[jgruberman]

Hello,

We have 6 dogs of varying sizes(rescue family) and they have a few "running paths" they like when people pass by the house outside. The ground at those spots is basically mashed up dirt at this point with very little, if any grass left. I attached a pic and circled an example of a problem area, although there are several. The rest of the lawn is St. Augustine I believe. Is there any type of seed or sod I can do that will be better for their running when the grass starts to grow again? Thought I should research now and plan ahead for when it gets warmer. I'm in Dallas, TX if that helps give an idea to climate patterns.

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[stick\shift]

Best is to put some kind of mulch in these areas, you're never going to grow grass until the dogs are gone.

 

[Windows on Wash]

+1.

We mulch near the back door as well.

 

[DoomsDave]

Hello,

We have 6 dogs of varying sizes(rescue family) and they have a few "running paths" they like when people pass by the house outside. The ground at those spots is basically mashed up dirt at this point with very little, if any grass left. I attached a pic and circled an example of a problem area, although there are several. The rest of the lawn is St. Augustine I believe. Is there any type of seed or sod I can do that will be better for their running when the grass starts to grow again? Thought I should research now and plan ahead for when it gets warmer. I'm in Dallas, TX if that helps give an idea to climate patterns.

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Welcome!

First, good on ya for rescuing doggies! I have six cats, which are a lot easier on the grass (if I had any) but a lot harder in other ways . . . . :vs_cool: :devil3:

I have to concur with @stick\shift; as long as you have dogs of any size, i.e., much larger than a French Poodle, they're going to wreck grass.

A big "working dog" at 100-200 pounds, is the equivalent of two little boys or girls running in tandem on clawed feet, back and forth back and forth. (I'm pretty sure you already know; that's for the benefit of those who might be lurking for information.)

What you do next depends on how long you think the situation as you have it will last. You can do as others recommend and put down some large wood chips. Those rot after a while, though, and the dogs tend to scatter them. They're also a bit informal for many tastes. But, quick and easy.

If it's going to be longer, and you want a more formal look maybe experiment with other materials in a more permanent path. Bricks, pavers, etc., can work. BUT be careful; sometimes dogs don't like materials and make a new parallel path of their own alongside in the dirt.

So, let us know what you do, and give a progress report in a while, particularly if you choose to experiment a bit with different materials. Your travails may help others, too.

And, again, thanks for joining us from Dallas, and hope your weather is nice and quiet.

 

[Mike Milam]

We have a 65 pound Goldendoodle and we never had a problem. UNTIL.... my next door neighbor got a mixed terrier of some kind and now I have a path 2 feet wide and 120 feet long next to the fence. I researched fixes, but there aren't any that are a quick fix. If I could stand looking at it, one lady put shipping pallets end to end along the fence. Dog couldn't run on the pallets and being 3 or so feet from the fence took the fun out of it. My concern is my dog trying to run on it and break a leg.

 

[jgruberman]

Best is to put some kind of mulch in these areas, you're never going to grow grass until the dogs are gone.

Well the largest offenders are 4 dobermans of ages 10 to 1... so I think we'll have the issue for a while. It sounds like something more permanent is my option? We didn't have a huge problem until moving here, on the corner lot. They are big dogs and "patrol" the backyard every time they hear a noise lol

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[jgruberman]

Is it even worth taking some squares of sod and literally plopping them down on the spots? I'm thinking of this for the sake of preventing them digging up dirt and getting messier than necessary... I don't mind doing it once a year or so as needed, I think I'm in "minimize maintenance" but still assume I'll need to maintain it, mode.

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[Nik333]

I had some animal "runs" in a garden with lots of tall, old growth bushes like hydrangeas, poinsettia, and camellia. Amazingly tall . You couldn't see the runs unless you looked. But, it would require bushes & I'm not sure if Dobermans bother to sneak around.:smile:
I also lived in a farmhouse on an almond orchard where the farmer had made a wide wire fence dog run 2/3rds of the way around the house. I did have a pretty large lawn on the inner aspect of the non-run portion of the yard. Lots of flowering trees. It wasn't bad looking.
So, the three dogs just ran around the yard. No one ever bothered me.


