selection becomes critical.

Do You Have Neighbor Dog Issues? Visual Blocking Fixes 90% of It

Most people think a taller fence will fix barking or reactivity. It usually won’t — because dogs are 2–3 feet tall. The solution is blocking their line of sight at dog height. Highly Effective Options ✔ Board-on-Board Fencing Staggered pickets eliminate gaps. ✔ Shade Cloth or Privacy Mesh Behind Fence Pickets Blocks vision Allows airflow Reduces fence-line behavior dramatically ✔ Dense Vegetation at Dog Height (Not Tall Hedges) Shrubs and layered plantings block the line of sight effectively. ✔ For Jumpers — Add Fence Height Only when dealing with a true jumper.

What Does Your Dog Track Into the House?

Dogs with Velcro-style fur bring everything inside. We design “clean exit paths” using:

• Pet turf
• Pavers
• Stabilized DG
• Low-debris plantings

Cleaner transitions = cleaner home.

Sensitive Paws & Heat Tolerance

Houston heat makes material selection critical. Avoid:

• Large angular gravel
• Bull rock (3–5″) — do not use in dog-friendly areas
• Rough or sharp stones
• Extremely hot surfaces

Use:

• Cooler paver materials
• Shaded areas
• Paw-friendly surfaces
• Smooth, comfortable textures

Pet Turf — The Honest Truth Most Installers Don’t Tell You

Pet turf can be amazing — or a major regret — depending on expectations. Pet Turf Gets Extremely Hot Artificial turf can reach 140–170°F in full sun. Natural grass is around 85–95°F. It cools quickly at sunset or in shade, but midday heat is real. Urine Odor (Ammonia) Is a Real Issue Dog urine contains ammonia compounds that do not break down in turf. Odor control requires:

• Pet-specific infill
• Rinse cycles
• Enzyme cleaners
• Proper drainage
• Correct slope

Pet infill typically needs replacement every 3–5 years. Drainage Grids — Pros and Cons Pros:

• Better airflow
• Improved odor reduction

Cons:

• Can feel grid underfoot
• Dogs may slip when running
• Increases cost

Best used in dedicated dog runs, not general backyards. Irrigation + Correct Drainage Under Turf This can dramatically reduce odor IF done properly: Requires:

• Permeable base
• Correct grading
• Drain outlets
• Proper infill

But it significantly increases installation cost. Most turf installers do not build systems at this level.

Safe Surfaces for Dogs

✔ Small angular gravel (⅜” and under) — generally safe ✔ Large gravel (1–3”) — unstable for dogs ✔ Bull rock (3–5”) — do not use in dog-friendly areas Better Alternatives:

• Stabilized decomposed granite
• Natural turf
• Properly designed pet turf

Fencing, Gates, and Boundaries

Design considerations must account for:

• Jumpers
• Diggers
• Chewers
• Fence racers
• Escape-driven breeds

Solutions:

• Board-on-board fencing
• Screening mesh
• Dense low vegetation
• Dig barriers
• Reinforced rails and posts

Ask Your Landscape Designer These 5 Questions

These five questions will tell you instantly if your designer understands dog-friendly landscaping:

1. How will you design this yard around my dog’s size and energy level?
2. How do you handle digging behavior in your designs?
3. What materials do you avoid in dog-friendly areas, and why?
4. How do you prevent fence-line issues with neighbor dogs?
5. What is your approach to building a pet turf system that won’t smell?

If they can’t answer these confidently, they are not designing for real dogs or real life. BONUS: Dog-Friendly Landscape Worksheet (Free Printable) Copy/paste or print this before meeting with your designer: Dog’s name(s): __________________, __________________ Dog’s size: Small / Medium / Large Energy level: Low / Medium / High My dog is a digger: Yes / No My dog digs mostly near: Fence line / Foundation / Random spots My dog eats plants or materials: Yes / No Even if my dog doesn’t eat plants, I want only pet-safe plants: Yes / No My dog avoids wet grass: Yes / No My dog prefers to potty on: Grass / Turf / Gravel / Doesn’t care My dog is sensitive to heat on paws: Yes / No My dog reacts to neighbor dogs: Yes / No My dog tracks debris into the house: Yes / No My dog struggles with: Digging / Chewing / Jumping / Escaping / Fence-line reactivity Other notes about my dog: Give this worksheet to any designer you interview. If they actually use it — you’ve found the right one. Final Thoughts A dog-friendly yard should be beautiful, functional, and durable. It just needs to be designed intentionally. At Archer Services, we design landscapes that work for real families — including the four-legged ones.