Dogs come in all shapes, sizes, and characteristics. But they all require different health and care routines. So, part of this is giving them enough time and space to run around, exercise, and socialise. This is where a dog run comes in. A dog run is a space that allows your dog to run around comfortably. It is primarily located in a backyard, though any area you have in your property will do. The ground or flooring in a dog run may consist of traditional lawn or grass, plain soil, finely grounded mulch, or fine stone gravel and sand. You can find all these in any local landscape supply store with garden rocks for sale.
The spot will depend on your dog’s size
If your backyard is small and your dog breed is large, you’re better off walking the dog to the nearest park. At minimum, your dog run should be at least five times the length of your dog and twice as wide. The backyard also ensures that you can leave your dog and occasionally check up on what it’s doing. If you have an appropriately sized backyard, you can also have an outdoor kennel or enclosure where the dog can stay when you’re away.
Consider shaded areas
Make sure parts of the run and kennel are in shaded areas to allow your dog to get out of the sun. A water source should also be close to make filling up water bowls and rinsing down the run and yard more convenient.
Choosing the flooring or ground cover
The cheapest option will always be the natural dirt and grass in your backyard. This can be properly maintained. However, it also means your dog will track mud when it rains and more dust during the dry months.
Affordable ground cover options are mulch or fine stone gravel and sand. Well-grounded mulch can make a fine dog run ground cover. Just make sure to choose mulch that your dog will not chew on, and never select cocoa tree or bean mulch because it is toxic to dogs. Ask your landscape supplier to choose fine river gravel and sand or river stones because these are smooth and will not cut your dog’s paws.
Contrary to popular belief, fine stone gravel and sand does not induce a dog to go digging. So long as the ground cover is malleable, dogs will dig into lawns, grass, soil, stones, and gravel. If you don’t want your dog digging in your backyard, you can choose options such as concrete, paving stones, artificial grass, and rubber padding. However, these can be expensive, so prepare to spend a lot.
Quality sand and gravel from Labrador Landscape Supplies
If you need fine and smooth gravel and sand for your dog run flooring, Labrador Landscape Supplies has this available, as well as a range of rocks, pebbles, gravel, and other landscape materials to suit any gardening or landscape project. Check out all our garden rocks for sale today. Visit us at https://landscape-supply.com.au/.