update on my back yard situation...

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

ok so i had mentioned a few weeks ago that my husband and i live in an apartment in my inlaws house (our apartment used to be a separate doctors office that we made into an apartment).. my in laws have mentioned that midas has been messing up the yard (they didnt say it in a mean way, just mentioned it) they think its his urine but its honestly mostly his running that is tearing up the yard.. he really only pees right when he walks outside in one area... anyways.. my husbands client is a landscaper and he came over today... of course midas came outside and was TEARIN IT UP out there lol... let me try and explain my yard to everyone... i have 2 exits to my backyard... one is off onto the deck and then into the big square portion of the yard, the other is out onto the side of the yard which is smaller... in between the big square part of the yard thats on the street side..is a straight away which leads to the side door to the smaller part of the yard. the landscaper suggested blocking off the smaller part (so put a chain link fence on the straight away) and let midas out of the door that leads to the small part of the yard and not off the deck. midas likes to poop around the perimeter of the big part of the yard.. i am worried if i put the chain link he wont poop on the small side... will he? he always pees in this small part of the yard so im sure he will be fine.but he usually pees..then runs the straight away and poops around the perimeter of the big part of the yard (always)... i feel bad that midas will no longer be allowed to run in this smaller area if it is blocked off... it will be good for me tho because his feet will not get that dirty if he cannot book it through the yard lol... Also i always worried because the square bigger part of the yard has a gate close to the street that i cant see from the deck door.. and i ALWAYS fear that it will one day blow open or the gardeners will leave it open and midas will be gone.. so the pros of using the chain link fence and only letting midas out in the small part of the yard is..i will be able to see him at all times.. and he wont be able to go nuts outside and get super duper dirty... cons about using the fence.. he will not be able to run..which he loves to do.. and currently that part of the yard is just kicked up torn up dirt...no grass at all...so his feet do get dirty if its damp outside just from walking..  my in laws and landscaper all said .. that he should be allowed to go out and run in the big part of the yard when we go out with him to throw a ball or something..but it shouldnt be his space to always run like a nut and poop and pee...they all said that he should have his own space and we should have ours... is this mean that we will be makin his prt of the yard much smaller for bathroom breaks? i feel guilty... i will take him out in the big yard when its nices for a game of catch.. but i guess if he gets too crazed he has to calm down.. i have to work with my in laws too i guess... also for the part of the yard that he will be using now.. seeing that it is all dirt.. what can i put to keep in cleaner for us? concrete? will he poop and pee on that? is it messier? wood chips? how do i pick up the poop then? any suggestions appreciated... sorry this is long...xoxo hope it makes sense

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

What I am hearing is that will be safer for him, will make your in-laws happy(ier), he won't be destroying the big yard and he will have clean(er) paws and still his own space.  I would think he would adapt to pooing in that spot-where else would he if that's becomes his area?  Maybe others can help with suggestions on how to acclimate him to the smaller space to make it as a positive.  Maybe go out with him the first few days and give treats and a party when he poops-just like when you trained him.  Then just make sure he gets plenty of exercise time either in the big space or for longer walks, dog parks etc.

As for a surface, I would not go with cementing.  Not sure about wood chips, but that might work.  my dog would probably eat them...

good luck.  Just my thoughts and I am interested to see what the more seasoned members have to say! 

[Pat and Traveler]

I agree with Lori.  People place and dog place.  I'd never want to hang out in Trav's fenced off section of my yard, for the same reasons you mentioned--all torn up, poop around the perimeter, etc.  When I tried wood chips, Trav was like a magnet for them--it was worse than mud!

Good luck with whatever you may decide. 

[Adina P]

I've heard some good things about pea gravel, but I have no experience with it. 

[Julie and Charlie]

We used river rocks, maybe about an inch in diameter, for Charlie's elimination area. Works for us, as they are easy to hose off, easy to pick poop off of without removing the rocks, and somewhat help with drainage. They also keep his paws clean, the yard is really muddy during the winter around these parts.

He's allowed in the rest of the yard at my discretion- for instance, after he's gone potty to run around, play fetch, etc, especially in the summer during the dry season :)

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

thats what we are hoping to do...bathroom in one section..and playtime in big part of the yard when im out there..so if it gets to crazy..back inside.. but my in laws are going like re do the whole yard now..and im worried that even that play time i allow will still ruin the grass..midas is very heavy on his feet...he runs like a clydesdale horse lol.. so now im looking into the turf..im sure its crazy expensive..but even if i do a portion at a time and save up.. it should help

[Ginny Nightingale]

Sounds like a solution and I really think it is important to keep the peace--maybe there is a nearby dog park that he can run at? Or other fenced in dog friendly area?

You can move some of his poop to the smaller area--they are attracted to the poop spot by the smell, so that might help transition him....I too have mud in certain areas of the yard that the dogs run thru and have never figured out what to do--BUT, for a small area, artificial turf might work! I just made a puppy pen and got a 8' x 12' piece of artificial turf for about $60. The water runs thru it, you can hose it off and it is pretty easy to pick up poop off of it. You would need to stake down the corners, but it could work!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

There is a product called K-9 Turf and also k-9 grass- not sure how expensive but it got good reviews from large dog parks.  

http://ultimatek9turf.com/

www.k9grass.com/

Let us know what you finally decide!  

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

thank u!! i will let u guys know xoxo

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

wow thats awesome! so cool! thanks for the tips!!! we do always bring him to parks and dog runs and to my sisters house with 3 dogs.. but i felt bad that during the week when we work.. he wont have his big yard to tear up anymore lol :(

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

would you mind telling me where you got the turf?

[Ginny Nightingale]

I got my turf at Lowe's--they have it on big rolls and measure it out for you--12 ' wide.

[Chels*Claud*Midas]

oh wow good to know! was it hard to put down? u just lay it over the regular grass? maybe i shuld try that before the expensive k9 stuff.. does the pee pee just go right through? does it leave a smell or urine? is it easy to pick up poops? do the dogs seem to pee and poop normally on it? sorry for all the questions thanks tho! xoxo