MUDDY YARD MUDDY FEET
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| Your solution sounds better (for the long run), but have you tried putting booties on your OES' paws? The kind that go up their leg some? I think they're awesome.
they sell them cheap at popular pet chain stores. |
| Before we became puppy parents we went through our "planning" stage and during that time we thought that we would make an area "just" for the dogs. We had decided to use very pea gravel. I dont' know if that is the actual name, but a soft small stone that lots of the playgrounds use for safety. We were planning on putting on putting down about a 3 inch layer of sand (for drainage) then a cover to prevent weeds or grass from growing through. Then we were going to put a 4-6 inch layer of the "pea gravel" down.
We ended up spending our entire summer taking down our old stockade fence on all sides and redoing the poles and fence panels. We took out a huge 24 foot above ground pool with deck out because it has sit too long and needed a lot of maintanence when we moved in. Then we brought in a tractor and leveled the entire back, then brought in tons and tons of rich mix topsoil, and resodding the whole thing. It was a mess, for awhile, but it was so nice when the grass filled in and they stopped getting so dirty. I don't know about where you live, but we got sod for 10 cents a square foot. You can always do the yard in sections and come back for more at a later date. We did it that way, so we didn't break the bank all at once. I hope that my very long message helps in some way. LOL 
Stormi and co. |
| We too have an above ground pool and find the dogs chasing one another around the pool kicks the pea gravel into the pool. It's never very much but we do have to fish it out before vacuuming. I don't trust the filter baskets.
Another idea is the 12" stepping pads around the pool in several layers. Use the pea gravel in the joints.....or even a smaller size..yes, there are smaller sizes. We have concrete along several feet of the pool.......and wish it went all the way around.....there you go, LOL! Grass is a good idea except if it's a regular race track, it won't last too long. Also the compaction will make any resodding difficult. Giving the dogs more room to run will help with the mud.....except in their favorite tracks. My girl loves to run the cars down the road (inside the safe fence). The track can get muddy, but the worst spot is "the mud hole" that actually fills with runoff from the driveway. When water is standing there, sheepie girl actually creates a rooster tail as she runs thru the water......and of course getting soaked and muddy in the process. She loves it. I have many dog towels. bunnyboss |
| Thanks for all your suggestions. I'm going to try the boots.
We live in Pennsylvania so resodding won't help until summer. I usually replant the grass seed in the summer and throw straw over it and it grows. It's just this time of year drives me crazy. I wouldn't not have my dogs though . They are way worth all the mud. I have lots of beach towels. We go through about six a day. I have sheets over my furniture too. It's nice to be able to chat with other dog lovers. My best friend is afraid of all dogs. She would never hurt one but she just doesn't get it.I might try the pavers and pea gravel in between around the pool. For some reason I suspect they would run around it. Thanks for all your suggestions, herbgirl |
I couldnt stand the spring and the mud from Merlin and the kids...so we took up all the grass in the play yard and did the whole thing in about 2-6 inches(depends on where in the yard) of pea gravel. No more muddy kids or dog. Oh sure gravel gets kicked onto the patio area, but the occasional sweeping is MUCH better than having to bathe a dirty dog daily!  |
| Hey herbgirl,
where do you live in PA? |
| WizardMerlin, Did you put down anything under the pea gravel?
If you put it thick enough does it keep the weeds and grass from growing up through? I'm going to do it. I think it will be a big help. Maxmm, I live in Northumberland. Its about fifty miles from Harrisburg north. |
When we put the pea gravel down we first took up all the grass and we layed down the landscaping fabric, but where the gravel is only 2 inches deep Merlin has ripped the landscaping fabric with his running  We get the occasional stray weed but for the most part is has been working great and it is real easy for picking up poop and hosing off to clean
One word of advice tho...when we got the pea gravel, we didnt hose it off before we put it in the yard so until we got a few heavy rains, Merlin was getting dirty. If I had to do it again, I would have taken the time to hose off the pea gravel while it was in my driveway before I put it in the yard. |
| Kim and Merlin,
I know I ask alot of questions but did you remove the sod by hand or rent equiptment. Sounds like alot of work but I want to do it right. Better to ask and get it right I've had some brilliant ideas before that didn't work out  As soon as I read Ron's directions and figure out how to post pictures I'll send some.
herbgirl |
| Landscape fabric is very hard to tear.....could it have been the edges that popped up? Remember to overlap at least 7 inches in the seams....and pin the overlap.....special pins are available. Fabric quality also varies, so go with the heaviest you can afford. Avoid plastic sheets, they tear by simple compaction from the stones.
