What Is the Best Soil to Use in a Dog Run?

River Sand

• River sand occurs naturally through the weathering of rocks over time and is composed of particles of broken rock and minerals such as quartz. River sand from U.S. rivers such as the Colorado and Mississippi is screened and washed to remove pebbles and clean the sand, and is commercially available from builders' yards in most states.

Decomposed Granite

• Decomposed granite sand comes from granite rock, and is environmentally safe sand that is a reddish-brown in color. It is organic and therefore commonly used in dog runs, horse stalls and children's playgrounds, such as the Tompkins square dog run located in the heart of New York City's east village.

Builders' and Foundry Sand

• Foundry sand is produced by the metal casting industry, where sand is recycled and reused many times. Tons are disposed of each year and this type of sand makes an ideal base for a concrete floor. Builders' sand is also commonly used as foundation sand, but these types of sand should not come into contact with the dog's paws.

Reasons to Use Sand

• Both river sand and decomposed granite have excellent drainage and filtering qualities, and are used in pool filters and drainage channels. Used in a dog run, the sand is soft on the dog's paws, and clumps well around the feces to help prevent odors. Dogs are unlikely to chew on the sand as they do with pea gravel.

Odor Control Additives

• Zeolite is a highly porous molecular sponge that absorbs ammonia and other odors. Used in modern cat litters, it is a negatively-charged mineral and for this reason it attracts positive ions such as the salts and ammonia from cat waste. Use it as an additive to the sand in your dog's run to help absorb odor and moisture.

  Sprinkle agricultural lime on the sand in the run occasionally. This is an effective and affordable odor control agent; it is non-toxic to animals and is used regularly in gardening and agriculture. (Res 1)