Dog Community

Pro-actively trying to save my new lawn

Posted : 4/23/2007 11:51:32 AM

So we're moving to a new house in May. The house currently has a small but gorgeously maintained and manicured lawn. I'd really like to do my best to keep it that way, so I'd like some product reviews on a couple things I've been thinking I'd like to try:

[linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=101568&QTY=1&More+Info.x=84&More+Info.y=8]Pee Post[/link]

And the various products and supplements out there that are supposed to help with pee burns in the grass. Any of those work?

The reviews on the pee posts on the website were mixed, so I would like to add that the yard is not fully fenced yet so they'll be taken on leashes to pee for the first few weeks, so I will be able to control where they go. They are closely supervised most of the time they're in the yard and they don't hang out there for really long periods unless I'm out there hanging with them, even when we have a fence. So that may increase the effectiveness of having a pee post.

tashakota

Posted : 4/23/2007 12:16:08 PM

Both your dogs are male, so you have a headstart. I find more burn stains from our 3 females than our one male. Males lift their leg and pee erratically, as compared to the squatters in one spot. As long as you fertilize, maintain water and spread out the peeing, I think you'd be ok. I definitely recommend giving them plenty of room to do so and to go to the back of the property if possible. We have a fenced in front yard and the 10 foot section right off the path is awful because most of the time, they all just stop and pee there. [8|]

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 4/23/2007 2:11:08 PM

From what I've heard, the dog food additives that change pH don't help. It's not the pH of the urine that kills the grass - it's the nitrogen salts. About the only solution is dilution (hehe.. that rhymes!) Don't add any additional fertilizer to areas that the dogs pee in. Water the area they do pee in LOTS. And makes sure your dogs drink lots of water and go out often so their pee isn't as concentrated. Here's some good info: [linkhttp://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:VbYFwNVB1QsJ:www.botanic.org/Dog%2520Spots.pdf+preventing+dog+lawn+damage&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us]Dogs & Turf[/link]

If you make a special pee area, I've noticed that Lucy likes to pee on the cypress mulch in my flower bed (to the detriment of my favorite hosta). But your dogs might have a favorite substrate that they can't kill. Or maybe they prefer a few magazines and some privacy?

dubilpie

Posted : 4/23/2007 7:48:24 PM

I gave my dogs those grass saver tablets a few years ago and one of them got really sick . I brought her to the vet and told her I had been giving her those tablets and she told me they weren't good for her even though they say all natural. I stopped giving them to her and she was fine,
I finally resigned myself to having brown spots in a certain part of my lawn. Both my dogs are female.

nfowler

Posted : 4/23/2007 10:27:09 PM

The Pee Posts have not yet helped me (with my male). Both of mine (male and female) feel like I'm doing something "bad" to them when I work to get them to a certain spot. It's like I'm messing with their private routine or the privacy their potty habits require or some other weird deal. So, until this year, I've been unsuccessful. They both kill my grass like crazy.

However, now that I have the clicker, they are more than willing to go where I ask them to go.

It's an idea . . .

huskymom

Posted : 4/23/2007 10:32:07 PM

I have no grass left. Sigh. When I did though, Onxy made the most burn marks. Of course now it probably would be the two of them. Onyx pees and since Crusher is "hiding" her from everyone else, he has to pee exactly where she pees. Its funny to see him doing his peepee dance behind her while she finishes up first thing in the morning. lol

I think my grass went away more due to heavy traffic though.

houndlove

Posted : 4/24/2007 8:39:18 AM

Thanks everyone, my wheels are definately turning here.

One thing I have noticed that neither dog can pass up a good pee on English Ivy. I may plant a patch of it towards the back of the yard and see if that entices them. Conrad also feels compelled to wee on every single pile of leaves he finds (he has to wade out into the direct center of every pile and then lift his leg), so I might use that to my advantage as well.

nfowler

Posted : 4/24/2007 8:51:36 AM

I know that the leaves help. I have bluegrass ONLY and in Idaho, that's not a great thing (for a few reasons). We usually have a blend of grass types and my grass seems quite frail--really.

And I so love a gorgeous lawn. I do. Anyone who knows me knows I have an outstanding yard--full of flowers and shrubs and green lawn.

But, I have dogs who pee [

] so I have to be out there, constantly, working. I have them mainly going in one area and in that area I am always digging up dead spots and replanting with seed. Within 10 days, I have a green spot again.

Huskymom--you can replant that yard! It'll look so darn good!

CarmysMom

Posted : 4/25/2007 10:40:52 AM

I have 5 of all shapes & sizes. My petite male set the standard on how to keep them all going in one area... Before we moved I always took him to one area (ivy of sorts!) and he went there. When I moved and acquired a couple more dogs they all followed Max's lead. BUT since getting my dane, who has left large yellow spots in her wake, they are all going everywhere!!!! I may have to go back to a training phase with them.... I'll take the dane out 1st thing on a leash to where she is supposed to go... maybe that will help.... I'm rambling here.... I don't know about pee posts.....

Harleygirl

Posted : 4/25/2007 5:13:50 PM

My step mom is a meticulous gardner. The lawn only yellows where her female doxie pees (right under the awning since it rains here a lot and she can't get her stomach wet). It actually grows better where her male pees. I've heard that it's only the females that discolor the yard. So you might not have a problem.

alieliza

Posted : 4/25/2007 5:35:32 PM

Great! We are doing my lawn this weekend (seeding the enitre thing, theres really very little grass out there, and Tyson is a squatter! I couldn't get lucky with a leg-lifting male!