As for sodding....the key is the ground prep. Roots need to penetrate at least 6 inches to establish the turf. More is always better. So first, dig down and fluff the soil (roots need oxygen, hence compacted soil is low in oxygen and roots die). If you encounter a hard layer underneath, break it apart. Add organic matter suitable to your soil. Compost is always safe. Plan on adding about 1-2 inch depth and turn into the soil. A good starter fertilizer can also be added....Scotts makes a good one. Rake the soil smooth, adding slope if necessary for drainage. If necessary lightly water, don't soak. Sod should be fresh, not dry! Don't buy stuff that has cooked in the sun and don't let it cook at home. Lay sod, butting edges tight. Second layer should be offset from first, like a brick pattern to reduce long edge runs. Make sure those edges butt up tightly! Sod can shrink a bit and you don't want empty edges. Once down roll over the sod with a partially filled roller available from the rental shop (it's filled with water...you add). Then begin watering appropriate to your climate. It takes several weeks for the sod to knit to the ground, so limited walking on it. When finished, come do my yard! |
| We took up all the sod (notice I said WE when it was really JUST hubby and hubby did his best to level the yard as well before placing the landscaping fabric and stones.) And yes Merlin DID rip the landscaping fabric, there was not enough stones in some areas, and once ripped, he decided to help with his mouth and tug and tug! It was kind of funny, when he went inside,I placed the fabric back down, (not too carefully mind you) and raked more pebbles over it, so far so good and this is the second year and he runs in this yard every day. With him running in the yard, we do have to occassionally re-rake it all as he re-arranges the stones as he is running back and forth. But it is a LOT easier to take care of than SOD. No muddy dog (unless you have a digger) and NO MOWING We have gardens all around the perimeter of the yard and with the pea gravel it gives the yard a ZEN like feel (unless Merlin it tearing around it of course LOL!) I just love it because I am in charge of mowing and I only have to mow the front yard now(I have an old fashioned push mower). Our back yard has the pool and patio in it and the side yard is the kid and dog playyard.
Hugs |
| oh argh..........please don't let Merlin teach my guys about playing with the fabric! I guess having older, lazy dogs helps. Yes, stuff does get pushed off the fabric......I have bark in some areas instead of gravel and it needs to be rearranged as the fabric does become exposed. Other areas I inherited the black plastic underneath gravel.....it has torn so often I suspect I've cut away most of it over the years. Weeds to pop-up.......but it's not MUD!
bb |
I use a towel, then baby wipes on Zoe's feet when she comes in. Or, sometimes, as when we take her to the park, I pick her up  and carry her to the bathtub and use the handheld shower to rinse her off. |
| Since I am in a new house I think this problem will be more of a problem for us in the spring. (spring, what's THAT?)
The way I set things up when we moved here, even though we have a huge fenced in yard, was that the dogs only do their business off our back deck, basically on the end of the driveway closest to the house. Only on leash for a long time, and now even off leash if they are running around the yard playing, they will go to the "potty" spot, which happens to be mostly gravel and a few weeds. As for playing in the yard, there are a few spots that will be muddy as it seems to have no grass, I have no idea why, but I will put a small garden fence around those areas and plant grass seed. I hope they will train to stay in one spot until their feet are clean like Mickey did, but I haven't been successful as of yet with these two. LOL |
| Mardi gets his feet rinsed in the tub with the shower nozel also. Luckily he likes it.But there is usually so much mud on him it takes a good 5 minutes and about 3 towels to dry because he always ends up sitting down when I lift his last foot. Thats a good idea training them to go in one place. |
| I'm thankful I found this website. I have 2 medium size dogs. They each have their own yard (back yard split in half to make 2). The ground is so muddy. We live in a mobile home park (lrg lot). I wonder if I would have to get approval from the park owner to put down "pea gravel". We want to also build a sun deck for each of the dogs by their houses. They more outside their housed than in. With the winter thaw upon us now, the tempuratures are nicer and the girls want to be out. No one is home during the day, so we leave them in their kennels all day (except for lunch about 40 mins). Would the pea gravel be something that could easily be removed in the event that we were to move from the park? Nothing can be permanet. Hope to hear from you. Tammy |
What is "pea gravel"  Is it those little rocks? I think my yard is made up mostly of that - we have grass to and a wood deck but the part that is fneced is mostly the rocks (pea rocks?)...
