New problem - Grass and female dogs.

[fergie11]

The grass is starting to grow and there are a lot of burn spots which I assume come from Fergie's pee. What I don't understand is why there are not more. Yes, there are a lot but she pee's more than there are spots. Is it because sometimes the pee is stronger - like first thing in the a.m.? I don't know. Anyway is there anything you can do about this?

[nonnie browne]

Hi Fergie,
I read a long article about this after a lot of internet searching. Here is what I think I learned. the grass burns because of an overabundance of nitrogen. Dog's urine is very high in nitrogen and the more concentrated their urine (depending on water intake and time of day) the stronger it is. On top of that, we humans fertilize our lawns like crazy (me included) and it is the nitrogen that makes it so green. So when high concentrations of nitrogen in fertilizer are added to high concentrations of nitrogen in urine, burn occurs. When your dog urinates in multiple places, it can sometimes improve the lawn, making a more dense and more green spot. When the urinate over and over in the exact same spot - burn. The article suggested trying to get your dog to change spots more often (doesnt work for mine at the moment) or to dump water onto the pee spot right after (right, we all have time to do this). The less concentrated the nitrogen, the problem goes away. There are apparently products we can use on spots in our lawn to reduce this. I have noticed at my house that now that winter is over and the spring rains have come, my burns are much less drastic than they were in the winter time.

[Adina P]

When we put in an area of sod in our backyard...I vigilantly followed my dogs outside and watered down EVERY pee spot immediately. Of course, I could only do it for so long, but it helped for the time being.

[Karen & Lucy]

I have heard the same thing. After urination, rinse with water, so keep the hose handy.

[Mommy2Max]

You need to move up here to the Seattle area. Mother Nature does the work for me. :)

We are currently landscaping our unfinished backyard & sides and I decided to make a stone path on one side and label it "Max's Watering Hole". I figure easy cleanup and I'll have guests use the other side/path to get to our backyard. Of course, there will be a day when I open the door and say "Go Potty" and I won't be able to get max to stick to one area. Then I'm back to Mother Nature during the rainy season which is just about every month but, August - LOL.

[Chris & Boys]

Don't be fooled by thinking it is a girl thing. Both my boys are squatter. My lawn is already polka dotted!

[Sandy]

Toby's a squatter too. Polka dots it is. :)

[Kim]

This is so funny because my female (Allie) lifts her right leg!!!!! Just a couple of inches, but still lifts her leg!!!!

[Stella]

That might change yet Sandy! Hartley was neutered at 51/2 months and began to lift his leg only a couple of months ago. Apparently, one day he decided he was a man!! (He never lifted his leg before he was neutered)

[Debbie and Thomas]

We have dozens of burn marks from our 7 mth old GD. The neighbours grass looks perfect so obviously the doodle is the culprit. He came home at 8 weeks old on November 25th and has "done his business" out there the entire winter. What surprises me is that we had at least two feet of snow so we thought there would be no damage. But there are a lot and the marks are at least 12 inches around. Has anyone else seen this. (maybe the deep snow holds the nitrogen and when it melts spreads it wider) Also if we repair these spots by digging up the dead grass, adding some topsoil and seed, I'm afraid the dog will have a lot of fun digging in these spots.

[fergie11]

That is all exactly the case in my yard. I think maybe I'm going to ignore it. I didn't have the problem last year. Maybe as a month or so goes on those spots will take care of themselves. Honestly, I can't believe that anyone has the time to run around after their dogs and water down their pee spots. I don't even know when they pee. I'm usually not out there at those times. DH hasn't said anything to me yet but I'm sure it's coming.

[nonnie browne]

I did replace a strip of grass that was "death by pee" (buddy also squats) in early April. Thanks to the monsoonal rains we have been having, the new sod took well and the few burn spots I have are less severe. I will live with the few polka dots and try to discourage him from always being in the same spot. The good news is with improved weather and his adolescent crazies, he is wandering about more before he squats so it is helping to randomize the location. I'm with you Fergie, I can't imagine myself running our to water afterwards.

[Chris & Boys]

Yes, I tried the watering job when we got our GR - Oh, heck no! Who has the time? Anyway, when I was doing it, by the time he got out of the way, I couldn't tell where he went, so it was either water half the lawn or give up. If you rake away the dead grass, you still need to put something down to neutralize the soil. Like agricultural gypsum. Mix that with the soil and then add seed. But, after it grows in real nice, it will become your dood's favorite peeing place.