Are you concerned your dog will react differently to your new artificial grass?
Many of my customers often worry that their dog won’t like the feel, smell or look of artificial turf. And because it’s a considerable investment to make, they want to be sure their pets will be happy before committing to having it installed in their garden.
The good news is that in all my experience as an artificial grass installer, we’ve never once had this problem. And in most cases, the only real difference you’ll find is that your dog will no longer try to dig up your garden!
Let me explain why we think dogs react so favourably to artificial grass, below.
What makes artificial grass so appealing to dogs?
In my experience, dogs tend to find artificial grass soft and enjoyable to play on, and seem to love running about on it as soon as we’ve finished the installation. In fact, we’ve never had any issue with pets reacting badly to artificial grass. Another bonus is that it heats up slightly in the sun, which just happens to be ideal for pets to take a nap on!
Because there’s no mud like a real lawn, and it’s made up of synthetic material, dogs won’t try to dig it up. And although it’s perfectly safe for your pet to urinate and defecate as usual, some of our customers have even said they don’t use it for that purpose as much as they did with a natural lawn.
Many homeowners actually cite their pets as the main reason for purchasing artificial grass, as it means no more sad faces at the window when it’s raining as the grass is unusable. And because artificial grass has a soft and springy feel, it’s fun to play on all year round.
Is all artificial grass completely dog-friendly?
Most good quality artificial grass products should be pet-friendly (here’s why), but you should always check with your installer first. You should also be able to read their reviews and testimonials, and look at images from the installer’s previous work. Usually there are many photos with dogs running around or taking a nap on it.
It’s also extremely durable, so your dog won’t be able to pull it apart, or eat it. Just check your artificial grass has a high stitch rate and gauge, along with a strong backing and invisible joins. This should help to ensure it can withstand even the most unruly of dogs.
Although we’ve never been called back to a job due to pets ruining a fake lawn, you may still be concerned that your dog will try to pull up the grass at the edges. In which case, there are two options that can be put in place during the installation:
- The introduction of round, galvanised pins around the perimeter of the grass. These will hold the grass in place, and should be installed so deep into the grass and sub-base that pets wouldn’t be able to dig them up.
- Nailing the grass edge to a timber border. Timber borders are usually installed for decorative effect if homeowners want a clean edge to add decorative chips or plants around the border. Again, these nails are so far down and hidden that pets wouldn’t be able to dig up the edges or get hurt with the nails.
These options should give you ultimate peace of mind that your grass will always stay in place. Some homeowners also opt for these safeguards if they live in areas with high winds.
Conclusion
I hope this blog has been helpful when worrying about whether your dog will react differently to artificial grass. In our experience, pets love the soft and springy feel of a fake lawn, and love being able to play on it 365 days a year. No more sad faces at the window when it’s raining!
Just be sure to check with your installer that your artificial grass will be completely pet-friendly, along with the installation process they plan to use. Reading reviews and testimonials can also help give you peace of mind that your pet will get on with your grass.
Do you have any questions about how your dog can use artificial grass? Simply pop me a question below – I promise to reply!