I was thinking of getting it out because I thought they would get stuck in my puppies paws! And I was afraid he would eat the rocks... So far we haven't had that problem and I check his paws when coming in..But you all like the rocks? I'm so glad! It looked like quite a chore to get it all up and plant grass! |
| Right now our ground consists of snow and it will most likely be there until end of April. Then we have what is know as mud season in Colorado (@least in mountains) and well not sure what it is going to be like. All I know is that I will have my hands full. |
| Concerning pea gravel and dogs. I learned the hard way that they DON'T go together. I have 4 dogs of various mixed breeds and sizes. I can't tell you how many little pebbles I have picked out of their feet. It's got to be uncomfortable. And it gets all over the deck and into the house. Next time I have gravel delivered it will be the bigger size that won't fit in their toes. Mulch has never worked for me either. It wears out too fast and mud still comes through. I am thinking of rubber mulch. Haven't yet researched it though, so I can't comment on it. |
| I would say wood chipping or bark & looks nicke summer & winter. Also we was georgi feet in a bucket of water |
| I was just wondering....doesn't the hay provide any relief from the mud? I have three shih tzus and they're always dragging mud in when it's raining, and my backyard hasn't had much of a chance to regrow due to the lack of rain this past summer. I was thinking about putting a bunch of straw down to protect what little grass there is, and also prevent muddy paws. What do you think??? |
| Eventually the straw disappears, but with your light weight dogs it should last longer than with larger guys. The straw will decompose with warmer weather. |
| My wife couldn't stand the muddy feet tracking in the house so a few years ago we bought one of those cheap, plastic wading pools and filled it with about 4 inches of water. It sits out on the patio near the sliding door. At first we used to have to go out and make them walk through the water before they came in. I guess that I got to talking to them as I swished their feet inthe water. "You have to wash your feet guys..." Then one time as I was walking out for yet another foot washing, I must have said "Wash your feet first" before I even got near the pool because when I did, Toby went straight over and walked through by himself. It wasn't long before they were both doing it. Now when we see them standing at the door wanting to be let in, we just holler "Wash your feet!" and they both go over to the pool and do it. Always works with Toby and works with Charlie about 80% of the time. Now, sometimes, they go and wash their feet even before they come up to the door and I have to tell them to. I have to empty the pool of dirty water every other day or so when its especially muddy. The first pool finally started leaking last year and my neighbor gave me a better one that his kids had outgrown. It looks like a frog and has a lid. If I forget to take the lid off, Toby will walk right over it anyway before he makes the signal that he wants in. |
rfloch wrote: My wife couldn't stand the muddy feet tracking in the house so a few years ago we bought one of those cheap, plastic wading pools and filled it with about 4 inches of water. It sits out on the patio near the sliding door. At first we used to have to go out and make them walk through the water before they came in. I guess that I got to talking to them as I swished their feet inthe water. "You have to wash your feet guys..." Then one time as I was walking out for yet another foot washing, I must have said "Wash your feet first" before I even got near the pool because when I did, Toby went straight over and walked through by himself. It wasn't long before they were both doing it. Now when we see them standing at the door wanting to be let in, we just holler "Wash your feet!" and they both go over to the pool and do it. Always works with Toby and works with Charlie about 80% of the time. Now, sometimes, they go and wash their feet even before they come up to the door and I have to tell them to. I have to empty the pool of dirty water every other day or so when its especially muddy. The first pool finally started leaking last year and my neighbor gave me a better one that his kids had outgrown. It looks like a frog and has a lid. If I forget to take the lid off, Toby will walk right over it anyway before he makes the signal that he wants in. I started reading this, thinking "were the heck can you do this??"...then saw it was California!! Right now it's 12F, and with windchill feels like -4F, with a sharp NW wind blowing. Tonight we are to get well below zero with windchills -30F. No wading pools happening here!  And no doubt you have short haired dogs - in full coat they'd be bringing gallon and gallons of water in the house.  But glad it works for you - smart boys! |
| I do the same thing (basically) as the California poster I leave yuks in the garage... fill up a huge bowl and dip each foot in water and swish it around. then dry each foot off. I can't believe the aount of dirt comes off. Same goes for when we go on any playdate/dog park. Poor dog. She knows it's coming so just stands there completely miserable. When we first started it... she thought she had a nice mommy who was bringing her water after these long walks. Now she knows....  |
| It can be minus twenty and Leonard will still find mud. Both of our dogs are diggers. We just re-sodded the entire yard last spring before getting our second dog and it only lasted until fall. We are considering gravel. Part of our landscaping is gravel and it sucks for poop scooping. When it rains we have to go to the park to let them get their running out and I keep a bucket of warm water to dunk his paws in as a mere wipe doesn't help his feet. I may look into booties. What about his face, he just came inside and his face is black. It is minus 25 out right now. Do they make face booties? Hahaha. |
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