Potty training your dog to go outside can be quite a process, but once they’re trained, it feels like a huge accomplishment! However, it might be bad news for your grass. Dog pee tends to kill grass, leaving your lawn with bare spots. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to save your lawn. Here’s how to protect grass from dog urine:

Why Does Dog Urine Harm Grass?

When a dog’s digestive system breaks down protein, nitrogen begins to build up in their bloodstream. This nitrogen is then filtered out by the kidneys into the urine. If a dog isn’t hydrated enough or has too much protein in their diet, this can lead to higher nitrogen levels.

While plants do need some nitrogen, too much of it can be harmful to grass. When a dog pees on the lawn, there’s a concentrated amount of nitrogen going onto a small section, which leads to dead or brown spots. This is especially common with dogs who squat to pee. However, your grass type may be a contributing factor to how damaged your grass is.

There are a few types of grasses that can handle more nitrogen, like ryegrass and fescue. Grasses like Bermuda and Kentucky bluegrass are much more sensitive. Any heavily fertilized lawns are also more likely to be damaged by extra nitrogen.

How To Stop Dog Pee From Ruining Your Grass

If you have dead or brown spots or want to get ahead of the issue before it even begins, here’s how to protect grass from dog urine:

3 Changes You Can Make With Your Dog

There are a few things you can do with your dog that can help prevent their pee from ruining your grass.

1. Increase Hydration

A well-hydrated dog will have less concentrated urine, which also means a less concentrated level of nitrogen. If your dog isn’t drinking enough, try to encourage more water intake by placing multiple bowls around your home and making sure they have easy water access outside.

You can also try a water fountain to make drinking water more exciting. Some dogs even like chewing on ice as a treat! Making sure your dog has easy access to water and stays hydrated is a very important summer safety for dogs!

Giving your dog hydrating fruits and veggies is another great way to help your dog get more hydration. Some of the best fruits and veggies for dogs can offer extra hydration. If they’re still having a hard time getting hydrated, try adding water to food. Talk to your vet if you have any concerns or questions.

2. Create a Designated Pee Spot

To avoid brown spots all over your yard, try to pick an area that’s a bit hidden from view, like under a tall deck or among trees. You can also train them to go on something other than grass, like mulch or artificial turf.

It may seem like a mystery how dogs choose their bathroom spots, but with some training, you should be able to teach them to go in a specific area. Remember to reward them after they pee in a spot you’ve chosen. Positive reinforcement can go a long way in helping them learn!

3. Consider a Diet Change or Add Supplements

Dogs do need to have protein in their diets, so you shouldn’t consider decreasing the amount they eat. However, some dogs may have a higher amount of protein in their diet than they need. Talk to your vet so they can determine if this is a possibility.

There may be some supplements that can help, but most of those change the acidity level of urine, not the nitrogen levels. Before trying any supplement, be sure to talk to your veterinarian first!

2 Changes You Can Make For Your Lawn

If changing your dog’s diet or getting them to pee in a specific spot isn’t possible, there are some things you can do to your lawn to protect it from dog urine.

1. Plant Urine-Resistant Grass

Planting grasses like ryegrass or fescue that are more resistant to urine damage is a great way to prevent brown spots from even forming. You can also do spot treatments with this type of grass seed. If you have a few spots around your yard where your dog tends to pee, plant this type of grass so it’s resistant to your dog’s urine.

2. Rinse the Grass After Your Dog Pees

While you may feel a little ridiculous doing so, rinsing away your dog’s pee spots can help lower the nitrogen levels in that specific spot. It also hydrates your lawn, which is even better for grass health. However, avoid overwatering your grass, and also be mindful of any drought warnings in your area. If this is the case, get your dog to pee somewhere else.

This is how to protect grass from dog urine. Having a dog sometimes means having some inconveniences, like brown patches or bare spots in your yard. However, implementing some of these tips may be able to help protect your grass and keep it looking healthy!