Are cedar shavings toxic to dogs?
Not really. Cedar doesn’t contain any substance that can cause toxicity in a dog.
However, some dogs have been shown to develop allergies when they come in contact with cedar chips.
If your dog is already sick or elderly, talk to the vet before using a cedar-filled bed for him.
What Are Cedar Chips?
Cedar chips are wood shavings derived from cedar trees. The chips are produced from different trees.
In the United States, the wood of the Eastern Red cedar is used. The tree releases natural oils with a pleasant smell.
It is believed that cedar also possesses certain chemical properties that inhibit the growth of certain weeds.
As a result, cedar chips make for great weed inhibitors in many gardens.
They are also used as mulch since they can fertilize the soil.
In the canine world, cedar chips are used to deter insects and mask any unpleasant pet odor.
I do not recommend round rock, also called pea gravel. It can end up trapped inside a dogs foot pad. It’s hard on their ankles and same is true for humans. People can slip because the round rock is not stable, it rolls and so can you. Pea gravel is very appealing to the eye. Don’t do it and if you have some, get rid of it. It’s not a good surface for anyone.
I don’t like to use bark dust for the primary area for my dog or a clients’ dog. Fleas, splinters, some of it tracks in and yet when I was a kid we had lawn and lots of bark dust and our dog never seemed to have a problem with it. Maybe that is because she had so much lawn. So I don’t use bark dust for the primary dog area.
Is your dog like Charlie and Maggie…..neighbor dog buddies who pass toys through the fence (which is so adorable)!! A lab and border collie entertain each other all day long while their owners are at work. When the fence is replaced, accommodations will be made to keep the harmony happening. Regarding fences: Do you have a dog who needs to have a peep hole in the fence so he won’t bark so much or just the opposite? Is she a perimeter dog? Perimeter dogs need to patrol the fence line. It’s not the place for plants that can’t handle a little romping Rufus. Rottweilers need to survey the adjoining properties and will guard the neighbor’s home too. One Rotty I know likes to be up high so he can see who is coming or going. We designed a couple of boulders (and plantings to creep between the boulders so it looks good) that he uses to get up on his very large dog house roof. It’s not good for dogs joints to repeatedly jump down from a high place so he clambers up and down the boulders instead of jumping onto the concrete area near his dog house. When you come into the driveway you are eye to eye with him. (Mojo McAdam). When you realize that Rottys used to guard and protect against lions, you can understand why they need to see into the distance. You need some advance warning if a lion is coming to visit you.
The family dog is right there from the minute I step into a home and meet my human clients. In the same way as my human clients have needs and specifications, the family dog, depending on the breed and temperament, has needs as well. It is important to design for the whole family.
I like to lay the chips 6″ deep. The only negative I have noticed is with active large dogs in small spaces. Running and wrestling with their buddy dogs can displace some chips up against a fence. The chips hold some moisture and now you have moisture up against the wood fence panels.
Add Cedar Chips To Whelping Box
Muddy lawns and ankle-twisting craters are just two of the problems that frustrate pet owners each spring. But with some simple design steps, you can reclaim your backyard.
Begin by thinking about your dog’s specific behaviour and needs. Most dogs will take the shortest route between two points, creating a muddy trail in the yard and along property lines.
Other dogs are canine police, patrolling your yard for possible human or animal intruders. Rushing to the scene of the crime, they tear up grass and anything else in their path.
Owners may try to eliminate the mess by confining pets to a certain area of the yard. If that doesn’t seem practical or attractive, “Try putting down prefab pavers or creating a flagstone path in high traffic areas,” says Chris Lambton, star of HGTV’s “Going Yard.”
“A well-designed path will make your yard look more like a garden than a dog park.”
A cheaper fix is cedar wood chips or mulch, which runs about $15 per yard. “Wood chips can be delivered and dumped, then easily spread with a rake or shovel,” says Lambton. “You can use an inexpensive edging material to keep them in place.”
Over time, however, wood chips can break down. They also can stick in a dog’s fur or cause splinters in its paws. Worse, some wood chips, such as cocoa mulch, can be toxic if eaten, Lambton cautions.
“Gravel is a good solution because it will stay down and not get muddy,” says Marty Rogers, a certified master dog trainer from Yorktown, N.Y. “It’s so small that most dogs find it unsatisfying to dig or eat. Best of all, it soaks up urine and can be quickly washed down with a hose.”
Rogers also recommends certain ground covers for lawn problems. “Pachysandra works really well for getting rid of water in muddy areas,” he says. “It stands up to urination and grows like a weed.”
You can try putting down bales of hay around the perimeter of your property. Then rake leaves up against the edge of your yard to minimize mud problems.
“Try Bermuda Grass, Rye Grass or Kentucky Blue Grass,” advises Lambton. “They are hardier varieties, but don’t count on having a decent lawn if your dog is running or urinating on it.”
“There’s no mowing, seeding or weeding,” says Mike Lehrer, owner of Home Green Advantage in Armonk, N.Y. “Dogs enjoy a clean, puddle-free environment.”
Lehrer has been installing the turf in doggie day care centres and at residential properties for over 15 years, but it’s a relatively pricey option, at about $9 to $16 per square foot.
And Lehrer warns against cutting corners by shopping for used turf online or hiring inexperienced contractors.
“You can’t install on top of guacamole,” he says. “You really need to hire someone who knows what he’s doing.”
Meanwhile, work with your dog to improve his behaviour, says Rogers. Dogs who understand what you want are less likely to tear up your grass or ruin your heirloom roses.
Digging: Buy an electronic outdoor containment system. When your dog starts to wander into a “restricted” area, he’ll receive a mild correction that will soon teach him to stay away. You might achieve the same goal with a vibrating electronic collar (www.Sitmeanssit.com).
Dog poop: If you want to designate a particular “bathroom spot” in your yard, leash your dog and take him to that same place every time. Create a few words that he will soon associate with that spot, like, “Go potty” or “Do your business.” Stay with him until he goes, and then praise him lavishly.
Most important, “enjoy your dog, but remember to mentally and physically exhaust him,” says Rogers. “Give him two or three short obedience training sessions every day. A tired dog isn’t going to destroy your lawn. All he’ll want to do is nap.”