Oh yes..that attractive chain link fence...what an eyesore! We've had it about 5 years now & I know even with beautiful landscaping that will remain a problem..we never thought of it when we got it..we were just thinking of the dogs (of course after we had it put in I saw it a vinyl coated green which blends into the greenery..not as abrasive as the silver one we have)...Since our PA soil is so rocky & hard to dig into I was thinking of a few large clay pots strategically placed around the inside edge of the fence & planting a variety of annuals & since the fence is 6 feet high I thought maybe a few window boxes here & there between the clay pots...I'll just have to improvise & distract the eye away from the fence! I checked out the local nursery yesterday & saw the pea gravel..I also checked out their stepping stones & other slabs that have a great look but they coat about $8.00-$10.00 a piece! I'll continue to look around...maybe molds would be better.. Well thanks for all your input...I just have to get up a plan & wait for the weather to warm up..Have a nice day!

As I understand it, you want something to decorate the place a little and make it not so barren, but that would also give some interest for the dogs? (Sissy, I think Peabody meant the dogs use the area, not the plant, as the bathroom.) Anyway, I'm usually wishing I had plant-friendly dogs, not dog-friendly plants... You could put liriope in the 18-inch bed. That will shelter a lot of small animals. Liriope does well in shade or sun. I don't know that my dogs have ever eaten it, though. The thing they most like to eat, other than plants I don't want them to eat, is plain old grass. And it always comes back. Maybe a heavy, low-to-the-ground (so they won't knock it over) planter of grass. The planter would make it easy to keep under control. You'd have to get the kind of grass that would grow in the conditions there - sun or shade - you haven't stated which. Good luck. K.

Oh, hi mckitty. We travel with our pups all the time and sometimes it is such a bust. Have to face it that some people just do not like dogs... So much more help now with the internet 'pet friendly' help i have found, and i try to help also. We travel to Newfoundland once, sometimes twice a year so we often take a side trip. Cruise through tripadvisor using 'pet friendly' key words. I'll add a link. (that has another link) We did not have much luck traveling through the Cape but we winged it last minute. We really need off-leash running to burn off steam. But overall it is very pet friendly just about everywhere on a leash. Off season would be much better. The SeaShell motel is my kind of place being right on the water. I've read PTown has a dog park and water fountains for them in many places. Here is a link that might be useful: pet friendly hotels

Yes, we do love our dogs, don't we? Loads of good thoughts here, and I don't think my additions'll be earth-shaking: - If you have a doggie door, be sure it locks. My mom has trouble with skunks and possoms coming in through hers. And place a washable throw-rug right in front of the doggie door. - We have a large covered porch, which is great for the dog. In rain or snow, he can still go outside and feel himself "a part of things" without going out into the weather. And because ours is a raised deck, he has a HUGE place to go underneath the porch in bad weather. - Several people mentioned feeding areas ... but don't neglect a spot to store big bags of food that aren't yet open -- especially if you have big dogs and need to keep large quantities on hand. - Consider whether you need to store leashes in multiple places. We take our little fellow out through the side door for our walks ... but we also keep a shorty leash hanging on the back door. Why? Because sometimes he goes out into the back yard and starts barking, and we have to go out and drag him in -- we definitely need that leash RIGHT THERE so we can be quick. - On the subject of dog baths, it'd be smart to plan a cabinet for the dog's grooming items: Old towels, extra blankets, nail grinder, shampoo, brushes. This could also be a spot to store his monthly heartworm pills, etc. - Place your dog's bed in the quietest corner of your living room. Dogs love to be "on the edge" of activity while they're resting. We have a recliner that sits at an angle in a corner, and our dog has a "hidden bed" behind that recliner. He loves it and genuinely believes we don't know about it. Our fellow has a total of three beds in different spots around the house, and he uses them all. - Don't neglect a basket for your dog's toys. - In our new house, we'll have a smallish window seat right by the computer desk in our pocket office. I expect our little fellow'll enjoy sitting on that window seat while one of us works at the desk. I'm going to make it low-ish so he can jump up; we currently have steps at the foot of our bed so he can climb up, but we don't want steps in the way in this pocket office.