Need landscaping advice

 If you're going to look at putting in sod, you might consider putting in fake grass.  Sod can be expensive and a LOT of work to get it going.  You have to water it constantly the first year and keep people off of it.  If you own the property, look at putting in astro turf.  There are companies that make turf for use in dog runs and such, so it has some antimicrobial properties as well.  Plus to clean, you pick up solids and rinse away with a hose!

If we were planning to be in our house for more than a year or two, I would totally put in a small dog run that was fake turf.  No mowing, no watering, no messy feet!!

 I put old used bed sheets on the floor just inside of the back door lol. It's terrible.

With such a small yard, it is next to impossible to keep 4 dogs off the lawn long enough to grow grass. And, I don't have the patience (and am too lazy) to take each dog on leash to do their business. Some day I will find something that works.

Jewlieee

it is next to impossible to keep 4 dogs off the lawn long enough to grow grass. And, I don't have the patience (and am too lazy) to take each dog on leash to do their business.

Same here.  That's why we're going with sod instead of seed.  And the type of grass matters, too.  In speaking with a few landscaping folks, we decided to go with zoysia, which is commonly used on golf courses.  So, it holds up well to high traffic.  Also, if they do mess up a spot, its a creeping grass, so it fills in any bare patches.  The landscaping lady who's doing the work said the dogs only need to stay off it (and by that she means, no hard running, but they can walk on it) for a couple of weeks while the roots take hold.  We'll see how it all turns out!

Hubby peering over my shoulder says you should check out this website....

easydigging.com/Drainage/poor_soil.html

 Lots of info on all sorts of options including sod, french drains, digging, gravel   etc.....
Helped us out a lot when we took down our two sheds in the backyard.  We ended up
removing original sod and some pavers and raised the soil and re-sodded.....
Let me know if you want me to post pics....