We are a Dog Friendly Garden Centre

Your family pet can now come along and enjoy the gardening experience with you. We provide drinking water and doggie bags for all responsible owners. Come along today and enjoy your shopping experience with the whole family.

While you are in store why not visit Pets Corner for all your pet needs.

“Thank you for allowing dogs in your store, so nice not to be treated like a second class citizen. From a very pleased customer and a very well behaved dog (a Rottie)”

What a great ideal. Having Pets Corner as well makes it a great day out for all my family and our Collie. We will be back. Mrs.D.   Hornchurch

A dog and a garden do not always make a happy match but you can make a pleasant outdoor space for you and your dog with a little effort. Firstly you must make sure that the fencing is escape-proof, some dogs are regular “Houdinis”. Gates too should be secure, too high for your dog to jump over, and without gaps at the bottom that small dogs and puppies can wriggle through. Make sure the catch works properly and shuts securely so it can’t be nudged open and also check that it is secure after any visitors have left before you let your dog out. You should also make sure that there aren’t any nails or broken pieces of wood sticking out of fences or garden buildings.

One area where dogs and gardens definately don’t get on is lawns. You had better forget all about a bowling green lawn if you have a dog, especially a bitch, as their urine causes brown scorched patches, it’s not so bad with a male but it can still happen. Pets Corner can advise you on this.

If you have a pond or swimming pool you should fence it off to keep you dog out. Some breeds may like to use a paddling pool in hot weather, buy a rigid plastic one and supervise it’s use at all times.

Train your dog to use a particular area of the garden as a toilet: you could even install a dog loo.

Dogs who like digging can ruin a garden, leaving craters in the lawn and uprooted plants. If you satisfy this urge with a sandbox you will confine this activity to one area with a little patience training him or her.

Garden chemicals are a potential hazard to all pets and should always be used in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Most slug pellets are poisonous to pets and could even kill. There are pet friendly alternatives such as crushed egg shells, grit and copper tape or you could try beer traps. Frogs are also a very environmentaly alternative if you can encourage them into your garden. Ant killer powders and gel and rat poisons should  only be used where your pet cannot get to them . Keep your pet away from areas you have treated with chemicals such as insecticides. Only use dog-specific products such as sun protection or insect repellants. If you are concerned your dog may have eaten a harmful substance contact your vet straight away.

Keep your dog indoors when operating garden machinery and store your tools away in a shed or tool store.

Many dogs like sun bathing but not all know when they have had enough so keep an eye on them and bring them in during the hottest part of the day. A shady area they can lay in will be appreciated.

Do not use cocoa-shell mulches as dogs find the chocolate smell irresistable but it can be fatal if eaten, use untreated bark or large pebbles, which they will not like to walk over, instead.

There are some plants which are poisonous to dogs who often lack caution regarding what not to eat. Please click on the link to obtain further information regarding which plants to avoid.

Barbeques are another possible hazard for dogs so make sure matches, lighter fluid, lighters and candle are out of harms way and remember, dogs like meat and bones so keep an eye out for sneak thieves. Also remember not to leave your dog around if the barbeque is still alight.

Quick Garden Tips

You can protect delicate crops such as salads from small dogs by growing them in a raised bed which they will not be able to reach.

Some herbaceous perennials such as Salvias, Monarda and Armeria will recover if walked on.

Taller containers will keep plants from being tainted by passing dogs, vital in the case of edible ones.

A bored dog gets into mischief, so provide toys, play and stimulation for your dog from you as well as from inanimate objects. the more you play with him the happier he will be.