Dog pee patches

Anyone with a dog is familiar with burn patches on the lawn.

Why is it that female dogs seem to cause worse damage than male dogs? It has nothing to do with hormones, pH or what they eat - it’s all about how they pee. Females squat so the puddle of urine is more concentrated. Male dogs lift their legs so their urine tends to spray – their puddles are less concentrated.

Urine contains nitrogen which, in the right amount, can fertilize plants. Too much nitrogen and it burns. Ever notice how the outside edges of the burned patches are lush and green? This is because the amount of nitrogen from urine is just right.

Dilute the pee by pouring water on the patches with a hose or a watering can right after the dog pees. Use 3 times as much water as your dog pees to get the desired effect. For an average dog, a litre of water will do the job. If you have a Chihuahua or a Great Dane, adjust accordingly.

Some dogs can be trained to pee in a designated spot in the yard. It takes time, patience and lots of praise and rewards.

Never give your dog a home-made or commercial product or supplement to eliminate lawn burn. There is no evidence that these products work and some can cause unintended health problems for your dog.

You can however, repair damaged spots by overseeding. See: How to overseed your lawn

Keep the dog off the newly seeded spots until the new grass germinates and grows. A temporary fence such as snow fence would work for this, especially if there are large lawn areas that have been damaged.