I have an area just outside of our garage service door where we always take our two (female) dogs out to ... well, you know. Over time, the grass in this area has eventually been destroyed by their ... well, you know. We regularly keep this are picked up to prevent severe accululation of their... you know.
Needless to say, I know that the high ammonia content in their urine is the culprit after doing some simple investigation. I have heard solutions ranging from letting the go elsewhere in the yard (which would cause little 'burn' spots all over instead of one area) to following up wherever they go with a bucket of water to dilute where they just went. These solutions are not what I'm looking for.
I know there are others who have experienced this same predicament and have oversome the dilemma of damaged grass... I'm looking for anyone's creative, experienced (and much-appreciated) input for addressing this and working toward establishing grass in this area again while (here's the catch) letting them still be able to use this same area for... you know ;o)
Thanks in advance to all who have ideas!
--- Brian
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- HELP. Grass destroyed by dogs
I'd forget about grass for "you know".
instead I'd be concerned about hygene. I'd excavate, use landscaping fabric and a nice few-inches thick layer of pea gravel. pick-up "you know" regularly, and sprinkle some hydrated lime (adjusted lime for garden use not as caustic as industrial lime) let it work, then moisten it, then hose it down every once in a while to keep the area "fresh". you can use a screen and "wash" the gravel occasionally as needed, or shovel it up, dispose and replace with a few bags, whichever is more cost-effective economical for you. Dogs can and will be trainable to use a pea-gravel area instead of grass, it just takes a little time, and a reward system. eventually they'll learn, and then only "you know" in their little area and not all over the yard. They need a "whiff" of "you know" to "you know" after they've been 'holding it' for a while anyway. Dogs only generally digest about 30 percent of dry food anyway, so you're also dealing with the fill content and other bi-products of that "you know" and the other "you know" is just going to keep killing the grass.
instead I'd be concerned about hygene. I'd excavate, use landscaping fabric and a nice few-inches thick layer of pea gravel. pick-up "you know" regularly, and sprinkle some hydrated lime (adjusted lime for garden use not as caustic as industrial lime) let it work, then moisten it, then hose it down every once in a while to keep the area "fresh". you can use a screen and "wash" the gravel occasionally as needed, or shovel it up, dispose and replace with a few bags, whichever is more cost-effective economical for you. Dogs can and will be trainable to use a pea-gravel area instead of grass, it just takes a little time, and a reward system. eventually they'll learn, and then only "you know" in their little area and not all over the yard. They need a "whiff" of "you know" to "you know" after they've been 'holding it' for a while anyway. Dogs only generally digest about 30 percent of dry food anyway, so you're also dealing with the fill content and other bi-products of that "you know" and the other "you know" is just going to keep killing the grass.
