If you are the proud (or perhaps initially reluctant) owner of dogs, then you're sure to know how these little furballs can have the time of their lives when they find themselves escorted out to the "great outdoors" (in this case, your front lawn or backyard).
Dogs will be beside themselves with excitement the moment they hear you getting ready to open the door and step outside for their daily romp outside. They are very happy to spend hours running around, sniffing every little corner and every single potted plant, rolling over the grass, playing fetch with you, and even just happily sitting around while basking in the sunshine.
When the romp turns into a rampage
It's also quite certain that you have witnessed times when your dog just runs around and around in endless circles, panting with glee, without showing signs of stopping anytime soon. Sometimes, they will also appear to have no activity in mind for the day other than digging up patches of your turf and spreading soil and grass everywhere. And maybe they've chewed up a plant or two that they aren't supposed to and it made them sick for some time.
These can be common occurrences in the lives of pets and pet owners everywhere. But if you wish to take your pet care up a notch, you may want to consider making your yard or lawn more pet-friendly, and one way you can accomplish that is to incorporate pet-friendly hardscape, such as pavers.
What are they?
Pavers are hard blocks used to make smooth and sturdy surfaces in your home's outdoor areas. They are used for creating pathways, garden steps and driveways and can be made of clay tiles, bricks, cut stones, glass, cast concrete and even plastic.
For pet owners, pavers are excellent outdoor area materials for the following reasons:
1. They do away with plants that could potentially harm your pooch. In an effort to create an aesthetically pleasing garden, you may plant different flowers, foliage and grass in your backyard or garden, and these plants can be chewed up and ingested by your curious pet. You can opt to crate decorative details on your space with pavers instead of plants, while allowing safe plants to remain, so your dog won't face the risk of experiencing bowel obstructions from eating plants.
2. They discourage the digging habit. Because your dog will be walking over more pavers than turf, there'll be less or even no more chances of your pet creating a mess of soil and other organic matter all over the space. Constant running and walking over grass can cause lawns to look worn, too, so putting pavers in place instead of grass means you won't have to worry about your dog treading repeatedly over grass and wearing them down.
3. Pavers are easy on your dog's paws. Pavers are made to be smooth surfaces, so your dog won't get hurt even if he spends hours each day running around the space. Flagstone pavers are the recommended materials for pet-friendly outdoor spaces — laid down close together to eliminate spaces where paws or nails can get caught, these pavers make an excellent surface for your furry friend. And what's more, these pavers can serve as cool surfaces for dogs to walk on during hotter days, and cement pavers can also effectively help wear down your dog's nails.
For a beautifully designed outdoor space that you and your pooch can happily spend time in, hardscaping with pavers is your best option.