Hello! and questions about using artificial turf --for dogs

[thumper55]

Hi everyone!

I don't usually post here, but hopefully some of you have suggestions about this

I have a couple of dogs that I leave in my (hard tiled)  courtyard while I'm at work. There's a dog bed, but I'd really like a soft  area for them to hang out.

We are about to hire a contractor to do landscape our yard, and I'm thinking about creating a small fenced dog run area . The landscaper is really enthusiastic about using artificial turf for it instead of grass.  He said that real grass won't last with dogs.    According to him, dogs like it, the turf lasts 10 years and just needs to be hosed down.   Also my dogs like to eat grass, so artificial turf would solve that. However, I'm not sure how durable it is if if the dogs try to claw at it .

I'm skeptical if it really last 10 years, but the low maintenance is very appealing.  Thoughts?

[clo]

I think TBM installed turf or knew someone who had...

Real grass has lasted with my dogs, but they don't go outside without me, so it is kind of a moot point. I wouldn't leave your dogs in a run without being there with them.

[MauMau]

mrsukyankee has artificial turf in her yard. Hopefully she will see this. She has a dog but I'm not sure how much he is on it.

[midnightmare81]

A good friend has a fenced in yard of turf for her dogs. She loves it! It's held up for the last 8 years of constant use (they have a doggie door so they are outside a LOT). It still looks the same as it did when it was installed.

The only down side is the poop does have to be picked up while still solid since unlike real grass, what is missed is not absorbed into the soil. She had an underground compost type pit put in under the yard, so she just uses a pooper scooper to pick up the poop and drops it in the hole. I don't know how it works exactly but it somehow breaks down, so it doesn't just collect or end up in the ground water.

[mrsukyankee]

I have a small yard of artificial grass and we LOVE IT. My dog isn't on it all day long, but he is a large dog who typically loves to dig and he can't/won't do it on the turf. As the PP said, you do have to pick up the poop regularly, but I would do that on a normal lawn anyway...it sits there and is easy. If he is ill in any way, we can wash down the lawn with a hose - very easy. We deodorise once a month in the summer and vacuum it/brush it. It's seriously easy and wonderful.

[thumper55]

Apr 26, 2014 21:11:22 GMT -5 clo said:

I think TBM installed turf or knew someone who had...

Real grass has lasted with my dogs, but they don't go outside without me, so it is kind of a moot point. I wouldn't leave your dogs in a run without being there with them.

why wouldn't you leave them in a dog run?

It  would be small, and have shade with a hardscape and softscape area. 

[thumper55]

Apr 27, 2014 3:48:25 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I have a small yard of artificial grass and we LOVE IT. My dog isn't on it all day long, but he is a large dog who typically loves to dig and he can't/won't do it on the turf. As the PP said, you do have to pick up the poop regularly, but I would do that on a normal lawn anyway...it sits there and is easy. If he is ill in any way, we can wash down the lawn with a hose - very easy. We deodorise once a month in the summer and vacuum it/brush it. It's seriously easy and wonderful.

I would check for the poop regularly as well, so I don't mind that part.
What about urine  - does the turf pick up the smell?
when you hose it down, where does the water go?
How do you deordorize it?

How long have you had it, and how long do you see it holding up.
Also if you don't mind, how much was it, and how did you decide which brand to get (so many out there!)
thanks!

[redheadbaker]

Apr 27, 2014 11:40:25 GMT -5 thumper55 said:

Apr 26, 2014 21:11:22 GMT -5 clo said:

I think TBM installed turf or knew someone who had...

Real grass has lasted with my dogs, but they don't go outside without me, so it is kind of a moot point. I wouldn't leave your dogs in a run without being there with them.

why wouldn't you leave them in a dog run?

It  would be small, and have shade with a hardscape and softscape area. 

It's not safe. They could be stung or bitten by an insect and have an allergic reaction.

A week or two ago, a dog who was left in the yard while her owner was at work was poisoned with antifreeze-laced dog food.

[clo]

What RHB said. I mean, a run is great if I am out there with them, but then why not just let them out in the whole yard? I'd rather do that.

[mrsukyankee]

Apr 27, 2014 11:46:49 GMT -5 thumper55 said:

Apr 27, 2014 3:48:25 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

I have a small yard of artificial grass and we LOVE IT. My dog isn't on it all day long, but he is a large dog who typically loves to dig and he can't/won't do it on the turf. As the PP said, you do have to pick up the poop regularly, but I would do that on a normal lawn anyway...it sits there and is easy. If he is ill in any way, we can wash down the lawn with a hose - very easy. We deodorise once a month in the summer and vacuum it/brush it. It's seriously easy and wonderful.

I would check for the poop regularly as well, so I don't mind that part.
What about urine  - does the turf pick up the smell?
when you hose it down, where does the water go?
How do you deordorize it?

How long have you had it, and how long do you see it holding up.
Also if you don't mind, how much was it, and how did you decide which brand to get (so many out there!)
thanks!

I'll start off by saying I'm in London so pricing won't make sense for me to share  as it won't be similar to anything in the States.  We had a few companies come in and they brought samples. I also asked for client names so I could call/go see the work. We saw samples ranging in prices and picked one of the top level ones that looked a lot like real grass. In the summer, people do think it's real most of the time.  My in-laws are using the same company this year...they had another company come just to see and the price difference was a few thousand pounds.  Our guy was cheaper.

Urine - if it's dry for long periods of time it will begin to smell, but rain takes it away. It drains through the grass and through the sand layer below. We NEVER have standing water - ever.

Deodorising - we use bicarbonate of soda sprinkled on it, spread it a bit with a broom and then either left (if it's going to be nice out) or you can vacuum it up.  I love being able to use a vacuum like a carpet.  FAB.

We've had it for 5 years and it still looks amazing.  Every so often we have to brush it to get it to stand up a bit (cause the dog likes to lie down on it and runs like crazy around it), but that's fine.

[thumper55]

Apr 27, 2014 13:48:16 GMT -5 clo said:

What RHB said. I mean, a run is great if I am out there with them, but then why not just let them out in the whole yard? I'd rather do that.

they will tear up the yard, eat grass,  and may chew on things they aren't supposed to (furniture, hose, etc)

[thumper55]

Apr 27, 2014 12:09:03 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

It's not safe. They could be stung or bitten by an insect and have an allergic reaction.

A week or two ago, a dog who was left in the yard while her owner was at work was poisoned with antifreeze-laced dog food.

I currently leave them outdoors daily anyway.  I guess they could be bitten by an insect, but it's not something I have been concerned about.

the antifreeze dog food incident sounds careless

[redheadbaker]

Apr 28, 2014 0:43:16 GMT -5 thumper55 said:

Apr 27, 2014 12:09:03 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

It's not safe. They could be stung or bitten by an insect and have an allergic reaction.

A week or two ago, a dog who was left in the yard while her owner was at work was poisoned with antifreeze-laced dog food.

I currently leave them outdoors daily anyway.  I guess they could be bitten by an insect, but it's not something I have been concerned about.

the antifreeze dog food incident sounds careless

It wasn't careless -- it was malicious. Someone (not the owner) intentionally poisoned the dog.

There is also the possibility of the dog escaping and getting lost or hit by a car.