Have you heard of sensory gardens? Sensory gardens are designed garden environments that are meant to stimulate or heighten its visitor’s senses – they have generally been established in schools for children with autism or in care facilities for people with dementia. It has been proven that sensory gardens can provide relaxation and stress release for both humans and pets alike! In addition to allowing your dogs to use all their senses while interacting with their environment, sensory gardens provide many levels of physical and mental enrichment.
Check out these sensory gardens around the world that have been designed just for dogs:
1. Bath Cats & Dogs Home Sensory & Enrichment Garden
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2. Paws-itive Canine Sensory Garden
3. Busselton Snuffle Gardens
4. Cornwall Sensory Garden
In case you’re running out of quarantine activities to keep your dog busy, we’ve got some tips to make your own dog sensory garden, whether you’ve got a small apartment balcony or a spacious backyard. It all comes down to getting creative with your dog’s specific needs and interests.
First, let’s keep in mind your pup’s main senses:
- Smell
- Sight
- Sound
- Taste
- Touch
Next, observe how your dog already likes to use your outdoor space. Are they an avid digger? A scent sniffer and chaser? A racing track star? An enthusiastic water lover? Figure out what activity makes their tail wag the most, and channeling that through a few new additions to the yard will keep them entertained and enriched in their garden experience!
Sensory Garden Projects:
Plant a mini garden for your dog to see, sniff, and taste! This doesn’t have to take up a lot of space – you can pick a few dog-safe plants from your local nursery and plant them in pots! Always make sure you double check to make sure the plant is absolutely dog safe. Here are a few that are safe, look amazing in your outdoor space, and even have medicinal properties when ingested.
- Mint
- Lavender
- Rosemary
- Wheatgrass
- Marigold
- Valerian
- Nasturtiums
- Echinacea
- St. John’s Wort
Digging Pit: This can be as simple as filling up a kiddie pool with sand, or you can build out a whole sandbox as a more permanent feature! Many dogs love digging and would love the extra challenge of you burying a special treat in the sand.
Water Feature: For water-loving dogs, fill the kiddie pool with water instead for them to splash around in.
Scent Searchers: Leave a patch of your lawn unmown, then toss in some treats for your dog to go in and forage for their food. Have any extra logs hanging around? Drill some holes and hide some treats inside to get those noses working. There are endless ways to fulfill their need to search!
Agility Course: Create a mini agility run using all sorts of items you already have at your disposal, such as PVC pipes, hula hoops, pool noodles, and play tunnels. Let them jump, weave, tunnel, and race to their heart’s content!
Have any other ideas of what to add to a dog sensory garden? Leave us a comment with your ideas, and tag us if you try out any of these ideas in your own outdoor space!
Author: Mi Nguyen
Mi is a first generation Vietnamese-American Texan transplant. After moving to San Antonio in 2018, she adopted her beloved Luna from Animal Care Services. When she isn’t working as a social media manager, she enjoys taking Luna on outdoor excursions, rock climbing, and exploring hidden gems around town. Mi is also an avid raw feeder and makes most of Luna’s meals and chews at home!
