How to Stop Dog Pee Killing Grass

GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 11:15
Last edited 31/01/2023 - 22:30

My lawn is covered in circular dead patches caused by dog pee, usually attributed to the high nitrogen content of the pee.

One solution is to thoroughly dilute the pee by thoroughly watering the spot immediately after the dog pees, but this takes some effort and also requires constant vigilance.

There are many online suggestions of varying degrees of plausibility, but these are mostly on web pages selling products, so are unlikely to be impartial.

My question is simple - what worked (or didn’t) for your dog?

Hopefully the hive mind that is OzBargain has solved this problem.

ADDED

Just happened to talk to someone who works with dogs and apparently the best option is to dilute it before it leaves the dog. If it burns the lawn, then it is probably too concentrated. In other words, focus on keeping the dog well-hydrated. Look out for my new post next week “How do you get a dog to drink more water”.

Pets

Comments

  • skid on 31/01/2023 - 11:27

    Is your dog a pup? As the dog grows they pee in more regular places like under fruit trees. Unless it's raining, where they will again pee where it is most convenient.

    • MS Paint on 31/01/2023 - 11:39
      +13

      As the dog grows they pee in more regular places like under fruit trees.

      Not just dogs.

      Source: my lemon tree is booming.

      • jv on 31/01/2023 - 12:24
        +17

        You finally got your wife on board… That's great…

      • Donaldhump on 31/01/2023 - 13:27
        +5

        100% true, I am on tank water and piss under my macadamia tree and it has grown like mad.

        I always love giving my family the macadamia nuts too, if only they knew

      • JIMB0 on 31/01/2023 - 14:28
        +8

        Top tip: don't plant your lemon tree in the front yard unless you're an exhibitionist.

  • HerpinDerp on 31/01/2023 - 11:32
    +1

    Have you tried dog rocks?

    • Cheaplikethebird on 31/01/2023 - 12:21
      +1

      I've heard dog rocks are pretty bad for dogs and that filtering their water instead also works.

    • 2jzzzz on 31/01/2023 - 13:59
      +1

      My dog got very sick after dog rocks. Can't be 100% sure it was from the rocks, but they're gone and she hasn't been sick since

    • GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 19:43

      Seen them, not convinced by explanation (“magnetises the water”) but would give them a go if I were more certain of their safety.

      Reviews are evenly split between “fantastic, never thought it would work” and “does nothing”

    • doctordv8 on 01/02/2023 - 18:17

      …..although swap out for a Rock Dog, that would solve the problem.

  • Bruceflix on 31/01/2023 - 11:41
    +2

    Look at what you are feeding the dog. Especially certain dry dog food can make pee deadly for lawns.

    • Boioioioi on 31/01/2023 - 11:44
      +2

      Yeah agreed. The places our dog is peeing on the lawn our lawn is actually ridiculously healthy. There's patches of super thick growth and healthy greenness on all his favourite spots

      • GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 19:45

        Nitrogen is a fertiliser, so some nitrogen is a boost, but too much kills. If I stick with watering it in, then it should help the lawn.

  • coffeeinmyveins on 31/01/2023 - 11:43
    +10

    My question is simple - what worked (or didn’t) for your dog?

    What worked for me is not caring too much about having a perfect lawn.

    • GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 19:47

      That’s the current position, but the lawn is being hammered by Perth summer and I don’t think dozens of dead patches is helping it.

  • teacherer on 31/01/2023 - 12:09

    Our large german shepherd kills the lawn. Tried dog rocks, greek yoghurt, filtered water, premium dog food. No change.

    We trained him to go around the corner. It doesn't always work, like when we're not home, but it's helped massively.

    • Bruceflix on 31/01/2023 - 12:29
      -5

      try raw meat. You know, what they are meant to eat.

      • teacherer on 31/01/2023 - 12:33

        Nup.

        I've explored how to effectively feed a raw diet and I'm not interested in the effort it takes.

        They enjoy their food and it meets their needs.

        • skid on 31/01/2023 - 12:47

          Raw meat does not help with the yellowing of the grass anyway.

        • Bruceflix on 31/01/2023 - 12:57
          -4

          you're feeding your dog diary? and I have no idea what a dog rock is but geez… Processed food is just as damaging to an animal (maybe even more so) as it is to humans.

          • teacherer on 31/01/2023 - 12:59
            +3

            @Bruceflix: Try looking it up if you're unsure instead of making a comment that adds nothing to the conversation 👍

      • tonka on 31/01/2023 - 14:08

        I've always feed both my dogs raw meat. One dog's pee kills the grass, one dog's doesn't. Regardless of what I feed them. The difference seems to be how much they pee. One spreads it around in small doses, one drops a bucket in the single spot.

        • jjjaar on 31/01/2023 - 15:41

          Do they drink varying amounts of water?

