My Dogs Are Ruining My Yard

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

We have a VERY large fenced in yard but my two dogs tend to stick to one specific area and they have totally and completely trashed that part of the yard.  Where there used to be lovely, lush grass, there is nothing but dirt and the loss of grass is not from urine, it is from the two of them walking, running, laying, and playing in that small portion of the yard.  Is there anything I can do to get grass back and keep it there?  I don't mind laying sod but I don't want that sod to be dead in a matter of weeks once it's down.  The other thing is with nothing but dirt, my house is getting dirtier and dirtier much more quickly.  I am now sweeping at least once a day to keep the dirt coming in to a minimum.

 

Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Oh, and they love to recycle, too.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

We have a VERY large yard so I'm thinking our budget wouldn't cover the supplies, let alone the installation. 

 

And really, I can't imagine getting upset when I look at a face that cute.  He is such a nerd!

[Lynda Kamrath]

When we first got our ALD, he decided he was going to dig up a big oak tree just outside the back door.  I will try to find a photo of him digging and his dirty face. (Looked for it, but can't find it, but it was fun going through those old photo files.) We just kept filling the hole and he finally moved on to other things.  I would say your dogs are bored and have claimed a play area for their own.  Forget replanting sod and try some other type of landscaping (rocks, decks, sculptures?).  Our yard is totally natural and the dogs love to go back into the wood storage area and dig under the pallets. (Take a look at my photos on my profile page.)   Keep trying new things and get them out more if you can.  These dogs are very energetic and intelligent.  I call my dogs my "exercise excuse" and we are out walking or bike riding just about every day.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Found the photos of him digging under the tree.  They are on page 4 of the photos on my page.  For quite a while, he thought he could dig out that tree and he kept trying to get it dug out.  It was really quite funny but we just kept putting the dirt and the bricks back around the tree and finally he moved on to other things.  Lately, he has been digging under the pallets in the wood storage area.  There have been opossums in the woodpile before but haven't seen any lately.  We are out in the country, so who knows who has taken up residence in the wood pile.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Stan doesn't dig like he did in the picture I posted any more (thank goodness) but he and his "brother" like to wrestle in a specific area that just happens to be at the top of the yard and not at the bottom where I really don't care what happens.  The section they have destroyed is right outside my kitchen dining area and it really is unsightly BUT as a dog owner I take full responsibility for not directing them where I wanted them to go.  I think landscaping with plants, shrubs, and rock or stone or shells is the way we are going to go.  I love your brick path but the brick our house is made of isn't an easy color to match. 

 

BTW, your BIL's yard that you spoke of?  I don't think "yearn" is a strong enough word to use when I think of a yard like that.  We don't have the velvety soft grass that grows up north.  Our grass is thick bladed and course.....kinda like crabgrass, what you guys pull out of your yard.  LOL

[rebecca fairhurst]

rotating lawn is the best idea I have ever heard of - you need to run with that one!!!

The other idea is maybe astro turf grass - looks good but not sure the dogs would like it as much