How do I prevent dead patches of grass from where my dog urinated?

Question

Is there anything I can put on my yard or give to my dog to prevent this from happening? Thanks!

Answer 1

You Can use lots of water and lime to neutralize the acid from the urine.
I can also remember googling a similar question years ago. There is a dog food, maybe more now that change the dogs chemistry enough to neutralize the urine. Try the google approach!
I have 3 dogs all female and one is a German Shepherd...I favor the GIVE UP method! I just gave up, I love the dogs more than the lawn!

Answer 2

They have stuff that you can give the dog but, I wouldn't give it to my baby. There is stuff to put on the patches too but, it's really the acid that kills the grass. You can spread some lime around the area to help. But, really if you have a dog the lawn is his play ground and you will have this. Just put a fense up and keep the dog in the back or side area of the yard and keep the front looking good if it bothers you. Good luck.

Answer 3

The grass death is not a pH thing. It's a nitrogen thing. Dog pee, people pee is urea which contains a great deal of nitrogen. The burn is actually "fertilizer" burn, as if you had dropped a pot full of fertilizer in one spot. The neutralizer is water..........it doesn't neutralizer, it dilutes. People will be glad to sell you all sorts of cures, mix this in water and magically the problem is solved. It's the water, not the "stuff". As for feeding your dog some magic preventative, nope. The cure there would be to put him on a vegan diet because the protein is where the nitrogen comes from. People who try to neutralize don't understand why it's happening. So, begin by designating an area where the dog will pee. He leaves the house, goes to this pee area and doesn is duty. Then he is released from the spot to either return inside or to go to his play area. The pee area should be kept well watered. Good chance it will not have grass, more likely a bark or other nongrowing groundcover. Now as for the spots that are dead.......flood them to dilute the pee. Lawns will grow over the dead spot, but you can hurry it by either sodding the damaged areas or seeding them. I have an old pasture type grass called K-31. It's coarse, not great for walking bare foot, but the dogs can't kill it during the growing season. Winter pee damage, yes, but it quickly fills in after a few weeks growth season.

Answer 4

There is a product called Doggonit made by Millenium. It is an enzyme that neutralizes the uric acid in the urine. You spray it as soon as you see a spot forming and it will prevent the grass from being permanently damaged. You can find it at many good L&G centers. Call them.

Lime will work but it can take a few weeks to a month.

Answer 5

Aside from the others' advice, there are grasses that are more resistant to this problem. Fescues, Bermudas, and St. Augustine are a few. Most sods can't take urine, so if you have a sod lawn, you are probably sunk.

Frequent watering can help wash down the urine. You might want to take the trouble of sprinkling your lawn once a day, although doing so may create an environment for disease.

There are repellents that supposedly repel dogs and cats, but they've never worked for me.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Answer 6

For the most part, either give up or get rid of the dog. It is mostly the acidity of his urine and to feed him something to change this usually leaves the dog not feeling well.

Answer 7

Train your dog to pee in one certain spot in the yard so you don't get the patches. I did this with my dog years ago.

Answer 8

You could just take one corner of your yard, take out the grass, put in sand, and a fence...then you can just have your dog, um "relieve" him/her-self there. It could also be a good way to allow him/her to be outside, and you not have to worry about were he/she is.

Answer 9

Teach you dog to wee on the neighbor's lawn.