Do dogs and lawns have to be at odds?
Owning a pet and caring for a lawn can sometimes conflict, especially if the dog is female and liable to squat and produce large puddles. Whether your dog or the neighbor's dog is causing the problem, dog urine can damage lawns, producing unsightly brown patches that indicate lawn disease. If the problem persists, reseeding and sodding are often the only options. Nevertheless, there are many ways to prevent or control the problem.
Cause
You might think that dog urine would be good for lawns, since it contains the same ingredient used by most fertilizers. Nitrogen, found in urea, is the nutrient that lawns need most. In fact lawn fertilizers often contain nitrogen in the form of urea, according to GardenGuides.com. The concentration of urea in urine, however, is much higher. In addition, as Dr. Steve Thompson, DVM, explains in the the update of his 1998 article "'Dog-On-It Lawn Problems," the high-protein diet a dog consumes creates high amounts of nitrogen waste products eliminated through urination. The nitrogen in dog urine both burns the grass and damages the soil beneath it. If the lawn is already well-fertilized with nitrogen, it only adds to the problem.
Culprit
The culprit is not only the amount of nitrogen in the urine, however, but also the amount of urine concentrated in a single spot. The characteristic brown burn spot with green at the edges (a fertilizer effect where the urine is diluted) was nicknamed "female dog spot disease" by some horticulturalists, according to Thompson, because mature female dogs tend to squat in order to urinate and to go all in one place. In contrast, leg-lifting adult male dogs tend to "mark," distributing their urine among many scent posts.
Prevention
Since lawns will often recover from mild burn over time, according to Thompson's article, try to prevent or control the problem before it gets severe. If you act fast and catch the accident after it happens, you can even turn it to your advantage. Thompson cites a study showing that dog urine can have a fertilizing effect when water three times the volume of urine was applied to the area up to eight hours after urination. It turns out that dog urine can be a fertilizer after all, if adequately diluted.
Landscaping Options
Thompson also suggests creating a landscaped area specifically designated for the dog's use. The area will need a substrate that will encourage the dog to use it, such as pea gravel or mulch, Thompson says. You can bring lawn aesthetics and damage prevention together by including a decorative marking post for the dog, such as a bird bath or large boulder. Begin training the dog by transporting the dog's urine (collected in a cup) and feces over to the spot as an attraction.
Dietary Approaches
If a dietary approach is preferred, reducing the amount of protein in your dog's diet is likely a safe option. Most family dogs do not need the amount of protein included in commercial dog foods, Thompson says. A dog food with higher-quality protein, which may reduce the amount of nitrogen in the urine by helping the dog digest the protein, is another option. Get dog food with higher-quality protein from a pet store or vet. Always discuss any modifications to a pet's diet with a veterinarian, however, so that the health of your dog is consulted in solving your problem with urea lawn disease.
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