Creating Sensory Gardens for Dogs: A Haven of Exploration and Enrichment
Dogs, like humans, thrive in environments that engage their senses. A sensory garden for dogs is a space where our furry friends can explore a variety of scents, textures, sounds, and sights, allowing them to satisfy their natural instincts in a safe and stimulating environment.
As many of you may know, along with plants and gardening, dogs are a very important part of my life. I have been fostering dogs for some time– helping dogs, especially urgent shelter dogs, is something that is near and dear to my heart. Many of these dogs have not had the best start in life and need significant decompression time. I have witnessed firsthand the transformation that these dogs, as well as my own dogs, have had after coming to our farm and spending time outdoors in the garden.
Sensory gardens are designed specifically to cater to the senses of dogs, offer them enrichment, provide physical exercise. and reduce stress. Although I talk here about creating a sensory garden for dogs, this does not have to be a separate garden space. Your garden can be one that you create to share with your dog that benefits both of you.
I recently had a conversation about sensory gardens for dogs with with behaviorist, Shel Graves from Shel Graves Animal Consulting. Shel holds an Applied Animal Behavior Certificate from the University of Washington and a Certificate of Shelter Dog Behavior from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Shel has worked with many dogs that have been rescued from cruelty and neglect cases.
What is a Sensory Garden for Dogs?
According to Shel “A sensory garden is a outdoor space designed to provide fun activities for dog to be dogs; to engage their senses [touch, smell, sight, hearing, and even taste] and provide environmental stimulation.”
By offering different types of plants, textures, sounds, and materials, sensory gardens provide dogs with the opportunity to explore and interact with their environment in ways that engage their curiosity and keep their minds active. Sensory gardens are like a playground for their natural behaviors like sniffing, digging, and exploring.
What are the Benefits of Sensory Gardens for Dogs?
One of the most notable things Shel has observed in dogs that have access to sensory gardens is that the dogs are more relaxed in a home and show a reduction in unwanted behaviors. “Having more things to do reduces fear, anxiety, and stress“.
Sensory gardens offer:
- Mental Stimulation: Sensory gardens offer a wealth of new experiences for dogs, helping to keep their minds busy and prevent boredom. Exploring new scents or walking over different textures can provide the mental enrichment that many dogs crave.
- Stress Relief: Just like walking in a garden can be relaxing for people, a sensory garden can help reduce anxiety and stress in dogs. The variety of plants and elements can create a calming atmosphere, which is especially beneficial for dogs that are nervous or reactive.
- Physical Exercise: Sensory gardens can encourage dogs to play and move more, whether it’s through a path of different surfaces, a digging pit, or simply exploring various corners.
- Encourages Natural Behaviors: Dogs have natural instincts like sniffing, digging, and exploring. A sensory garden offers a space where they can satisfy these instincts in a safe and controlled environment.
Key Elements of a Sensory Garden
Plants: A dog’s sense of smell is incredibly powerful, so incorporating aromatic plants can add to their experience. Some dogs like to nibble on plants, so including edible options can be a safe way to cater to this instinct.
Plants that that are safe for dogs:
- Lavender & Chamomile: Aromatic and known for their calming properties.
- Mint & Rosemary: Aromatic and simulating.
- Other beneficial herbs: include basil, dill, oregano, sage, thyme, chamomile, parsley and even dandelion (yes that so-called weed that you have been trying to eradicate from your lawn for years!)
- Edible Grasses: Wheatgrass, lemongrass as well as many ornamental grasses. Mine LOVE any tender grass, especially Japanese forest grass.
- Fruits & berries: Blueberries, fig, apple and pear trees provide both shelter and occasional treats. Raspberries and strawberries are also great for the occasional snack.
Textures: Dogs experience the world in-part through their paws, so adding different ground textures can make their exploration more enriching:
Some surface materials to consider:
- Gravel Paths: Provide a unique feel and sound as dogs walk on them.
