Plan for Puppy

Throw your dog a proverbial bone by planting to give him a sense of boundary. Space plants close together in areas you want to designate as off-limits, and understand that the rest of the yard is fair territory. If you leave enough space for him to run and play, accept that that's precisely what he will do.

Another way to keep your pet out of certain areas is to choose shrubs and small trees over shorter, more delicate plants. Shrubs such as bluebeard, potentilla, and lavender add color to a landscape and grow a little more than a foot tall, so it's hard for your dog to trample them. Bay and small firs make great low-profile trees and add interesting, dog-resistant shape to your landscape.