Backyard for dogs?

[April and Zeke]

Has anyone done anything special to their backyard to make it fun for dogs? I'm thinking like add a sandbox or kiddie pool or obstacle course or something. I'm looking for ideas, something you've done, blogs you could point me to, etc. This is the first time I've actually had a fenced backyard (have had dogs in a condo for years) and I don't have little kids and I don't use the yard much so I sure would love to make it a doggy paradise of sorts.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

That video was a blast! I have not seen it before. I just LOVED that!

Our backyard is very small so the only things apart from shrubs and bushes where Monty likes to snoop, there is a spot for a kiddie pool. We made a sandbox for him as well, mainly because he liked to dig where he was not supposed to. Well, it is a dirt box at the time. The plan this summer is to dig the dirt out and fill it up with sand. But it definitely helped with the digging. You can see it here a bit:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/video/happy-doggy-6-1-11

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I don't remember ever seeing this one....this yard is Doodle Disneyland for sure.  My boys are so deprived.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

How soon we forget!  And I thought Spud was still too full of ENERGY.  I have tears running down my cheeks.  That was funny.

Oh how I wish I had a puppy.  Well, only for 10 minutes. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Me too, maybe 5 minutes : )

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Come on, now. Not all puppies are like this. Monty wasn't. Wait, I don't recall. I must have been in a coma for the first few months.

[Bonnie and Kona]

This puppy is Owen's twin in spirit! Love that little guy. I want to cuddle with him when he is worn out from the big play time!

[BG and Gavin]

If there is a puppy cuter or happier than this one, I would like to see it!!

[April and Zeke]

Thank you so much for sharing this, that is so awesome!

[Pat and Traveler]

Wow!  That's about the most energetic pup EVER!   So cute.  I agree--an adorable video.

[Lori, Rooney & Zuzu]

I would say if you want your dog to be really entertained and happy then be sure to plant all sorts of things that you DON"T want him to touch and he will have a grand time systematically destroying each one!  At least, that appears to be Rooney's favorite backyard pastime. :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Cubbie treats our yard like a salad bar and will walk around and just munch on random weeds and things growing in through the fence from the yards next door.  Well basically he runs from weed to weed and tries to quickly grab a mouthful as I follow after him shouting "Cubbie Leave IT"  "Cubbie NO"  "Cubbie Leave IT, I said LEAVE IT" "That's it, Inside NOW" 

Luckily he leaves my plants and flowers alone and only goes for the weeds  :)

[F, Calla & Luca]

My dogs only like to find long grass to chew on, near the edges of the lawn, along the fence etc.