Artificial Turf

[Sooner Mom]

Does anyone use artificial turf in the yard where your doodles play and/or do their business? I am interested in knowing what product you used and your feelings about it.  

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

We have had Easy Turf in our last house and it was the first thing (along with a taller fence) that we put in in this house.

It is awesome, no mud, does not get too hot and I live in southern California - not the desert though.

Washes easily with hose, can use Clorox or Nature's Miracle on it.  I use a spray feeder attachment when I want to do this. 

[Sooner Mom]

Thank you for the information.  We are seriously considering our options.  Do your doodles actually play in that area of the year or just use it for a potty area?  We are wondering if it will stand up to the play of two doodles.  If the weather is nice they would rather be outside than inside.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Check out this site:

https://www.pregra.com/

Artificial turf is the way to go, for sure.  Friend has a 19' x 34' area for his dogs and it cost him $1,500 at Costco, but they stopped selling his particular brand. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

A few years ago, after running around with some other dogs on a large soccer field covered with artificial grass, one of my dog's paw pads was seriously torn. I'd think twice, if you are considering having it installed in your yard where your dog is going to be playing and racing around.  

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

It has to be properly installed.

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Our friends had turf in their dog yard in AZ.  Charlie did not like walking on it and he kept lifting up his feet and then he finally came over and sat down by me.  Beau did not seem to mind. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

A question about artificial grass - how does your dog know it is okay to pee and poo on it; i.e. that it is different from any indoor carpet for example?

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

Not sure but it looks like grass.  When I took Teddy at 4 months to a place with AT he had never seen it.  He did his business on it with no problem.

It even looked like grass to me...I didn't realize it was AT until I realized it looked better than the surrounding grass !!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

But it can't smell like grass!  Not that it wouldn't work, but my boys are pretty well trained not to use man-made surfaces. Perhaps though, if it is placed over areas where they are used to going it would be just fine.

[Frank & TeddyToyDoodle]

I bet you can buy grass smell or even dog scents to let him know it's OK to use it.  Plus, it's outside -- that's usually the trigger, right ?

[Nancy (Chelsea and Harley)]

You may want to check out this article first:  

What They Don't Tell You About Artificial Grass and Dogs' Urine and Feces.

(http://marthabeth.com/fake_grass.html)

Look for those made with pets in mind!