by Laurie Keit

If your dog is fat, you’re not getting enough exercise. — Author Unknown

Of the 75 million dogs in this country, an estimated 17 million are overweight or obese — which is not surprising, considering that over 65 percent of adults are overweight. So why not create a garden that both you and your pets will benefit from?

Gardening is a wonderful way for people of all ages to increase their strength and flexibility while reconnecting with the natural world. 

This article is dedicated to my fellow gardeners and their dogs, in hopes that we can all get a little healthier, and spend a little more time enjoying our outdoor spaces. Here are some ways to do that.

1. Work from the outside in. Are your fences structurally sound? Are they tall enough to keep your dog in? Dogs naturally “patrol the perimeter,” so allow space between the fences and your plantings.

2. Research your plants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers a list of the 17 most common poisonous plants, and the plant sciences department at the University of California, Davis offers a comprehensive list showing various grades of toxicity in plants. See www.aspca.org and tinyurl.com/6kzntu. 

3. Avoid using systemic insecticides and cocoa mulch, both of which are known to cause illness and death in dogs when ingested.

4. Use physical barriers to keep dogs out of compost piles, vegetable gardens and storage areas.

5. Consider building a dog run for unsupervised dogs. Make sure to provide shade, shelter and fresh water. 

6. Some dogs are natural diggers and other will tend to burrow in hot weather to cool their bellies. A digging pit in a shady area may be the solution to this common problem. If necessary, install a physical barrier to prevent digging under fences.

7. A continuous loop provides exercise for people and dogs. 

8. Select pathways materials that are unlikely to injure foot pads or get disturbed by running dogs. 

9. Low stone walls and raised planting beds can help direct pets around the garden.

10. If you love the look of lawn and want to save time and money on maintenance, ForeverLawn makes a synthetic grass with built-in odor control just for dogs. If space permits, designate an open play and exercise area. See www.foreverlawn.com.

And remember that taking a few minutes to stretch before gardening will help you avoid injuries. Use ergonomic tools if possible, which will help to reduce stress on your body. Be sure to take a moment to acknowledge your accomplishments and enjoy yourself.

Happy gardening!

Laurie Keit has been designing residential gardens since 2001 through her company, Seasonal Celebrations. An 18-year Pacifica resident, Keit may be contacted at 650-722-0091 or by e-mail at keit@sbcglobal.net