Artificial grass….how to train dog not to toilet on it?

[NewMeNewUs]

We are having our garden renovated in a couple of weeks which included artificial grass being laid.
the gardener has advised me to train the dog (1 year old Labrador) not to toilet on the fake grass, she can do it on the patio instead.
my question is how do I teach this!? Many thanks

Cleaning stuff off plastic grass is far easier and leaves less residue than on real grass.

Get rid of the plastic carpet.

The British are odd. They claim to be a nation of gardeners, everyone who is thinking of procreating insists on having a house with a garden “for the children.”

Then half of them just cover it in plastic grass anyway. Those who don’t seem to spend 300% more time working in the garden than actually enjoying it, not least because UK weather is not always conducive to garden time.

I prefer a flat with a balcony near a park, frankly. You can enjoy a walk or run around a park when it’s grey or chilly or even a bit drizzly as long as you are in the right clothes, because there’s space to move around and stuff to do. A garden is hard to enjoy unless the weather is just right, which it isn’t most of the time in the UK.

This is the kind of thing I mean. If nobody in the house is in a position to garden, what’s the point in having it? A balcony can be set out with wooden decking and a few ultra low maintenance plants and still look OK.

I have a dog and kids who enjoy using the garden?

I like my sitting and reading in the sun and we have friends and family round for bbqs in the summer.

OP ran away when they were asked why artificial grass 😂

Half the British have plastic grass 😂🤣

As if.

You could do most of those things in a park.

I don’t think it’s ethical to have a garden unless you are prepared to do a few basic minimum things to ensure that it is, at least, a haven for wildlife. If you are not prepared to do that, have no garden and live more densely (which enables more space to be left wild and in its undeveloped state).

Couldn’t you just get a plastic dog?

Hahaha 🤣

Seriously though, plastic grass is an absolute disgrace. It's like having a giant fuck you environment sign up for all to see. And that's without having a poor dog. The two combined are a baffling lack of common sense and decency.

I would have said regular walks and on each walk keep going until your dog has done a no 2. I did this when mine was a puppy and he wont do a no 2 in the garden at all, will only do them on walks. Going out with your dog for wees and supervising each time is the only way I can think of to ensure he/she goes in the place you want.

I don't want to do it in a park thanks. I have a garden.

How would I get to a park?

So basically, if you're disabled, you shouldn't be allowed a garden because you can't garden? OK cool

Seriously though, plastic grass is an absolute disgrace. It's like having a giant fuck you environment sign up for all to see. And that's without having a poor dog. The two combined are a baffling lack of common sense and decency

Totally agree with this

😂😂👏👏

Benefits of artificial grass:
Withstands harsh weather conditions
Looks as good as new for +/- 15 years
No discolouration, patchiness, weeds
Next to no maintenance
Lower water bills
No mowing, watering or seeding required
Stays green all year round
Ideal for kids and pets
Does not cause hay fever

Add good for people who are disabled, maybe have special needs /disabled children. Elderly that can't manage to mo anymore , people with say depression who are not coping well etc etc .

don't put down 'grassphalt'

if you are prepared to shell out a lot of money for artificial grass, then you can just as well prepare the area for real grass & robot mower for better results in look and practicality.

I didn’t say anything about environmental costs, but... given anyone I know with artificial grass ends up hoovering and power washing it fairly regularly I don’t think not mowing is really a plus point tbh.

young real grass doesn't need chemicals or water. It withstands every weather condition. It never needs seeding. There's no such thing as a "weed", the dandelions in our lawn are for the bees. I have managed to run a mower over the lawn in the depths of utter depression.
If you can afford to put plastic over the garden then maybe budget for a teen or local gardener to run a mower over it every 3/4 weeks instead. Or get a robot mower.

Robot mower, a few ultra low maintenance plants. Job done.

Robot mowers are getting really cheap these days.

Fancy lending me some money then to get my garden done and buy me a robot mower?

Then would you like to come and wipe my dogs feet and mop multiple times a day?

No.

As opposed to the manufacture of a plastic lawn, with all the chemicals and emissions that that involves, and the transport costs from raw materials supplier to factory to retailer to your house?

Plastic grass doesn't just grow!

https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/microplastics-human-health-hazard-pollution-blood/

Noise pollution with the endless mowing at the weekend to keep your lawn looking almost as good as artificial grass, your poor neighbours.

Not to mention the weeds growing through it so it may need weeding anyway.