Not mud, but a completely torn up yard!

[cassadee7]

So since we got the second dog, the grass has suffered big time in the back yard. Mainly it is from them running and fetching a lot, skidding and tearing up the grass which never grows back. So in the fall, we fenced off 1/3 of the yard just for the dogs as a play/potty area, hoping they'd potty in the corner and have the rest of the area for play. It is gated so we can let them into the bigger yard for fetching. The bigger yard is much better now and poop free.

Well they have really torn up their smaller, fenced area big time, just running, wrestling, etc. I do not leave them out there for any amount of time (15 minutes and usually they are at the door to come in) but still they have managed to turn it into a desolate space. The grass is about half gone except the potty area is nice and green @@. We let them out from sliding glass doors on a deck. The spot at the bottom of the stairs turned into a dirt/mud pit within 2 weeks so we put a mat there. Now the rest of the area is turning to dirt. To make it worse, this week they decided it would be fun to dig holes in the yard too. I could not believe how big of holes 2 dogs made in 10 minutes.

I need to do something so it is not all dirt. Is there any kind of grass or anything we can put down that would be safe for them to play on but not just be a dirt pit? I cannot keep the dogs clean and if it rains we are going to be a mess!

[Liesje]

It's the million dollar question!!!

Honestly if we ever have $$$ I want to "reverse" my yard. Normally you see patios in the middle with grass and gardens around the outside. Well with the GSDs patrolling the fence (and I swear there is something about how *GSDs* move that makes it worse! They kick up dirt and tear up grass just trotting around) I want to put decorative pavers around the perimeter with some potted plants or herb gardens in large urns.

[sit,stay]

Here is what I did about seven years ago. Fenced off about a third of the yard. This section is the "dog yard". To cut down on mud, we lay down the same footing that you find in play grounds at parks. Wood chips. We rake it off the fence weekly, otherwise it can build up along the fence line and can put a great deal of pressure on the wooden fence.

Poo pick up is easy. The dogs don't bother the wood chips (they don't chew them or swallow them). There is a gate between the dog yard and the human yard, so I can open it up and play fetch, etc. It has really worked well for us.
Sheilah

[cassadee7]

yeah we have one side fenced... that is the side that is a wreck! Wood chips sound a little hard on the feet for running around and playing in. I would like to have at least *some* grass, too. Any other ideas?

[Lilie]

Originally Posted by Liesje

I want to put decorative pavers around the perimeter with some potted plants or herb gardens in large urns.

I use the big (fake) wooden whiskey barrels. I plant foilage that requires little maintenance like ferns in them. They aren't even bothered if the dog's potty in them. Sometimes during rough play, a dog may end up knocked inside one. That doesn't even bother the ferns.

[blehmannwa]

I have a gorgeous water feature. It's a waterfall that cascades into a pond. The height of the waterfall is about 10 feet and the pond is four feet deep and about 10 feet across. It is surrounded by a sea of mud. The dogs love to chase each other around it.
I going to fix this by installing a privacy fence so the neighbors don't have to look at it. I haven't had young healthy dogs for a long time so I'll just live with the mud for a few years. I'll fix the yard when they slow down a bit.

[Bear GSD]

What about using mulch? It's much easier on the feet and not too expensive, it also will keep from the muddy paws. I'm sure there's certain types that you would have to stay away from but, I'm sure there's one you could use.
My only other suggestion would be to put down pea gravel and then add some nice large decorative planters that they couldn't knock over. They also make some pretty nice astroturf these days, some look like real grass!

[onyx'girl]

Mulch attracts bugs. I have the same problem as everyone else, we keep adding river rock. My gardens are usually left alone, but a few of my ornamental plants(contorted filbert and rhododendrons) are a mess. The dogs bash into their fragile winter branches and break them off.
Luckily they don't go into the pond.

You can see the dirt/mud paths on each side of the stone...can't grow grass so will add more stepping stones.

Where do they like to lay?

[Jag]

Jane, I LOVE your landscaping!!
Our large backyard at the house we just moved from was always a mess. It was always damp, and the dogs just tore it up. There was a path all the way around from them patrolling the perimeter. Then the rest was from chasing balls, rough housing, etc. I pretty much just gave up. So far, the small fenced in yard we have now is OK. They did destroy the two plants by the garage... but I will fence those off in the spring. I don't have an answer, but I share your misery.

[onyx'girl]

Thanks, Jag. I love gardening/landscaping and in Summer or warmer temps, I'm never, ever inside.
I hate being in the house! I wish I lived in a mild climate.
But that wouldn't solve the mud problem, I'm sure.