I love dogs and hanging out in the yard. Unfortunately, dogs and grass don't mix. Some types of grass stands up better than others and there are some things you can do to help.
1. Dog Food: Read the food label and know your dog's needs. If you have a 60 pound Golden
Retriever of a couch potato, you can't be feeding a high protein, high performance kibble. It will
result in frequent, mushy, smelly stools and the urine will be highly acidic. Be honest with your
dog's vet and get a recommendation for feed more in-line with the activity level. Better yet, snap
on the leash and walk the dog, daily for the time frame appropriate for their age, fitness level, and
breed type.
2 If you are wondering why your dog persists in drinking out of the toliet, it's because they (like us)
enjoy their beverages to be cool & refreshing. Please replace your dog's water everytime you fill
your glass at the faucet or from the refrigerator. The more water your dog (& you) consume, the
lower the acid in urine. Another added plus is the lower risk of bladder disorders or kidney stones.
3. Consider mulching or paving the "travel path".
4. Deep shade, grass, and dogs don't mix. Bark chips are the answer.
5. Train your dog to void in a in an area of the yard that isn't so visible.
6. Here in the Northeast, a 50/50 mixture of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial rye seems recover best
in active lawns. Bluegrass rebounds quickly from damage and rye germinates and establishes
quickly. Look for cold-tolerant cutivars of perennial rye such as dandy or dimension as others
do not tolerate the notheren cold.
7. But the seed from a knowledgeable source rather than a generic bag. Follow all the instructions and
be sure to over-seed the areas the dogs traffic. Kentucky bluegrass takes one to two months to fully
mature into grass. This means KEEP YOUR DOGS OFF THE GRASS which means you may
have to put them on a leash and walk them until they do their business.
Having dogs is a lot of work and yet, dogs add so much more to our lives than take away. I want you to be able to enjoy your pets when you're home. I'm available to walk your dog and keep the pet waste properly disposed of. In-Home-PetSitting Give us a call at 585-506-6270
