Dogs killing grass - grrrr

[GooseyLoosey]

I have recently acquired a greyhound. Lovely dog, but am having trouble in getting used to the dead patches on my grass.

Have seen these rocks in the pet shop that you put in drinking water and allegedly they neutralise the ammonia which kills the grass. Has anyone come across these and if so, do they work and do they do any harm to the dog?

She is female, yes. Good to hear it worked. Were there any side effects?

This is meant to be good:

www.csjk9.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=18&idcategory=3

The disclaimer on dog rocks puts me off, tbh.

Someone told me to add tomato ketchup to her meal (about a tablespoon)

So far, and we are about 3 months in, we have no more dead patches.

Seems to work for us

But golly, we seem to be going through the ketchup...

We don't have dead patches. We have super-growing ones instead!

Not sure that trying to fiddle with the dog's food is anything more than an urban myth, a bit like those loons who peddle the "you can change your body's ph by eating this bizarre diet". Also, that's quite a lot of sugar in the ketchup to be giving to the dog, depending on their size. I'd focus on regularly using the hosepipe to wash the grass down and be grateful she is not digging holes, ripping up the grass as she corners at high speed etc.

Thanks all. Bit wary of adding studd to diet as I understand that greyhounds have pretty sensitive digestive systems anyway but the grass is driving me nuts (I like a lawn like a golf green).

I think you have to accept that having a dog is entirely incompatible with a luscious green lawn

apple cider vinegar in the dogs water is supposed to stop brown grass, it is also a good health supplement for the dog aswell. you only need a tablespoon per day.

If you don't want to add anything to the diet although a very small amount of tomato ketchup or vinegar does the trick. It is not only bitches either.

Why don't you train the dog to use only one area in your garden - maybe that is out of sight or behind a shrub. Just always take the dog to the same spot and praise and treat when she wees in the correct spot. At least then only a bit of the grass will be brown.

Will - Agree! We have three greyhounds, and what with the zoomies, the weeing, the digging, the burial of occasional pigs ears, the unaccountable preference for pond water over nice clean tap water, the strained relationship with the hedgehog, the necessity for Stalag like high cat deterrent fencing, we've given up any thoughts of having grass. Garden still looks good but a lawn is unrealistic.