I was wondering if anybody has any ideas regarding landcaping that a boxer couldn't destroy? We are unable to fence in our backyard (due to a very extensive root system) so we let Brody out in our fenced front yard. Ofcouse, he has completely demolished our plants and now he's working on killing the lawn with all the digging! He loves being outside for hours at a time and I just can't always be out there with him. Since it's our front yard it is important to me that it look nice-- I was thinking about maybe putting in a rock garden or something? If anybody has some suggestions that you think would work, I'd love to hear them!
Boxer friendly landscaping ideas?
- Thread starter BroD
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RMMRKK
Boxer Booster
I actually read on here recently that someone had posted something about a digging box for the dogs. I am putting one in this spring.........I thought it was a good idea. Rock gardens are very pretty, but I would be worried about the dog swallowing one. Hmmmm.........other than that I have no ideas. Sorry! wasn't much help
Lola's mum
Boxer Insane
My two destroyed our back garden completely, they dug holes in the lawn and turned the grass to mud with all their burning around so we made it into a pebble garden (don't know why I say 'we' as I did it all with no help from Dh so it's dead easy).
I'd made some of the garden a slate area already so I bought some ready made short fencing and put that in around the edge, got some black membrane and covered up the lawn and ordered 3 tons of pebbles from a garden centre and shoveled them on. The dogs still run around as normal but with no damage to anything.
Here's a couple of pics
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65363/cat/500/ppuser/37695
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65365/cat/500/ppuser/37695
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65364/cat/500/ppuser/37695
I'd made some of the garden a slate area already so I bought some ready made short fencing and put that in around the edge, got some black membrane and covered up the lawn and ordered 3 tons of pebbles from a garden centre and shoveled them on. The dogs still run around as normal but with no damage to anything.
Here's a couple of pics
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65363/cat/500/ppuser/37695
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65365/cat/500/ppuser/37695
http://www.boxerworld.com/photo/showphoto.php/photo/65364/cat/500/ppuser/37695
tastubbs
Boxer Insane
I have also incorporated river rock/pebbles into my landscaping, though not to the extent (or attractiveness) of Lola'sMom. It has really cut down on the mud and digging. Also, I have one spot where they are allowed to dig. They seem satisfied with that and are leaving the rest of the yard alone. BTW, I strategically placed bits of poop by any new hole they started, and they got the message pretty quickly.
Thank you all for the ideas. Lola's mum-- your yard is beautiful! I would love to do something like that. We have two large (and very empty) flower beds I will definately fill with the large pebbles, and I'll probably put in a rock path along the fence. We have some vines growing on the fence that Brody seems to leave alone, so I was thinking about planting some more vines (like honeysuckle maybe) but I've heard some can be poisonous for dogs-- does anyone know anything about that?
LeahR
Super Boxer
BroD, is this a rhetorical or sarcastic type of question?????? No lawn is safe from the boxer LOL 
The digging box is a great idea, we have a digger too and I have been harassing dh to build her one since we moved to our new house ( I WILL prevail this spring/summer). Not sure what your front yard looks like but another idea is to put in a stone/brick patio type that allows the grass and ground cover plants to grow between the stones. We have one like that ( ours is flagstone) off our back deck and even though mason is so lazy he often pees/poops there instead of in the grass, it is easy to wash down and b/c you don't really care or can even tell if the grass/plants in between are there or alive the urine makes no difference. I am actually thankful he does his business there sometimes... it saves our yard LOL. they are also relatively easy to build/install yourself. There is no cement, just a layer of gravel and sand under ( you do need to make sure they are level) and then you set the stones/bricks then dump more sand and use a broom to pack the sand in between. I have even seen on HGTV that they sell kits ( the stones are pre-cut for an easy lay out) I could go on and on but check out HGTV's web site if you might like this!
The digging box is a great idea, we have a digger too and I have been harassing dh to build her one since we moved to our new house ( I WILL prevail this spring/summer). Not sure what your front yard looks like but another idea is to put in a stone/brick patio type that allows the grass and ground cover plants to grow between the stones. We have one like that ( ours is flagstone) off our back deck and even though mason is so lazy he often pees/poops there instead of in the grass, it is easy to wash down and b/c you don't really care or can even tell if the grass/plants in between are there or alive the urine makes no difference. I am actually thankful he does his business there sometimes... it saves our yard LOL. they are also relatively easy to build/install yourself. There is no cement, just a layer of gravel and sand under ( you do need to make sure they are level) and then you set the stones/bricks then dump more sand and use a broom to pack the sand in between. I have even seen on HGTV that they sell kits ( the stones are pre-cut for an easy lay out) I could go on and on but check out HGTV's web site if you might like this!
ZOE*BOXER
Boxer Insane
Me too, except for the new house part. I fully intend to get their digging area in place this spring. I have holes all over the backyard.
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