Few things are more rewarding than spending a morning in the garden. Whether you're sowing seeds, deadheading roses or simply enjoying the changing seasons, time outdoors has a wonderful way of slowing life down.
And for many gardeners, having a four-legged companion nearby only makes the experience even better. While no dog should rely on the garden alone for exercise or enrichment, some breeds naturally love pottering alongside their owners, happily investigating new scents before settling down to watch the world go by.
“For keen gardeners, a dog that enjoys being outdoors without requiring constant high-energy activity can be the perfect match,” says Axel Lagercrantz, CEO of Pets4Homes.
Below are 9 breeds that make perfect gardening companions – whether you're pruning, planting or pottering.
Golden Retriever
With a friendly temperament and eagerness to be involved, Golden Retrievers are perhaps the ultimate gardening companion.
Ryan Neile, head of behaviour services at national pet charity Blue Cross, says: “Like Monty Don has discovered, Golden Retrievers make the ultimate gardening companion that will always be close by in any weather, happily watching you work, or by sometimes joining in and getting a little muddy.”
Kate Margolis, founder of Petproov.com, has seen this first-hand with her own Golden Retriever, Milo. “He'll happily wander around while I'm weeding, investigate every flower bed and then find a shady spot to lie down while keeping an eye on everything that's going on,” she says. “He's happiest outside and with me, so this is the perfect activity to do together.”
Whether they're carrying a favourite toy around the lawn or simply lying in the sunshine while you tend the borders, Golden Retrievers rarely want to be far from their favourite people.
Labrador Retriever
Labradors are another breed that loves spending time outdoors with their family, as they have such an affectionate personality.
Kate says they're “just as happy pottering around the garden as they are heading off on a longer walk”, making them an excellent companion for anyone who enjoys spending weekends outside.
Dog trainer and Tavo ambassador Adem Fehimi agrees, saying working gundog breeds – such as the loveable Labrador – “love nothing more than totting up and down in the garden with their favourite toy whilst you deadhead the roses.”
However, he points out that higher energy working Labradors are best suited to owners who also enjoy regular outdoor adventures beyond the garden.
Border Terrier
Being spirited and endlessly curious, sweet little Border Terriers love exploring every inch of an outdoor space.
Axel says they're one of the breeds that often thrive in homes with gardens because they enjoy investigating scents and spending time alongside their owners outdoors.
Their inquisitive nature means they may occasionally decide your flower beds are the perfect place to dig, so providing plenty of enrichment, training and appropriate places to channel those instincts is key.
Cocker Spaniel
Energetic, cheerful and always keen to investigate, Cocker Spaniels are perfectly suited to households where outdoor time is part of everyday life.
According to Axel, they're another breed that enjoys exploring gardens, following interesting scents and simply spending time close to their owners while they're outside.
Like all active Spaniels, they still need regular walks and opportunities to explore beyond the back garden, but they'll rarely turn down an afternoon helping you – or at least supervising you – from the flower beds.
Standard Poodle
Highly intelligent and wonderfully people-focused, Standard Poodles enjoy any activity that allows them to spend time with their owners.
Axel includes them among the breeds that thrive in homes with gardens thanks to their inquisitive nature and love of exploring outdoor spaces.
Their intelligence also means they benefit from plenty of enrichment, making garden games, training sessions or scent-based activities a great addition to your gardening routine.
Bulldog
Not every gardening companion needs boundless energy. Sometimes, all you want is a loyal friend happy to enjoy the fresh air beside you.
Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, canine behaviour expert at Pooch & Mutt, says lower-energy breeds are often better suited to gardeners than dogs with particularly strong prey drives or digging instincts. Bulldogs are among the breeds she recommends.
Content simply ambling around the patio before settling down in a sunny spot, Bulldogs are ideal companions for gardeners who enjoy a slower pace and plenty of time outdoors.
Corgi
Corgis are curious, cheerful and full of character. They enjoy being involved in all aspects of family life, whether that's accompanying you on a country walk or following you between flower beds.
Dr Emma also recommends Corgis for gardeners looking for a dog that's happy spending time outside without needing constant high-intensity activity.
Although they'll still benefit from regular walks and play, they're often just as content quietly watching the world go by while you get on with your gardening.
Miniature Schnauzer
Alert, affectionate and wonderfully loyal, Miniature Schnauzers love spending time wherever their owners happen to be.
Dr Emma says lower-energy breeds such as the Miniature Schnauzer can make excellent companions for people who spend plenty of time in the garden.
Their intelligence means they'll enjoy exploring the garden, learning new tricks or taking part in scent-based games before happily relaxing nearby while you finish planting.
Border Collie
For gardeners who spend much of their free time outdoors, the Border Collie can make an enthusiastic companion – provided you can meet its considerable exercise needs.
Adem says working breeds such as the Border Collie love following their owners around the garden while carrying a favourite toy. However, he stresses that occasional gardening sessions alone won't satisfy a dog with such high energy levels.
“Remember also that it will take time to ‘grow’ the perfect gardening companion,” he explains. Puppyhood requires “patience, consistency and the right approach to behaviour challenges such as the zoomies or digging sprees that can wreak havoc in the garden.”
Slow introductions to outdoor spaces, supervised exploration and positive enrichment can all help redirect natural behaviours like digging and chewing.
Gardening with dogs
While some breeds are naturally happier spending time outdoors than others, experts agree that a garden should complement - not replace - daily walks, training and enrichment.
As Darren Beale, CEO of fresh dog food company Years, explains: “Gardens should never replace walks or mental stimulation. Even dogs with access to large outdoor spaces still need regular exercise, opportunities to explore new environments and time interacting with their owners.”
He adds that if you love gardening, “your dog will probably enjoy being alongside you, but it's the shared time together that matters most.”
Finally, Kate advises making sure your outdoor space is safe before letting your dog roam freely. Many popular garden plants, cocoa mulch, slug pellets and some fertilisers can all be harmful to dogs, so it's worth checking that everything within reach is pet friendly.
With the right breed, a little training and a dog-safe garden, tending your borders could become one of your favourite shared pastimes.
Summer gardening edit
John Lewis VegTrug
Metal Square Digging Spade