          • tonka on 31/01/2023 - 22:00

            @jjjaar: They are different sizes, prob 8kgs and 13kgs, the bigger dog is the grass killer, the smaller dog is much more dominant, both female. Smaller dog pees more often lower doses. I'd say it even varies for the same dog. It's only some spots that die with no change in diet. The grass killer also isn't neutered.

      • SydStrand on 31/01/2023 - 14:52
        +1

        Dogs are evolved opportunists and omnivores. They don't just eat 'raw meat,' aka human-grade skeletal muscle you purchase from the butcher. If you want to go all 'canine paleo,' then feed a balanced diet including offal, organ meats, and veggies.

        • teacherer on 31/01/2023 - 17:35

          That was my understanding, which I unfortunately don't have time for

      • SBOB on 31/01/2023 - 19:01
        +1

        raw meat. You know, what they are meant to eat

        Unless you're releasing live animals/game for your dog to hunt, kill and eat, then you're just a terrible dog owner…

        /sarcasm

    • GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 19:48

      Thanks for that info - I guess nothing works for every dog.

  • jv on 31/01/2023 - 12:25

    My question is simple - what worked (or didn’t) for your dog?

    electric fence around the lawn.

  • Oofy Doofy on 31/01/2023 - 13:06
    +2

    Paint match your grass. Paint the patches of dead grass your dog is causing.

  • Lord Fart Bucket on 31/01/2023 - 13:19

    Here you go.

  • grimace3 on 31/01/2023 - 13:20
    -3

    The easiest solution is to get rid of the dog :/

    • Barca123 on 31/01/2023 - 16:40
      +1

      Ouch that's a bit ruff…

  • Donaldhump on 31/01/2023 - 13:28

    train your dog to piss under trees or in the corner.

    My dog has one corner for shit and one for piss. works a treat.

  • Tomcruise on 31/01/2023 - 13:29
    +1

    Our dogs pee makes the grass grow and our previous dog as well.

    • jv on 31/01/2023 - 14:48
      +5

      How does it make you previous dog grow?

    • GordonR on 31/01/2023 - 19:49
      -1

      Bottle it and sell as “all-natural lawn tonic”…

  • ForkSnorter on 31/01/2023 - 13:58
    +1

    Every time your dog is peeing on the grass, lie down on the grass and catch the pee in your open mouth. After a while the dog will get so confused, he’ll find somewhere else to pee.

    • Donaldhump on 31/01/2023 - 14:33

      the dog is a german shepard, it would love that style of action

  • GordonD on 31/01/2023 - 14:18
    +3

    OP, you say you can't watch your dog all the time and water the spot they pee to dilute it. So if you didn't see your dog doing it, how do you know its the dog?

    • skid on 31/01/2023 - 16:22
      +1

      I thought you were the OP

  • Fergy1987 on 31/01/2023 - 14:35
    +3

    Your two options are this

    1. Get rid of your dog
    2. Get rid of your grass

    So you better get on the phone to that concreter - WHO'S A GOOD BOY!!!

  • djones145 on 31/01/2023 - 15:33

    do u like your neighbour…..

  • Dougaldog on 01/02/2023 - 09:10

    Yes, my male dog Dougal (he died last year - not because he weed on the grass, looking at some of the above posts!) used to kill the grass where he would wee, but only during summer. My girl dog's wee didn't affect the grass.

    I presume the concentration of Dougal's wee resulting from the warmer weather killed the grass. But we had the habit of always taking him out just before bed time and I could see the spot and could easily water it. But also we walked him twice a day - being male he wanted to wee everywhere, and that helped empty the bladder, leading to less wee in the yard. And the walks did us all good.

    Good luck with finding a solution. Dogs are the best!

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 01/02/2023 - 09:37

    Dog rocks worked for me, just make sure they’re changed often and in a container more than Han double their daily drinking volume

  • Navanod66 on 01/02/2023 - 10:53

    Instead of focusing on the dog, consider your mowing habits. How often do you mow the grass in summer?

    If the lawn is getting enough water and is healthy, the dog's pee is simply accelerating the growth of the grass, causing the patches to be taller, resulting in scalping and yellowing when mowed. Summer makes it harder to keep on top of it as the grass with pee is on steroids

  • Darayus on 01/02/2023 - 11:43

    hi mate, just take your dog for a walk 2 -3 times a day and let him spend time out.

    this will reduce the concentration of wee as well help him to maintain his bladder well. Remember you are taking the risk of bladder stone build up in case he infrequently wee.

    give him some cold water in summer and also keep water bowls outside as well inside. They also love fresh water instead top up, so clean their bowl and fill fresh water.

    once they are aware that they can go for week regularly they will take more water to drink.

  • 2esc on 01/02/2023 - 12:25

    ? Never seen this before is it the breed of dogs? My family has owned kelpie and Collies for nearly 50 years and never had the problem and my mum is a gardening fanatic she likes everything perfect

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