What to do with the back yard

[jenn D]

Sooooo the backyard from dog play and traffic isn't doing so well. And now that we have 12 paws instead of 8 I suspect it will only get worse. I'm sure I'm not the only person here who struggles with wanting a decent backyard but also wanting your doodles to have outdoor playtime. So I'm asking for suggestions. We have 1/3 of an acre. Our yard is split into an upper and lower level. The lower level can only be accessed by gates and it has grass, my gardens and my kiddos swingset. The dogs only get access there when we are all outside and the kids are playing.
The upper level comes off the house. We have a big patio,planters and then what *was*, grass. This is where the dogs go out to potty and romp. They've dug there, they've run there and peed there, so the grass is now gone or warn down to dirt with dead straw stuff on top that the doodles always bring in on their "hypoallergenic" coats.lol!
So what to do with this area? My mom thinks we should get artificial turf on top, make sure a portion is always in the shade because we live in New Mexico and summers are hot and make a potty area as well. We could also go back to grass. Unfortunately with water restrictions and the drought here in the southwest constant watering is expensive and not really the environmentally right thing to do. I have to water alot with their peeing on grass because all 3 boys turn the grass yellow horribly.
We plan to keep the bottom half of are yard the way it is with grass, etc.
So what do i do with the top Part? Any thoughts or suggestions? Brainstorming ideas anyone? For now, lets not worry about cost, but please take into account we live in the desert which gets very hot and water is not plentiful. The top area I am talking about is around 500 square feet or so.

I can post a picture if it is helpful, just let me know.

I really just want tobe able to enjoy my backyard WITH the doodles.

Thanks guys. :)

[Sally S Miles]

I am thinking more along the lines of gravel as well - - natives - hahaha, here it is moss!  I'm ok with cleaning floors, a lot, no worse than mowing grass - we have always had dogs, multiples, but this is the first place where the yard has taken a real beating.  

I have some groundcovers - some people buy them and I just pull clumps and replant - some need mowing and others donn't.   Local nursery has gobs of 'heavy foot' ground covers.  However in NM I would have no clue but am interested.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

We are neighbors here in AZ and have similar weather issues in regards to water restrictions, expense and the work of keeping a real lawn green with two doodles. We have a yard full of dry straw for grass right now as we did not plant our winter seed this year, and I am constantly vacuuming up straw all over the house.
We have areas of rock surrounding our grassy areas and sometimes they will use that area, but mostly stay on the grass for their potty areas. I have a friend who owns our Murphy's brother, as they have artificial turf. Their dogs and ours have no problem using it as their potty area and it is a breeze to clean up after them. Would I be concerned about injury on turf? No more than I am them getting injured running on real grass that has ruts and holes in it from them digging. I think your astro tuff idea sounds like a great idea, if money is not an issue that is.