Lawn Types That Can Stand Up to Dogs

Dog Damage

• Dogs damage lawn when they urinate on it, as their urine is highly acidic and burns the grass, creating brown spots. Big dogs cause damage when they wipe their feet after completing their business, kicking up the turf and leaving gouges in the soil beneath it. Dogs that patrol the perimeter of their yard create pathways where the grass no longer grows, and dogs that love to snooze in the shade leave bare, sandy patches where once the lawn grew thick. Puppies love to dig and do it wherever they take a fancy, leaving behind them holes and dying grass roots.

Basic Grass

• Fast-growing grasses such as kikuyu or couch are good basic lawn grasses because they have deep roots and are hardy enough to stand up to a certain amount of rough treatment. The best grass for your lawn, however, is one that is native to the region in which you live, as it is likely to grow the fastest and with the least amount of care and maintenance. Kentucky bluegrass is the most widely grown grass in the U.S., and it grows best if mixed with other regional grasses.

Regional Grasses

• Other grasses that grow well across the country include some standard grasses and a variety of fescues. In cool and humid northern regions perennial rye grasses grow well, while in the arid, desert zone tough buffalo grass is common. Hard fescue, red and chewings fescue mix well with the seed of other grasses. Mix 55 percent Kentucky bluegrass with 30 percent red fescue and 15 percent perennial ryegrass, for an easy-growing lawn that will do well from spring through fall.

Grass Maintenance

• Help your lawn survive by spreading lime a few times each year. This balances the acidity in the dog's urine and restores the soil's pH to a neutral base. It is not toxic to humans or animals, and will dissolve completely into the ground. Cordon off any areas that you are re-seeding for a week or two until the new grass takes hold, and "break" the dog's favorite routes frequently by moving obstacles such as garden ornaments or pieces of fencing into its path. This will encourage it to find new pathways and enable re-growth on the old ones.

  Even the toughest grasses will wear down under energetic dog traffic. Grasses that grow through the spreading of stolons or rhizomes repair more easily, but will still require care and the occasionally reseeding.