I should mention that the wire fence wasn't very high. It looked like the dogs could jump out, but, they couldn't. I also could have stepped in with them if need be.

 

[stick\shift]

You'll be putting in new sod a lot more often than annually but go ahead and try it. Then recall I told you so.

 

[jgruberman]

You'll be putting in new sod a lot more often than annually but go ahead and try it. Then recall I told you so.

Well if it's not feasible then it's not You guys know a lot more than I do, so I'm just throwing ideas out there. It happens often when my ideas aren't good ones

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[DoomsDave]

Well the largest offenders are 4 dobermans of ages 10 to 1... so I think we'll have the issue for a while. It sounds like something more permanent is my option? We didn't have a huge problem until moving here, on the corner lot. They are big dogs and "patrol" the backyard every time they hear a noise lol

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Bet burglars, intruders, and gawkers in general will cease to be a problem, if they ever were.

 

[DoomsDave]

Is it even worth taking some squares of sod and literally plopping them down on the spots? I'm thinking of this for the sake of preventing them digging up dirt and getting messier than necessary... I don't mind doing it once a year or so as needed, I think I'm in "minimize maintenance" but still assume I'll need to maintain it, mode.

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With Dobies? Especially pups or demi-pups?

I wouldn't. Those young, strong doggies will turn your sod into toys.

As noted, the big wood chips will work. Maybe experiment with some nice, but cheap materials in the meantime. A friend of mine made a Doggie Deck that looked pretty good, though their nails clacked on the wood.

Also, if you can get on Craigslist, maybe try some red bricks made into a path. I did that at my place, and it's great, though I don't have doggies.

 

[Mystriss]

I'd order some Alaska grass seed, stuff handled the dogs, the kids, the getting snowblowed every time it snowed in the winter, and of course, the winter cold too.

Can order premixed from Alaska Mill n Feed, but with shipping costs being what they are, I'd look at the seed blend an make it yerself - https://shop.alaskamillandfeed.com/lawn-garden/18-alaska-lawn-mix/

Mix:
Boreal Red Fescue
Park Kentucky
Alene Kentucky
Arctared Fescue
Kenai Kentucky
Washington Kentucky

 

[DoomsDave]

I'd order some Alaska grass seed, stuff handled the dogs, the kids, the getting snowblowed every time it snowed in the winter, and of course, the winter cold too.

Can order premixed from Alaska Mill n Feed, but with shipping costs being what they are, I'd look at the seed blend an make it yerself - https://shop.alaskamillandfeed.com/lawn-garden/18-alaska-lawn-mix/

Mix:
Boreal Red Fescue
Park Kentucky
Alene Kentucky
Arctared Fescue
Kenai Kentucky
Washington Kentucky

Sounds promising, but I wonder how it will grow in a place like Dallas.

 

[Mystriss]

@DoomsDave Well we just had a rain free summer with temps touching 100*F and our grass handled it just fine.

To be fair though I think all the plants on my lot are likely in direct contact with the water table...

 

[DoomsDave]

@DoomsDave Well we just had a rain free summer with temps touching 100*F and our grass handled it just fine.

To be fair though I think all the plants on my lot are likely in direct contact with the water table...

Okay, that's a thang', as we say way here down south . . . . :devil3:

 

[bcgfdc3]

maybe look for some used astro turf or maybe zoysa grass

 

[DoomsDave]

Zoysia! Zydeco is better sorry holiday weekend but zoysia is tough and slower than justice deferred

Doggies will destroy

 

[Calson]

What worked well with my dogs was adding 3 inches of pea gravel on the ground. Cost me very little to have 6 yards delivered and dumped on my driveway and then a day of my time with a shovel and wheelbarrow to move it into place.

 

[DoomsDave]

@DoomsDave Well we just had a rain free summer with temps touching 100*F and our grass handled it just fine.

To be fair though I think all the plants on my lot are likely in direct contact with the water table...

Full obscenities

Have been

Very very duly

SCREAMED :vs_cool::vs_laugh: