Can any one suggest how I can stop my dogs urine burning the grass

Hi!

I noticed that when my doggie pees on the grass then it's sunny, the grass turns brown. What I do is that whenever I catch my dog peeing on the grass, I pour water on the spot and wash off the pee. Hope it helps! Problem is, when I don't see her pee, then the grass turns brown the next day.

I would ask myself what is more important the dog or the grass, Would you have gotten a dog if you new your grass would get spotted! I also have enriched spots from the poop. My most concern is to mark the spots so I can pick up any poop! that all comes with the package of dogy ownership. But it will not permanently kill your grass, and a dog really needs the grass to do its thing! thats why when people ask about owning a dog this is a good point to bring out, some people their lawns are there whole life, even in a drought condition as we are having here, my neighbor is using 3,000 gal of water a day or more to keep there lawn green. Of course that is another issue! I know I will soon be kicked off this site for over expressing myself!

If you don't want your dog to pee on the grass, you should choose another spot and always have them go there. It is a good idea to have your dog alway go to the same place, known as the potty area. Putting water on the spot as soon as they do it, will delute the urine, but not always fulproof.
Hope this helps

I'm dealing with the same thing, but I've been watering my grass morning and evening to help combat the urine burns. I know it probably won't take much to dilute the urine and also if you add some topsoil and fertilizer it might help.

Good luck! I've got a rather large 2'x2' spot in my yard I'm trying to rejuvinate!

You canBuy a food additive or supplement that you can place in your dog’s food to neutralize the nitrogen in your dog’s urine. These can be purchased at pet food stores and veterinarians. Be sure to purchase a product that doesn’t alter the ph balance of your dog’s urine, as this can have a serious effect on your dog’s health.

[wishbone]

This happens because dog urine contains concentrated amounts of nitrogen which discolours or 'burns' the grass.

I have seen alot of products like spray bottle that turns them green again od neutralizers but they say it's just waste of money. Yah food supplements can help too. Like Chelly said it is better pour some water on day or night.

Hi there.. First thing I would do is add cranberry capsules to the dogs diet. This helps remove the bacterial ankline which is an acide that burns the grass. Its also great for the urinary tract.
YOu can get this capsules at most pharmacies or even walmart and you want 405 mg full cranberry. For a dog under 50 pounds its a half a capsule twice a day in the dogs food. For a dog over 50 pounds its a full capsule in the food twice a day. This will solve the problem.
There are products they sell that you can put in the food that helps to not burn the grass- but its loaded with chemicals and only has a little cranberry. Its best to go to the source of the problem..
Also if its really bad and other signs are there- like frequent urination or strong odor to the urine, have a urinalysis done on your dog at the vets..

I'm a garden freak so I'm always watching gardening shows and stuff and stuff... anyway... a while ago I saw one where they said it's typically females who cause this problem because of the acid in their urine. There is no fail safe grass for dogs... some are hardier than others and will be able to withstand more "abuse".

GRASSES FOR WARM SEASON AREAS - DOG TOUGH
Bermudagrass - Best Choice. (Fast repairing / Handles traffic good)
Zoysia (IF allowed to establish first / Takes 2-4 years) (Good traffic tolerance / but slower to repair.)
Ryegrasses can be overseeded on Bermudagrass lawns to provide additional protection and color during winter dormant months

GRASSES FOR COOL SEASON AREAS - DOG TOUGH
Kentucky Bluegrass:
For Northern climate areas (cool season), Kentucky Bluegrass is considered the best choice due to its ability to slightly spread and repair damage over time. Tall Fescue lawns are NOT recommended as they cannot repair themselves.

Tall Fescues:
You can however add a small amount of Kentucky Bluegrass to a Tall Fescue lawn and reduce the extent of damage that will occur to your lawn. Add 1/2 lb. of Bluegrass per 1000 sq. ft. --

FAST REPAIR:
Ryegrass can be added should you need a quick "cosmetic" repair. Perennial Ryegrass provides the best look and is perennial growing in northern areas.

Seed at correct times and seasons for best repair results.
If you discover a grass that resists dog traffic and urine, please give us a call, we will soon be millionaires! --- Sorry, no miracle answers here... just proper maintenance.

I know if you get snow the best time to seed your lawn is after one of those early light snowy mornings... you know when you wake up and there's just a light layer of powdery snow... sprinkle the seed mixture on the snow. Sounds whacked but it works.
Again, I don't think anything is a hundred percent except simply training the dog to go somewhere else. I'm lucky, Cloey likes her privacy so she does her duties in the woods

Wow, that was really informative. I'll be sure to stock up on the Kentycky Bluegrass and seed when it snows. I would have never thought to seed when it snows. Still, I wish there was an instant cure for those ugly urine spots. My boy pooch really knows how to kill grass.

Originally Posted by OwnedByCloey

I'm a garden freak so I'm always watching gardening shows and stuff and stuff... anyway... a while ago I saw one where they said it's typically females who cause this problem because of the acid in their urine. There is no fail safe grass for dogs... some are hardier than others and will be able to withstand more "abuse".

GRASSES FOR WARM SEASON AREAS - DOG TOUGH
Bermudagrass - Best Choice. (Fast repairing / Handles traffic good)
Zoysia (IF allowed to establish first / Takes 2-4 years) (Good traffic tolerance / but slower to repair.)
Ryegrasses can be overseeded on Bermudagrass lawns to provide additional protection and color during winter dormant months

GRASSES FOR COOL SEASON AREAS - DOG TOUGH
Kentucky Bluegrass:
For Northern climate areas (cool season), Kentucky Bluegrass is considered the best choice due to its ability to slightly spread and repair damage over time. Tall Fescue lawns are NOT recommended as they cannot repair themselves.

Tall Fescues:
You can however add a small amount of Kentucky Bluegrass to a Tall Fescue lawn and reduce the extent of damage that will occur to your lawn. Add 1/2 lb. of Bluegrass per 1000 sq. ft. --

FAST REPAIR:
Ryegrass can be added should you need a quick "cosmetic" repair. Perennial Ryegrass provides the best look and is perennial growing in northern areas.

Seed at correct times and seasons for best repair results.
If you discover a grass that resists dog traffic and urine, please give us a call, we will soon be millionaires! --- Sorry, no miracle answers here... just proper maintenance.

I know if you get snow the best time to seed your lawn is after one of those early light snowy mornings... you know when you wake up and there's just a light layer of powdery snow... sprinkle the seed mixture on the snow. Sounds whacked but it works.
Again, I don't think anything is a hundred percent except simply training the dog to go somewhere else. I'm lucky, Cloey likes her privacy so she does her duties in the woods

You can always choose a spot that you don't care if it is not green and take you dog there eveytime to urinate.
Good Dog Day

Originally Posted by Vinnysgirl

I'm dealing with the same thing, but I've been watering my grass morning and evening to help combat the urine burns. I know it probably won't take much to dilute the urine and also if you add some topsoil and fertilizer it might help.

Good luck! I've got a rather large 2'x2' spot in my yard I'm trying to rejuvinate!

topsoil is good but the fertizer will just cause more burning due to excessive nitrogen

[DoggieVogue]

There is a product called Pee Patch made by a company called 4 Paws that was sold at the pet supply place I used to work. I have never used it myself, so I can't personally endorse it, but it is made specifically for dog urine spots.

[Lunareclipse]

I built a poop and pee box in the back corner of the yard. You use some two by fours and fill it with sand. It's not so the grass doesn't get damaged, it's so my kids can play in a poop free yard. But it would work for keeping your grass looking nice too.

It's not the pH (acid or alkaline) of the dog's urine that burns the grass. It's the level of nitrogen, as a couple of other posters mentioned. Food additives that alter the pH of the urine won't help, and could harm your dog. They can increase the possibility of bladder stones.

The only real solutions are to train the dog to use one particular area as a potty, preferably a sand box, or dilute the urine with copious amounts of water as soon as the dog finishes urinating.

Originally Posted by Chelly-Belly

Hi!

I noticed that when my doggie pees on the grass then it's sunny, the grass turns brown. What I do is that whenever I catch my dog peeing on the grass, I pour water on the spot and wash off the pee. Hope it helps! Problem is, when I don't see her pee, then the grass turns brown the next day.

Dog urine is actualy good for grass (it converts into urea - a fertilizer) but when it isn't diluted it will temporarily burn it, (after some days the grass should come out stronger), so watering is the right thing to do. As for avoiding the peeing, sorry, it's either dog or grass, maybe a stronger type of grass might hold out somewhat better.