Daisy my 3yr old pit bull's running track...help and advice needed...thanks

    • Bronze

    Daisy my 3yr old pit bull's running track...help and advice needed...thanks

    We have about 400 feet of sidewalk by our back yard fence...over time Daisy's been running this route so long that the grass is now a dirt track about 1 foot wide in some spots and 2 feet in others...I love her to run this since it's great exercise but after she does this she gets filthy..her coat is white so it makes it worse..then she brings the dirt in the house....worse when it rains and the track gets muddy....is there any thing I can put over the dirt that will still let her run (she wont move over and make a new track) and keep her a bit cleaner..I tought of pavers but this would be a major expense...wood worry's me for splinters....any ideas and has anyone else seen this problem?

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    • Gold Top Dog

    I think I'd be more worried about the effect this type of repetitive running is having on her mentally vs. the mud issue. 

    That being said, your best bet for both issues might be making the fence solid so she can't see people walking past and adding a small temporary fence about 8-10 feet inside the original line to allow the grass to regrow while at the same time hopefully minimizing her interest in fence running in general.  Add some quality exercise with you (walks, hikes, games of fetch, etc.) and you should be good to go. Smile

    • Bronze

    She just had a checkup and passed with flying colors...all muscle and the vet seams to think it has to dod wwith the running...

    I need a dirt solution....the neighbors enjoy watching her run...they and their dogs get a kick out of it....everyone loves Daisy....

    • Bronze

    Hello welcome to the forum. Maybe some "clay sand" will help. It helped with mud with my horse in a similar situation. Not plain sand and not plain clay but "clay sand" It will compact but needs some degree of moisture to stay not dusty. But it should definitly help the mud problem. the grass will never grow back there as lond as she is still pacing the fence. I aggree with ? about maybe you should find other ways for her to get her excercise, it not a healthy habit mentally. But try that "clay sand" you can get it at a gravel yard, or landscaping place. not home depot it doesn't come in a bag it comes by the yard or tractor bucket load. hope this will help

    • Bronze

    I cant locate clay sand in south florida ....is there anything else i could use ....the nearest clay sand 'place' is in N florida by jacksonville...

    • Gold Top Dog

    Put some obstacles in the way so she has to run around them.

    • Bronze

    No i don't know of any place in Fl with clay sand but i'm not really from down here. I'm from up north,but maybe try some obsticals like johnny said. That will atleast reroute her.

    • Gold Top Dog

     Does she like tennis balls?  Maybe you could get her a tennis ball launcher.  Then you could turn it different ways to have her run in different directions.  There's one called Go Dog Go that you can train the dog to use herself;-))

    • Silver

     I agree with the alternate exercise. Aside form her great physical condition, that pacing is a sign of anxiety over what is on the other side of the fence.What otehr kind f stimulation does she have?

    As far as a alternative to the dirt.....maybe sand?

    Also I used to put  a brush by the back door and would brush my dog before she came in. It gets the surface dust off really well! prefferably one with thick bristles

    • Gold Top Dog

    obstacles so she has to run next to it.  I have to do that with my golden who goes up our hill when I fling the ball for her.  I put oak tree branches in the area she wore down (which is now mud from the rain) to force her on to a new track.

    • Gold Top Dog

     You could use hay but it would get worn down and muddy over time so you have to rake it up and re-cover.