@Logan4 it's a breed specific rescue for 'death row' dogs called Lurcher Link (lurchers and staffies being the dogs most likely to end up in a Pound under sentence of death). A few goldie owners on there, but it's mostly about sight hounds .
Lurchers are good at trashing lawns because they run fast and for a long time. In a small garden that can produce a running track - round and round and round. A lot of people have tried the artificial grass solution and it can help with the muddy race track issue, but you do need to try to limit - or preferably stop - them peeing on it.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I definitely would not let a dog poo on the grass, be it real or fake if I had children! We've always had dogs, they would never do as much as a wee in the garden always went to the gate to go outside. Children and dog poo not a good combination. As big and wild as this garden is here, my dad would never let his GS out free range to use it as a toilet.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
Our neighbours have five large dogs German Shepherds and Huskies, they have had Aqua Turf in a large garden for quite a few years now and it works very well, they clear any poo each morning, so there is no smell, and it looks good, they take the dogs out for exercise daily.
I spoke to a neighbour with astroturf while I was out walking my dog yesterday. He doesn't let his dog out on the 'lawn' anymore and it's a bit awkward when other people/family with dogs visit as they aren't allowed to let them out there either. When it's tipping down or snowing he still has to take the dog out several times a day just to wee.
He also said some sheep had broken into his garden and tried to graze his lush green turf. I said maybe they were just trying to brush their teeth
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Thanks folks, some very interesting comments so far which I'll pass onto my son. I'm rather hoping I can persuade him to have the lawn re turfed rather than use plastic grass.
I found the website topdog turf really helpful. They sell a product called zeostop which neutralizes the smells. Seems to work as we had no smells even during the hot weather last year. My grass has been down since late 2017 and still looks good.
When we got a Chocky lab he destroyed our grass in about 2 weeks, I walked by the council laying astroturf for the local football pitches and received a free bit that was about 4m x 3m. Anyhoo It's been brilliant but after 2 years I'm having to lift It as the weeds have finally managed to seep through It and It will need a regular cleaning or you can get a black film over the top of It.
after setting the trampoline on the grass. The support bars of the trampoline didn't damage my fake grass, even if they press down on the grass for years. However, the legs potentially punctured the grass.
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Lurchers are good at trashing lawns because they run fast and for a long time. In a small garden that can produce a running track - round and round and round. A lot of people have tried the artificial grass solution and it can help with the muddy race track issue, but you do need to try to limit - or preferably stop - them peeing on it.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
We've always had dogs, they would never do as much as a wee in the garden always went to the gate to go outside. Children and dog poo not a good combination.
As big and wild as this garden is here, my dad would never let his GS out free range to use it as a toilet.
I agree with @Lyn