Dog people - 'stones' you put in female dog's water bowls...

My male dog 'burns' our lawn. I'd never put those things in his water, whether the vet says it's ok or not. His wee is the pH it is for a reason, I wouldn't artificially change it. Certainly not over a long period of time. I just take it as one of the 'hazards' of dog ownership.

Apparently the best way to stop it is to tip washing up water over where they pee - something to do with the pH of washing up liquid I think.

Thank you for replying. I think I'd get through an awful lot of washing up water & fairy liquid if I tried that! I'm happy with what my vet said about using the stones however, she's never been wrong with our two yet and doesn't hesitate to tell us off if she thinks we're doing something wrong. When my Dobie put on a few pounds after being spayed, we really got it in the neck. ?

What you are looking for is DogRocks. You can get them online or at petsat home. They do work as long as you use them all the time. My dogs did take them out of the bowl to start with but soon ignored them!!!!

I know my parents if they noticed would go and water the patch where the dog had been afterwards. Mainly in the summer as in the winter the rain would sort it out.

Never heard of stones though!

Some useful info here

https://www.dog-spoiling-made-easy.com/lawn-care-and-dog-urine.html

Most experts agree that the pH level of a dog's urine is not the cause of the lawn damage. So, remedies aimed at neutralizing the acid in by applying baking soda or lime to the burned area, wouldn't be of help. Likewise, remedies to reduce the pH of your dog's urine internally, is also off-target for the same reason.

Though these things would no doubt reduce the uric acid in the urine, they would not do anything to help the burn effect caused by the nitrogen.

On the other hand, Green-UM is a product that can really help control lawn burn quickly and naturally. In addition to healthy nutritional ingredients, Green-ums contains an extract from the Yucca plant. This ingredient binds or neutralizes the nitrogen compounds in the urine or ***. Thus, Green-UM can benefit both your pet and your lawn at the same time. Green-UM® can also help prevent burns on plants and shrubs caused by pets using them as their "favorite spot".

Thanks Monkey Mavis, that's brilliant. There's a Pets at Home near me so I'll pop down tomorrow ?

Gryfon, my two manage to kill the grass whatever the weather, especially the spaniel, she manages to wee in the most fantastic patterns. I am starting to wonder if she's actually responsible for all the crop-circles.... in the world!

Flaming Nora, that's really helpful, thank you. I'll have a read. ?

Blimy! I haven't noticed my dog doing that, but then our lawn isn't the best ?

Sure you haven't got leatherjackets in your lawn?

I don't think so, the dogs use to burn the lawn at my old house when they wee'd on it and then, when we moved to this house, the lawn was fine, lovely and green until they started weeing on it. The Doberman has a favourite spot which she uses all the time and the grass in that area is now completely brown with some attractive bald patches.

I now have visions of your spaniel trying to, well 'icing bag lettering' you some kind if message - maybe she's trying to tell you something in dog hyrogliphics?

The same thought occured to me. She's fairly simple in what she wants really, basically, well, food and lots of it!

Monkey Mavis, your dog is gorgeous! I have a white boxer, total pain in the bum, maniac, best dog ever. ?

Ahh now I got a tip some years ago, and it seems to work for us, which is to add a teaspoonful of ketchup to the food daily and that does seem to work.

The other thing you could do, which we have also done in part of our garden, is go for an artificial lawn. It looks great (not astro-turf/greengrocers display at all) and you wouldn't know until you touched it, nobody has ever said anything apart from "what a lovely lawn" and the dogs don't mind it at all. And you can scrub it to get rid of smells or any, how can i say, messy deposits. It's very hard wearing!

Good luck anyway whatever you do!

Jo xx