K9 Yard Patch

Here are some hints to help minimize dog damage to your lawn:

• Allow your dog access to plenty of water throughout the day – and then -
• Allow your dog frequent opportunities to relieve themselves. The longer your dog “holds it” the more concentrated the urine will be and the greater the chance the spot chosen will suffer damage.

Consider creating a specific “pee-patch” area for your dog. Almost every yard has a seldom used area (too shady, narrow area between house and fence etc, odd shape for other use, etc).

Prepare the site:

• Depending on your landscape design style, cordon off the area with inexpensive planters, storage benches or pre-made low fencing. A storage bench is great because you can keep your doggy “clean up” tools in there, out of sight.
• Consider purchasing a “pee post” from your pet supply store. This is a post which has been infused with a chemical that says to dogs “this is the place to pee!”.
• Be sure there is nothing “scary” or harmful about the site like high noise from equipment, sharp rocks, glass or nails. This area should provide a safe, pleasant experience for your dog.

Train your dog:

• Allow Fido to explore the area and be comfortable with the change to “his” yard before you start training.
• Wait until Fido truly “needs” to go out. You don’t want to wait too long…but you do want to be sure Fido is totally focused on doing “biz” and nothing else.
• Snap on a leash and hustle Fido out to the new pee-patch. Depending on your dog, you will have to be firm and use patience – no matter how much Fido may want to go over to another area, don’t allow it! Fido should need to go just enough that you shouldn’t have to wait long for “biz” to be completed.
• Now – the BEST part – praise the heck out of Fido! Let your dog know with the happiest voice possible that he has done a good thing! Depending on what “turns your dog on”, offer a small treat or toy that only happens as a reward at the pee-patch.

Train yourself!

• Be consistent in your training – everyone in the household needs to follow the program.
• Different dogs learn at different rates so patience may be necessary. Generally speaking, within 1-2 weeks, your leashed dog should be heading to the pee-patch automatically. When this happens, stop using the leash while still accompanying Fido to the pee-patch. Continue to praise, but gradually withdraw the reward, offering it only randomly just to remind your dog that “pee-patch equals good things”.

Yes, your dog may occasionally lapse if you waited too long to let him out, there is a high distraction (20 people came over for a picnic!), there have been other changes to the area (you remodeled and added a deck) or if the dog has experienced a major health issue. If so, don’t shout or use physically punishment! A single, sharp “No!” should be enough to let Fido know he’s goofed. Needless to say, there is simply no praise, treat or toy. Quietly take Fido back in the house and then go back to the leash until Fido is back on track.

All dogs occasionally need retraining regardless of the desired behavior (sit, fetch, come). If Fido does lapse: immediately repair the area with K9 Yard Patch.

Remember:

• Remember to keep a bag handy for neighbor dogs that damage your front lawn or parking strip!
• Keep a bag of K9 Yard Patch handy for the occasional repair – the faster you repair the damage the less impact to your whole lawn!

Filed under: Tips & Tricks by admin