Being dog people ourselves, we have learned over the years how to keep our pups happy and safe at home and less prone to wander.  

What is a dog sensory garden? I'm glad you asked... A dog sensory garden is a space with plants, scents, and textures that stimulate a dog's senses. It can help dogs feel calm and reduce stress.   The space can include your entire yard or a specified "doggy space" that you would like to direct your pups attention to.  

We have created our own sensory garden and have made it available to dogs who don't have a yard or who have a very small yard and need to get out and burn off some real energy.  For those who haven't heard of SniffSpot, it is like Airbnb for private dog parks run by locals. To learn more and/or to come "try it out" with your pup to see how he/she reacts to the sensory garden environment you can sign up here or text Kim at 803-846-4026 for more information. We can schedule visits without going through the SniffSpot ap. It should be noted that the dog sensory garden usually becomes human sensory as well.  

There are 5 key steps to creating a dog sensory garden. 

1. Smell - Dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell, estimated to be as much as 10,000 times more sensitive than humans! It’s a huge part of how they experience the world. Filling your garden with fragrant, dog-friendly plants, like chamomile, lavender, rosemary, mint, and barley grass to give them something to sniff. If you have a small space, you can help keep it interesting by moving your pots around regularly, or dig up existing flowers to replace with new ones once in a while or using annuals seasonally, so your dog doesn’t get bored with the arrangement.

2. Hearing - Playing with sound is another great way to enrich your dog’s world. The natural swishing sounds of leaves and ornamental grasses can be soothing to your dog. Bird feeders and bird baths will also bring bird songs and the rustling of other small animals. Consider incorporating wind chimes of different types and a babbling water fountain to break up the typical noise of cars and neighbors. All of this comes together to create a pleasant and diverse soundscape for dogs and humans alike.

3. Touch - Use a variety of textures and materials to allow your dog to feel some interesting terrain under their paws. Give them gravel or mulch pathways in addition to the grass and patio space. Ramps and platforms can allow them to climb and explore safely, while a sand box or designated dig zone gives them an outlet for their digging instinct.

4. Sight - Though dogs are color blind, seeing the world in shades of blue, yellow, and gray, they definitely benefit from visual interest in a space where they spend a large portion of their time. Fill your garden with plants of varying heights and colors, as well as elements that move with the wind. Decorative garden flags, pinwheels, wind chimes, and bird feeders with animal activity can all catch your dog’s eye and attention. If your dog is not reactive, adding a see-through window to the fence at their level can give them endless entertainment as they keep an eye on the neighborhood.

5. Taste - If you’ve ever caught your dog eating something they shouldn’t, like dead bugs or scraps of garbage from the floor, you know that eating is another way they explore the world. Taste is closely tied to their superior sense of smell, so it's not unusual for them to put something in their mouth to learn more about it. This is why it’s important to make sure that the plants in your dog-friendly garden are safe and non-toxic for dogs. Avoid toxic plant varieties like tulips, lily of the valley, rhododendron, and autumn crocuses. For a happy taste experience, hide treats throughout the yard to let your dog go on a treasure hunt with a delicious reward!  There are also certain grasses and flowers that are dog safe for eating as well. Some they will seek out for natural healing of an upset tummy.

 Interested in getting a quote? Contact us for more information.