Safe Gardens for Huskies and other Dogs

The siberian husky and other breeds of sled dog are naturally curious animals. Left to their own devices, huskies and sled dogs will often investigate plants and fixtures in the garden, digging them up, chewing them, and getting into all sorts of mischief.

Unfortunately, all too often huskies and sled dogs come across plants and substances that are potentially harmful to them. This can often lead to suffering on the dogs' part, heartbreak for owners, and expensive vet bills.

As a dog owner, you should make sure that any areas of your garden to which your pet has access are free from poisonous plants, chemicals and other substances. For an in-depth look at dog-safe gardening try the website Dogs In The Garden.

While there are some plants that dog owners should avoid, there are many dog-friendly plants that you can safely grow in your garden (although keeping them intact when there are huskies about is always a challenge!)

Below is a list of plants that should not pose a threat to your dog and in addition a list of some of plants and substances to be avoided (for a full and detailed list, see the 'plants' pages of the Dogs In The Garden website.

Dog Friendly Plants

NASTURTIUM: A non-toxic annual that requires minimal sunlight. Safe for human consumption too - they are great for adding colour to summer salads
COSMOS: Easily grown annual with pretty, colourful flowers. Requires a fair amount of sunshine.
SPIDER FLOWER: Another annual that requires little sunlight to flourish.
PRIMROSE: Popular annual, grows low to the ground - great for growing in tubs and decorative plant pots.
SNAP DRAGONS: Pretty, exotic looking annuals.
ROSES: Non-toxic, but watch out for thorns!
COLUMBINE
CORAL FLOWERS
BUTTERLY FLOWER
VIOLET
BEGONIA
ASTILIBE
HOSTA
BUGANE

Plants to Avoid

BULBS: The bulbs of Daffodils, Crocuses, Amaryills, Gladiolas, Hyacinths, Irisis, Narcissus, Lillies and Tulips are all toxic if ingested - dogs may dig up the bulbs when digging in the soil. Also be wary of having bulbs stored in greenhouses or sheds - huskies will get into all sorts of places before you know it!
HORSE CHESTNUTS: Chestnuts/conkers can cause fits and death if eaten and are potentially tempting to pets.
GRAPE VINES: Grapes contain a toxin that can cause kidney failure in dogs.
PEACH TREES, NECTARINE TREES, PLUM TREES etc: The stones in the fruit of these trees contain toxic substances, and if eaten, the stones themselevs can cause internal blockages.
HAZELNUT TREES: Fallen Hazelnuts play host to a toxic fungus which grows on their shell.
ALMOND TREES: Almonds are toxic to dogs if eaten.
FERNS: Repeated skin contact with ferns can cause allegic dermatitis, and if eaten, they can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
CYCLAMENS
FOX GLOVES
HYDRANGEA
KALANCHOE
CASTOR BEAN
OLEANDER
NIGHTSHADE
MORNING GLORY
LILLY OF THE VALLEY
JAPANESE YEW
ONIONS, CHIVES, LEEKS etc
TOMATO PLANTS
IVY
TRUMPET VINE
JERUSALEM CHERRY
PRECATORY BEANS
RHODODENDRON
MISTLETOE
YUCCA: More commonly kept indoors as a houseplant in the UK
SAGO PALM

Hints and Tips for Dog Friendly Gardens

Hanging baskets are a good way to increase color in the garden, and can be hung safely out of the reach of your dog.

Pots and containers provide more protection than flower beds that can be trampled under foot.

Be aware of overhanging trees from neighbours gardens or street planting that may drop hazardous nuts or fruit into your garden.

You can buy products such as the Pee Post Toilet Training Post for Dogs to encourage your dog to pee in one particular area of the garden, which helps avoid lawn scorching as well as improving hygiene.

'Poop Scoops' such as the Company of Animals Arms Length Dog Poop a Scoop Pet are handy for picking up waste around the garden. Long-handled types prevent you having to bend down to pick up after your dog.

'Dog Loos' such as the Armitage Clean Green Dog Loo are a good, environmentally sound method of disposing of dog poo. Basically, you just dig a hole in a corner of your garden and sink the container into the ground. You then just put the dog poo straight into the 'Loo', and once a week squirt in a little bit of the liquid that comes with it. The liquid breaks down the waste and it drains away into the ground below. These 'loos' usually come with a scoop for picking up waste.

Garden Safety and Security

Things to be remembered when 'Husky-Proofing' your garden include the following:

Huskies Love to Dig

Digging is a favourite pass-time of the husky - their chosen spots are usually in the middle of the lawn or under your prize rose-bush.
Huskies can dig a suprisingly big hole in a few minutes, and they may 'landscape' your garden while your back is turned.
More importantly, huskies often dig under fences, and can dig their way out of a garden in ten minutes given the opportunity.
You MUST either sink your fence at least 2 feet below the surface of the soil, or lay concrete slabs or other barriers on the ground around the inside of your fence.

Huskies Need High Fences

Huskies can easily clear a 4 or 5 foot fence from a sitting start.
Your garden should be entirely surrounded by a fence at least 6 feet tall, and you should be prepared that it might well need to be raised higher than this (ours is 8 foot).
Some huskies can climb up 'weld-mesh' and other fences, and you may need an overhang to contain your husky if s/he is particularly agile.
Remember that if you have garden sheds or greenhouses, your husky may jump on to these to find an escape route.
Huskies may also drag garden furniture over to a fence and use it to climb over - Sounds extreme? We've seen it happen (and it's usually the most 'well-behaved' 'docile' pets that do it!)

Huskies are Incredible Escape Artists

Many adult huskies can squeeze through a 6inch gap in a fence.
If a husky can get its head through, the rest of it will probably fit too!
Huskies and sled dogs will move objects around your house and garden, climb up them and use them as a means of escape!
Huskies may jump through open windows while your back is turned for 2 seconds - ANY windows in your house left open are a way out.
Huskies and other sled dogs may well learn to open doors and gates, slide bolts open etc. Some will figure out how to open dog crates from the inside!

ALSO - do remember that siberian huskies, alaskan malamutes and sled dogs are attractive, desirable and VALUABLE dogs!
There have been many instances of huskies and other sled dogs being stolen from gardens, even from inside locked dog-runs and kennels.
We would recommend that you never leave your husky in the garden unattended, and you must take the possibility of someone stealing your dog into account if you have an outside dog-run.
Pedigree dogs are often 'stolen to order' these days, and we have known instances where thieves have cut through weld-mesh fencing in order to steal dogs from their kennels.
PLEASE, BE AWARE AND KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE!