Last Updated: 26/08/2026
How to Create a Pet Friendly Garden
Want to create a garden for your pet to enjoy but don't know where to start? Check out our tips to make a start and keep your fur baby happy and safe.
Author: Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read
Australians love the great outdoors, and whether you've got a sprawling backyard, a courtyard or a balcony, we all enjoy time in our own private oasis, and so do our pets.
Creating a pet friendly garden doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some tips on how to make your garden pet friendly and keep your fur baby happy and safe.
Fence them in
A good quality fence is essential for a pet friendly backyard. Old or gappy fences can let dogs squeeze out and put themselves at risk of getting lost or injured. As a guide, a 4ft fence suits small breed dogs while larger breeds may need 6ft, and it should be un-climbable, with concrete around the base for keen diggers. Solid fencing also blocks your dog's view of the street, which can cut down on barking and reactive behaviour.
Cats need a cat proof fence or enclosure, since a standard fence won't stop them jumping over; a cat harness is a good option if you'd rather let them explore on lead. If your cat does roam the yard, a bell on their collar helps warn off local wildlife.
Dogs that repeatedly escape, especially when left home alone, may be dealing with separation anxiety. This is worth addressing directly, both for their safety and their wellbeing.
Read our veterinary written article How To Calm an Anxious Pet for more.
Create a shady retreat
Plenty of shade gives your pet a cool place to retreat to on hot days. An elevated trampoline-style bed under a shady tree works well, since it lets air circulate underneath to keep them cool. A kennel or covered area is also important for pets left outside for periods of time, protecting them from the elements.
A pet door is a great addition if you want to give your pet free access to the house, with microchip versions letting your pet in while keeping other neighbourhood pets out.
Planting natural repellents like Basil, Rosemary, Catnip, Lemon Balm, Marigold or Sage near your pet's favourite resting spot can also help keep itchy pests away.
Take care with chemicals
Few pesticides, herbicides or insecticides are 100% safe for pets, so use caution in the garden, access to chemicals can cause serious illness or even death. Always read the label, follow instructions, keep pets away from treated areas until dry, and remove toys, beds and bowls before applying anything.
Snail and slug bait often contains metaldehyde, which is highly toxic to dogs, cats and wildlife, even a small amount can cause vomiting, drooling, tremors, seizures and death. Avoid it altogether and opt for crushed egg shells, sand, or a non-toxic snail and slug product instead.
Organic fertilisers like blood, bone or fish meal are great for the garden but highly palatable to pets, and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, pancreatitis or intestinal obstruction if eaten in large amounts. Always store chemicals and fertilisers well out of reach, and see your vet promptly if your pet does come into contact with anything harmful.
Warning: If you believe your pet has consumed or has been in contact with a toxic substance please immediately contact your local vet, 24hr vet emergency centre or call the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 TOX PET (1300 689 738). Delaying treatment may worsen the symptoms.
What's the best pet-friendly grass for an Australian backyard?
For most Aussie backyards with a dog or cat in the mix, buffalo grass varieties like Sir Walter are the best all-round pick. They're hard-wearing, form a dense mat that copes well with digging and toileting, and produce less of the pollen that tends to trigger allergies. Kikuyu and Couch are solid, hard-wearing alternatives too, especially for enthusiastic diggers, though they need more frequent mowing and tend to be more allergenic since they seed more freely.
The lawn is an essential feature of many Australian homes, giving families a place to bond, play and burn energy with their pet. If your dog is a keen digger or loves to scratch up the grass during play, look for a variety with a dense, deep root system that recovers quickly, rather than a fine or delicate cultivar that thins out under pressure. A designated toileting spot also helps take the pressure off the rest of your lawn.
Synthetic grass is a good option for small courtyards or spots where real grass struggles to grow, and it means no more muddy paws or bare digging patches. The trade-off: it can get very hot underfoot in summer, so it's best avoided during the middle of the day to prevent paw injuries. It also needs regular hosing and an enzyme-based cleaner to stop it smelling, and it's a harder surface, worth factoring in for older pets with joint issues.
Like humans, pets can suffer from allergies to grass, more commonly in the Spring and Summer when grasses begin to seed. Common signs of grass allergies in pets include runny eyes, a rash on hairless areas such as the tummy, chest and under the arms, itchy feet, over grooming and hair loss. If allergies are a concern in your household, a low-allergen variety such as Sir Walter is worth considering over a heavier-seeding grass like Kikuyu.
One common issue we see isn't the grass itself, it's owners using pet-unsafe lawn treatments or fertilisers on it. Always check any lawn product is pet-safe before applying it, keep pets off the treated area until it's completely dry, and store products well out of reach.
For more information on allergies in your pet, read our veterinary written articles Why Does My Dog Have Sensitive Itchy Skin? and Causes of Itching in Cats.
The potty area
Set up a designated toileting spot for your dog outside, an area of grass you consistently take them to and reward for using. Pick up faeces regularly to reduce parasite risk, and if your pet toilets on synthetic grass, sanitise it with a pet-safe cleaner to keep bacteria and odours at bay.
Dead patches from dog urine are a common frustration, caused by the high nitrogen content in their wee. Products such as Dog Rocks, alongside a premium diet not too high in protein, may help reduce this. Read our article How to stop Urine Burning Your Grass for more.
For cats who venture outside, an outdoor litter box is handy - ideally a private, raised and covered area filled with sand or loose soil rather than regular litter, replaced regularly to stay fresh. An outdoor cat bed gives them another dedicated space to sprawl out.
Essentials for a clean and pet-friendly yard
Pet safe plants
Not all plants are pet safe, so before choosing new ones for your garden, check which garden plants are safe and which ones are toxic for pets so you can pick with confidence. Avoid trees like macadamia or stone fruit that can cause obstructions or toxicity if ingested, and steer clear of spiky plants if you have a curious young dog.
A few design tweaks go a long way: raise garden beds or vegetable patches and fence them off to keep pets out, use pavers, stone or rocks to create natural pathways that discourage trampling, and top garden beds with mulch or rocks to deter digging and toileting.
Many pets enjoy eating grass and it's not necessarily a sign anything's wrong, planting some cat grass or catnip gives them a spot to indulge, inside and out.
Make the backyard fun!
Giving your pet plenty to do in the backyard helps keep them mentally and physically stimulated and can prevent boredom-driven destructive behaviour. A pool, sprinkler or water fountain is a great way to help them cool off on hot days, and there's a wide range of interactive toys, from automatic ball thrower to long lasting treats, that'll keep an active dog amused for hours. Hiding kibble or treats around the yard for a sniff-and-find hunt works well for dogs and cats alike.
Cats generally love exploring and watching the world go by outside, so plenty of elevated spots to observe and rest is a big win.
Looking for more ways to keep you pet entertained? Read our veterinary written articles Boredom Busters for Dogs and Games For Your Cat.
Keep your pet entertained outdoors
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 26 Aug 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Belinda Stancombe BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr Belinda graduated from The University of Queensland in 2009 and has worked as a Small Animal Veterinarian for over 10 years in South East Queensland. She also has experience as a telehealh consultant, providing veterinary advice for online customers.She has a special interest in animal behaviour, preventative health, the human-animal bond and internal medicine. Outside of work hours she is closely affiliated with a kitten rescue and is also a devoted carer of orphaned rescue kittens.
