I have two large dogs, therefore I have no grass in my backyard. Looking for options - sand, pea gravel, etc.

Question

Area = 25' x 20'. Looking for "dog friendly" material (read: easy to pick up dog waste). Thinking about sand, or clay material, like cat liter. But not sure cat liter would work outdoors (rain, etc.).

Answer 1

Unless the product you put in the area is nailed down or growing you will eventually pick it all up as you remove the waste. You will constantly be adding to it. Maybe you could have like a patchwork of cement and grass if you dont want all cement. Pinestraw might be the cheapest or hay. Pea gravel is a good idea especially if you made it deep enough. Check out your nearest rock and stone shop and see whats new on the market. this web site had an idea. smaller area but could work. m

Answer 2

You could still have grass unless your dogs are diggers. St. Augustine is in my opinion the best most durable grass! It is a creeping type of grass with large blades so it will knit back together if a patch dies. It can take dogs, people, even driving on it. And it can tolerate part shade to full sun. But you will have to water it unlike gravel.

Good luck :-)

Answer 3

Pea gravel, it is easy to keep clean as you can bleach it with a garden sprayer and keep it sanatized. You will lose a few stones scooping the poop, but it will be cleaner. Cat litter will eventually break down in to clay from the rain, sand will track into your house and ruin your carpets. I used pea gravel in a 10X20 run outside my back door for years.

Answer 4

i've heard gravel works fairly well i dont know from experience though. I have seen a cement pad where they go to the bathroom and you can rinse it down with a hose. the rinsing part only works for pee though. cat little might work if you got a non clumping kind it all depends on what you're after. good looks or convienant or cheapest

Answer 5

gravel would stick to it
have seen little fenced off sandy areas in parks that are
"dog toilets"
once verbally encouraged they will consistently go there in a certain area
make a nice mosaic/patio feature in rest of garden with a shallow gutter to drain to hose down, maybe?

Answer 6

My dogs knows my sons name. I ask her to find Oskar and she runs to him. It's probably because he's only a toddler and I'm constantly saying his name, and were at home most of the day so she's hearing me call his name a lot :)

Answer 7

Don't put sand, because you may never be able to grow grass back there again.

Answer 8

ASTROTURF!!!