My dog has created a dirt path along the fence. What can I do to circumvent this problem?

Question

My 2 ½ year old dog has run a dirt path in my back yard along the fence line. He has killed all of the grass and monkey grass that grew there. It is now dirt and when it rains or we water he gets all muddy. What can I do or plant to circumvent this problem (without getting rid of the dog)? Thanks!

Answer 1

Put down inexpensive cement pavers along the fence. If looks are a factor you can edge a bit of path along the fence with bricks or stone and fill in by the fence with gravel. It'll keep your dogs paws clean. You could also use bigger wood chips or bark, small stuff will just end up getting attched to the fur and brought into the house. As long as there's people and animals on the other side of the fence it's pointless to plant anything there because the pooch will always want to get close. Make it decorative,gravel comes in many attractive stone types. You can always plant grasses or shrubs infront of the gravel pathway if you don't want to see it.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

This is what dogs do, they are protecting the property. If you look carefully you'll see other paths he has developed. You garden in the spaces the dog hasn't claimed. For the paths.....plant any shrubbery 4 feet from the fence, giving the dog his path. Concrete pavers was a good idea if Fido is showing signs of digging under the fence. Hardware cloth also works if attached to the fence and under dirt or mulch.

I'm down to 5 dogs, they have their space, I have mine....mine has been usurped in some areas, but we are working on a truce.

Answer 4

First of all maybe you should start taking your dog out for more walks in the park. The longer you keep him in the yard by himself the more freedom he has to do what he wants. He does not know any better. You can plant small shrubs or bushes along the fence line and fill in the dirt path with mulch to keep the path from getting muddy. Or just fill in the path with mulch. :) Take a look at the link below for more tips for your yard & dog

Answer 5

Get some river gravel and some plastic edging. Drive the plastic edging into the ground around the dirt path. Fill the edging with river gravel. Buy some nice big shrubs which aren't likely to get trampled. plant them inside the river gravel bed. Place some nice resilient bulb flowers around the shrubs (where the shrub will protect them from trampling). Maybe a nice weeping cherry tree, or some roses too. Some creeping juniper accents might be nice.

Dog gets to run in the rocks, and no damage is done.

Answer 6

I actually had the same problem with my dog so what I did was I put in some vinyl edging which made it look like a small garden, then I placed some perennials and a few hostas and some minor ground cover like ivy then I placed a weed barrier and mulched it. I never had a problem with my dog as a matter of fact I had a lot of compliments because of the garden I had made.

Answer 7

ok im a dog trainer ,and builder
i have the same problem, dogs have a prey drive ,that means they want to run and chase things, right ? so you have to pervent them from running .. along the fence line
i placed some big planters in the way ,the dog doesnt like them too much , it upset his forward motion , if all else fails place a choke chain on your dog walk near the fence when he trys to walk near the fence ,correct him, he will get the idea and will infact stay way from your fence line

Answer 8

You could plant spikes all along the path so the dog will not go their. They worked to keep troops out of areas all during WW1, WW2 and other wars. --- Probably not the solution you had in mind though.

Answer 9

you could plant smaller bushes/shurbs...you'd have to trim them though....or maybe you could plant ornamental grass...it grows really long, so it might not look good in your backyard

Answer 10

cut it's legs off....kidding......SLAP HIM!