- Wood Chips or Bark: Great for digging and exploring.
- Soft Grass: A comfortable area for dogs to lie down and relax in the sun or cool of in the shade.
- Sand or Digging Pits: Many dogs love to dig, and a designated digging area can keep them occupied and is great exercise.
Sound Elements: Incorporating sound can be an additional layer of enrichment for dogs.
Some sound elements to consider:
- Wind Chimes: Light chimes can add a relaxing atmosphere.
- Water Features: A small fountain or water feature can be intriguing and calming for dogs. I have found that they also love to drink out of them so keeping them clean and chemical-free is must.
- Rustling Plants: Tall grasses like ornamental grasses can create soothing sounds as the wind moves through them. My dogs also love to eat grasses, so I avoid those with sharp edges, like pampas grass.
Interactive Features: Adding a few interactive elements can take the garden to the next level.
Consider adding:
- Sensory Paths: Create winding paths for dogs to explore, guiding them through different scents and textures.
- Bridges and ramps: These offer opportunities to build self-confidence and agility.
- Stumps and large rocks: Rounds from large trees and flat-topped boulders are great for jumping up on, and for building strength and confidence.
- Hide-and-Seek Areas: Bushes, tunnels, or log piles where dogs can investigate and even search for hidden toys or treats.
- Shelter Spaces: Small shaded spots or cozy nooks where dogs can rest after exploring, or have some quite alone time.
How to Get Started
Creating a sensory garden for your dog doesn’t require a large backyard. Even a small corner of your garden can be transformed into a space for exploration.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
- Choose a Location: If confining your sensory garden to a portion of your yard, select a spot that preferably has some shade but also access to sunlight. It could be a section of your yard or even a part of a balcony or patio. Your sensory garden could also be incorporated into your entire space with different elements placed throughout.
- Plan Your Layout: Think about how you can include the key elements—smells, textures, sounds, and interactive features. Draw a rough sketch to visualize how you’ll arrange these features.
- Select Dog-Safe Plants: Make sure the plants you choose are non-toxic to dogs. Avoid plants like daffodils, lilies, and foxglove, which can be harmful. You can find a list of toxic and non-toxic plants on the ASPCA website.
- Add a Water Source: A small bubbling water feature or even just a dog-friendly water bowl or kiddie pool can be great for cooling off on hot summer days.
- Monitor and Adjust: After setting up your sensory garden, observe how your dog interacts with it. Make adjustments based on what they enjoy most—perhaps adding more of a particular plant they like to sniff or expanding the digging area if that’s their favorite. Gardens are never static and are always charging and evolving, and every dog is different too.
Final Thoughts
Sensory gardens are a fantastic way to enhance your dog’s environment, offering them a chance to explore and enjoy a space designed with their unique needs in mind. Whether you have a large yard or a small patio, a sensory garden can become a favorite spot for you and your dog, filled with enriching activities and calming experiences. By creating this space, you’re not only providing a safe haven for exploration but also deepening the bond you share with your furry companion as you both enjoy the garden you’ve made for them.
Remember, just like humans, each dog has their own unique personality, likes, dislikes and preferences. The ideas in this post are merely suggestions and guidelines. You know your dog best, so consider his or her particular needs, activity level, breed characteristics and create a sensory garden that works for you and your furry bestie. There are few rules to creating a sensory garden, yet many options and opportunities.
If you need help creating a sensory garden for your dog, I offer both virtual and on-site garden consultations to help with this and more. You can learn about my garden consultation services here.
If you need help with your dog’s behavioral issues, Shel offers in-home private dog day training, dog and cat behavior help, consulting, animal chaplaincy, grief and loss support. Shel can be found here.
Happy sensory gardening!
Heidi
This is full of great ideas. I haven’t heard of this before, but it makes perfect sense that an interesting sensory garden reduces stress and has many benefits for dogs. Great photos too, of the dogs modeling your key points!
Thank you Christina! And glad that you like the professional, non-paid models 🙂