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.

[Jen and Annie]

Crushed shells smell like fish!  You can't win for losing!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Be careful about using gravel. It gets in their paws and scratches hardwood floors. (Yes, I've had the experience to know this.)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We have three dogs and a small used-to-be grassy area.  We get dead grass, weeds and leaves in through the doggy door constantly as well as old fashioned dirt.  We reseeded ourselves and then professionally twice, keeping the dogs off the grass for weeks and weeks each time.  This did not work for us.  Sadly, I have no solutions for you other than the synthetic grass that some of our members have (and are pleased with).  It would be my first choice but it isn't in my budget.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Sounds like I may just have a dirt yard.  LOL  I have a few ideas such as landscaping with plants and shrubs instead of planting more grass and maybe even trying to design a path in there to lead the dogs where I want them to go instead of hanging out there RIGHT at the top of the yard.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh Stanlee, You are so darned cute in the yard you have created for yourself. Be nice now and let DM have some grass, fella!

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

Marnie?  I forgot to ask earlier why Stanlee has a bunch of empty cans next to him in the picture.  He is SUPER ADORABLE THO!  love doodle eyes!

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Pat got it, he's recycling.  We have since designed a make-shift recycling bin cover which the cat appreciates as he can woller in the sun without Stan all up in his business.  Of course I think the boogie board that now covers the recycling bin is somewhat of an eyesore but it gets the job done.

[Pat and Traveler]

Oh, Stanlee--you are just too cute.  Gotta laugh at the recycling.  :)

There is a product called K9 grass, which I've looked longingly at once in a while.  It probably costs a fortune, and I suppose you'd have to fill in all the holes before installing....LOL

[F, Calla & Luca]

We've discussed artificail grass in the Garden Group. I am not a fan.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Me either.  It is so fake.  My BIL has grass that is so perfect and you have to feel it to see if it is real.  Of course their little doggie is carried out to the dog run (also perfectly landscraped) and placed in the run and picked up when he is ready to come out.  His feet never touch the grass.  Too fake for me.

[Marnie, Stanlee's Mom]

Carried?  That would so not happen at our house.  HA HA HA HA!!! 

[Adina P]

I would LOVE some but just maybe for the 1/5th of our lawn closest to the back door.  At least whatever mud they had on their paws would start getting rubbed off by the time they got to the concrete and then more would get walked off by the time they got to the house.