Ground cover for dog runs

[smy0527]

It's that time of the year again and my husband is determined to have a backyard lawn so he is putting in a run on the side of our home. I found an old thread that talks about pea gravel or wood chips but wanted to know what everyone's opinions are. I know my dogs won't chew the wood chips, we go to a dog park that has them, and our village gives out chips for free, but I am worried about the smell since we live in suburbia and our houses are close together. I have no problem with the pebbles except for the cost. What works at your home?

 

[blaue_augen]

We put wood chips in our dog run when we lived in Denver. I didn't find that it smelled unless there was poo. It was right next to our deck where we would eat outside a lot. Suki does have the habit of burying her poop in the wood chips or whatever is around her poo. So I had to look for little piles she made and search through them for poo, which made picking up the poo trickier.

I would think stones would last longer, but your wood chips are free. Also, if the dog run area is in the sun, I think the stones will be hotter (not just on the dogs feet, but radiating on the house).

I like the idea of wood chips better than stones. But I will say that people/businesses around here have been putting mulch/wood chips around flower beds here lately. And they are kind of stinky the first little while in an earthy woody way (these are the dyed wood chips). But if your wood chips from your town are likes ours from the town, they are just trees that have gone through the wood chipper and don't have the same smell.

Have fun deciding and enjoy your lawn! And good luck teaching the dogs where to potty!

 

[Popcorn]

I am curious too.

We live in a damp area and I think the wood chips wouldn't be great.

I am undecided about trying to put soil down and seeding it for grass .... or doing gravel. We had a flood that covered the whole dog area in sandy soil that doesn't hold grass well.

 

[Shel]

I've used pea gravel and it was a nightmare. In the winter, the Newfs would lie in the snow, it would melt and then the gravel would freeze to their feathering. They'd carry the pea gravel inside, it would melt, and then I was left cleaning up pea gravel off my floors.

We tried grass for a short period of time. Huge regret. When big dogs pee it causes a puddle or river. The dogs would either step in the pee-puddle or the piddle-river always seemed to channel towards their feet. I hated the smell of "pee-toes", so the grass was ripped up as quick as possible and replaced with 3/4-inch gravel.

We currently use 3/4-inch clear/washed limestone. It stays in place, we never have mud, you can hose it down (e.g. diarrhea/vomit), and you can keep it "fresh" by adding salt (some people bleach it).

I've never tried wood chips, but I'd think they would retain the smell of urine. I know when we had grass in the kennel that the soil had a distinct funk to it during the heat of the summer, especially after a rain.

I couldn't imagine life without a gravel kennel and a dog door... oh... and outdoor hot/cold hydrant for our Canadian winters.

Shel

 

[smy0527]

Shel, love the photo! I was told limstone would be the best but can not find it here on long island. just looked into doggy turf, but too costly. The are is going to be shady and not near any area that we use but will be about 10 feet from my neighbor's home and their 2nd floor bedroom window is on our side if they choose to open it
.

 

[Annetteb]

We live in the Pacific Northwest with lots of rain. Our dog pen has wood chip like the ones used for kid's play areas. Our pen is slightly sloped so water doesn't pool there. It works great. Added bonus when using cedar chips, fleas won't go there.

 

[Bonnke's Mom]

We also have free wood chips which I spread over the mud last fall in the dog area. It was great for keeping the mud out of Bonnke's coat but the chips "ride" into the house on his legs and tummy then fall off on the bedroom floor at night. Not good on bare feet. Our lower level is carpeted and the chips are a nightmare to clean up. I wish I had payed the money for stone.

 

[Ginny]

I wouldn't use the wood chips because my dogs would definitely eat the stuff which would pose a whole other problem. Forget round rocks like pea gravel or river rock - they migrate to the end of the runs and constantly need back-breaking raking. I tried traffic lime which is very small - big mistake. Two years later it's still being tracked inside which necessitates constant mopping. I've found driveway stones, about an inch in size and 6" deep to be the best. They stay in place, can be hosed down, sanitized with salt, and the dogs do just fine on them.

 

[CMDRTED]

Remember no Cyprus Mulch. Also Wood chips/mulch will attract BUGS!

We use ground up tires for mulch. Traps moisture, no bugs, lasts `15-20 years. I like a brand called "Rubberrific" Looks like natural mulch lasts forever. Yes it is a little price, but it environmentally friendly and over 15 years the pricy is cheaper than replacing real wood chips and doesnt look like c**p over time.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_326447-25888-LRM8BN_0__