I have the question of the ages; What is the BEST, MOST DURABLE grass seed for yards with LARGE ACTIVE dogs? In Virginia I used REBEL Seed, but I am in Nebraska and I doubt if I can even get that here, much less that it would do well here in the midwest. Anyone got any recommendations?

Kevin,

I don't have a personal recommendation since both my GSD's are trained to go in the designated, gravel doggy-doo area but I know the Scotts Lawn website has a discussion forum with alot of the same questions. Might find some answers there. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
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For LARGE, ACTIVE dogs... MOST, DURABLE.. go with a gravel or concrete lawn..j/k. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Scott's Lawn has a discussion forum?

I can imagine the riviting discussions THEY must have!

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You should see the show vs working grass forum... pretty heated <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I know, I know! But Somebody out there HAS to still have a pretty nice lawn, even though they have a large, active breed zipping through the yard taking up grass by the chunk.
One of you has to have managed this! I love my boys to death, but there has to be a way for me to not have a mudhole of a yard. This was idea here, I know this isn't a "turf builder" site , but asking you people made more sense than asking someone that just has a nice yard, with just Fee-fee the poodle tipsying around the tree. Make sense?

...dogs...tear up lawns...?

That'll be a dilemma when we move from this apartment to a house.

I can no longer say "The cat did it!" >.<

I have this same problem - but with 2 big dogs on a small lawn in the city. I'll check out the scott lawn forum.. hehe, I'm not to proud to ask for advice <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

For the moment, I've purchased a mix of Kentucky blue grass (supposedly among the toughest varieties) and some rye (?) grass that is faster growing and am going to try to re-seed the lawn 1/2 at a time to see how it goes. supposedly the rye grows faster to cover the blue grass seeds so the birds don't eat them.

If it doesn't work, I may install some of that artificial turf.. lol

I did come across this quote, "I would recommend a Tall Fescue type of grass seed. This seed is very good for high traffic areas and is used on many athletic fields. As with any grass type, constant traffic will eventually kill off certain sections. I would highly recommend two aerations per season (spring/fall) to ease compaction, with an overseeding after the 2nd one (schedule it for the first week in September each year) of any bare areas. Don't forget starter fertilizer when you plant your seed.

Good luck this season!"

http://forums.lawncare.com/forum/message...mp;keyword1=dog

I have totaly given up on grass in my back yard. It is all mulch and creek bed rock now. I have three kids as well as two GSD's <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

If you happen to find the answer to this PLS post it, my back yard seems to have turned into a mud monster when it rains, 4 kids and two full grown GS have killed then grass down the middle of the lawn, and each dog seems to LOVE to run one of the fence lines so i have a 3 foot wide length of mud down both sides of the yard!
Thanks

In Florida St. Augustine grass is good because it's thick and it spreads on its own. Bahia didn't work for me because it's not as durable and once bare spots were created my dogs began to dig there. I don't have that problem with St. Augustine. But I have no idea if that type of grass is an option in Virginia.

By the way, if you can see where your dogs are going to create a path through the grass you might consider making their path into a paved path. We have a doggie door from out screened patio to the backyard and eventually we picked up some colored and textured concrete squares and created an attractive pathway.