Backyard Dangers for Dogs

Even in a secluded, fenced backyard, your dog’s life could be in danger. Many pet owners are unaware of the hidden dangers in their own backyard that could harm, threaten, or even take the life of your four-legged friend.

A backyard that appears to be a dog’s oasis can still be full of all sorts of dangers, especially for rambunctious puppies. Puppies are energetic and tend to explore everything they encounter. Their natural urge to chew can be deadly in a dangerous backyard.

The most common age for dogs to fall victim to harmful backyard dangers is between the ages of one and six months. Some breeds of dogs, like Golden Retrievers, have a tendency to chew and gnaw all throughout their lives.

What Are Backyard Dangers for Dogs? To protect your dog, it is best to eliminate all dangers in your backyard regardless of your dog’s age or breed. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ASPCA, the most common backyard dangers to watch out for are:

• Citronella candles that repel mosquitoes and contain chemicals that could poison your dog
• Mulching around trees, plants, and shrubs that contains cocoa
• Compost bins and garden or grass fertilizers
• Traps designed to catch snails or slugs and contain metaldehyde
• Fish ponds or decorative fountains that contain blue-green algae
• Insects, toads, snakes, and other animals that may leave behind harmful toxins
• Chemicals and supplies for swimming pools or hot tubs
• Azaleas, grape vines, sago palms, and other plants that are known to be poisonous
• Fly repellents and traps with metonym

Dog owners must play an active role in protecting their puppy from these dangers, as well as other common perils, both inside and outside of their home. Keep chemicals, lawn equipment, and gardening supplies secured and out of your dog’s reach. Make sure garbage cans and other containers are closed tightly at all times.

Always use fertilizers, pesticides, and other harmful agents exactly as instructed and heed any safety warnings on the labels. There are many organic and natural products that can be used in the place of hazardous chemicals for complete canine safety. Your vet or landscaper may be able to recommend quality products.

Backyard Weddings

Backyard weddings are simple, solemn and sentimental. This is because a most memorable event takes place in a setting very close to the heart of either the bride or the groom. There are a lot of couples who opt for a backyard wedding and rightly so, as there are several advantages to doing this.

Backyard Weddings Advantages
When you have a backyard wedding, you are more in control the situation. You are having it right where the family is and everything you might need for emergencies. You can be very flexible with the lay-out and decorations to suit your needs. There is more control over the flow of traffic of the guests and even the backdrop for those memorable wedding photos.

Of course, let us not forget the cost. It is significantly cheaper to have a backyard wedding, even if you hire a caterer for the reception. The decorations can be done by family and friends and according to your own specifications. You can even have a big decoration day just before the wedding – a special time to hang out with friends who have meant so much to you and your spouse-to-be.

You will also be doing away with the hassle of reserving, booking, and paying for a venue. And, Lord forbidding that the wedding gets canceled or moved, there is no need to cancel or re-book anything. Sometimes, the ambiance you get in an intimate setting like your own backyard is even a lot better than in a hotel or a restaurant.

Lastly, a backyard wedding involves everybody you love. All the members of the family and close friends can all have a share in your special day – the decorations, ushering, reception arrangements and other details.

Backyard Wedding Disadvantages
The possibility of a disagreeable weather is always there if you opt for a backyard wedding. You should be prepared to move the whole event indoors, or at least, have the capability to set-up canopies.

Another downside to having a backyard wedding is the limitation in size. If your backyard is not big enough to hold the ceremony and the reception, you run the risk of limiting and constricting the movements in your wedding. You should plan the lay-out carefully, making sure that there is room for the wedding march and the dancing that might ensue later on. If this is the case, it is wise to set-up the reception table on the opposite side from the ceremonies to give ample space in the middle for the traffic.

Lastly, the location might pose some problems, too. For example, you can not help it if a neighbor chooses to turn on those speakers to maximum volume when you are about to recite your solemn wedding vows.

At the end of the day, your wedding is all about making beautiful memories and tender moments. If it happens right in a familiar backyard, it makes it doubly special.