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Dog Urine and Your Lawn

dog-lawn-burn-brown-urine.jpg

We love dogs. In fact it's tough to imagine life without the furry creatures. But there are a few drawbacks, specifically to your outside landscape. Beyond the bad habits of digging, scratching, and chewing, all dogs must pee and hopefully they do it outside. Unfortunately the nitrogen rich urine will "burn" your lawn and you'll end up with dead brown spots across the yard.

If you've got urine problems inside here are a few more tips.

This Old House recommends:

To repair these burned areas, remove any clumps of dead grass and loosen the soil with a hand-held claw tool. Level the damaged area with fresh topsoil, sprinkle seed and rake it in lightly, then water frequently to encourage germination. If there are lots of spots that need reseeding, buy one of the lawn-repair products that combine seed, fertilizer, and cellulose mulch in one bag. You can find them at pet stores and home centers.

Roger Cook also suggests training your dog to use a specific part of your outdoor area to relieve themselves and lay wood chips or gravel there to prevent future damage to your lawn.

Charles & Hudson | December 9, 2008 | Comments () |

 

 

  • Here is something that works great and you will always have a green lawn. They is a product called the Grass Patch (http://www.grasspatch.net) and all you do is spray it on and the brown is gone! I found it at a local pet store and have to say it works great. Here is a coupon code I found online to use when oredering NGGP5. It also helps promote the growth.....
  • Here is a "Cut and Paste" from our blog on our website that may assist pet owners from having this problem.

    Here are some hints to help minimize dog damage to your lawn:
    Allow your dog access to plenty of water throughout the day - and then -
    Allow your dog frequent opportunities to relieve themselves. The longer your dog “holds it” the more concentrated the urine will be and the greater the chance the spot chosen will suffer damage.
    Consider creating a specific “pee-patch” area for your dog. Almost every yard has a seldom used area (too shady, narrow area between house and fence etc, odd shape for other use, etc).


    Prepare the site:
    Depending on your landscape design style, cordon off the area with inexpensive planters, storage benches or pre-made low fencing. A storage bench is great because you can keep your doggy “clean up” tools in there, out of sight.
    Consider purchasing a “pee post” from your pet supply store. This is a post which has been infused with a chemical that says to dogs “this is the place to pee!”.
    Be sure there is nothing “scary” or harmful about the site like high noise from equipment, sharp rocks, glass or nails. This area should provide a safe, pleasant experience for your dog.
    Train your dog:
    Allow Fido to explore the area and be comfortable with the change to “his” yard before you start training.
    Wait until Fido truly “needs” to go out. You don’t want to wait too long…but you do want to be sure Fido is totally focused on doing “biz” and nothing else.
    Snap on a leash and hustle Fido out to the new pee-patch. Depending on your dog, you will have to be firm and use patience - no matter how much Fido may want to go over to another area, don’t allow it! Fido should need to go just enough that you shouldn’t have to wait long for “biz” to be completed.
    Now - the BEST part - praise the heck out of Fido! Let your dog know with the happiest voice possible that he has done a good thing! Depending on what “turns your dog on”, offer a small treat or toy that only happens as a reward at the pee-patch.
    Train yourself!
    Be consistent in your training - everyone in the household needs to follow the program.
    Different dogs learn at different rates so patience may be necessary. Generally speaking, within 1-2 weeks, your leashed dog should be heading to the pee-patch automatically. When this happens, stop using the leash while still accompanying Fido to the pee-patch. Continue to praise, but gradually withdraw the reward, offering it only randomly just to remind your dog that “pee-patch equals good things”.
    Yes, your dog may occasionally lapse if you waited too long to let him out, there is a high distraction (20 people came over for a picnic!), there have been other changes to the area (you remodeled and added a deck) or if the dog has experienced a major health issue. If so, don’t shout or use physically punishment! A single, sharp “No!” should be enough to let Fido know he’s goofed. Needless to say, there is simply no praise, treat or toy. Quietly take Fido back in the house and then go back to the leash until Fido is back on track.

    All dogs occasionally need retraining regardless of the desired behavior (sit, fetch, come). If Fido does lapse: immediately repair the area with K9 Yard Patch.

    Remember:
    Remember to keep a bag handy for neighbor dogs that damage your front lawn or parking strip!
    Keep a bag of K9 Yard Patch handy for the occasional repair - the faster you repair the damage the less impact to your whole lawn!
  • You may want to consider the following product: Guard Dog Lawn Protectant available through www.geterth.com as a solution. It is the only product I am aware of that cures and prevents dog urine spots. Great picture looked like my yard.
  • Vern M.
    In some ways it must be nice to rent a place, so you don't have to worry too much about it when the building or landscaping is damaged, even if it's your pet who is responsible. I still think they should make some sort of pet urine remover that works outdoors as well as inside. That way at least the affected area can be treated and recovery can begin immediately.
  • kelly
    my two dogs pee 3-5 times a day, every day. There is no way I can keep up with it. Plus, one is blind and they are both old, so no way I'm training them. I was really looking for a way I could do a rock or desert garden of some kind (though I'm in Philly) that would look awesome, drain the pee, and allow easy number-two cleanup.

    I've seen this great turf called k-9 grass or something, but it is extremely expensive and requires some drainage, and I'm not sure that will be possible with my little square lawn layout.
  • Harry
    the k9 patch is only around $9.00 - $10 and covers 250 SF or like 125 urine spots. I did some research and most the others only cover 100 square feet. Should last a long time. I used it and what is slick is how it turns the yellow back to green. Not sure I can keep up with my dogs forever but this one is pretty easy to use.

    Good luck.
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