| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
OK, here's the scenario: I've got two dogs, one small, one medium, both VERY active and muscular for their size. I've fenced in most of my yard, they have the freedom to go in and out via doggie doors anytime. They do a GREAT job as "guard dogs", and take their "job" very seriously... consequently they are always running in and out, often at the inside perimeter of the fence, which has generally turned to mud with this craptastic weather. I've laid down straw in the yard wherever they tend to run, but even that's going to shiznit now- the big one just bulldozes all the straw into a pile at each end of his run anyhow. I'm trying to envision/engineer a durable, cost-effective treatment for this doggie dragstrip... Homie Depot has those rubber pavers, 18X18, for $7 each... my best guess is I'd have to pay close to $700 for enough of them... yikes! Maybe I could use some of that recycled rubber mulch, set with a border... that would give them a good surface to run on. But, since they're both male, part of their job is to "piss and kick", which would result in that rubber mulch going everywhere. I've got a few landscaping buddies, but I figured I'd post up here and get some feedback. Whenever it rains, the flooring gets a nice coating of muddy dog pawprints... gotta figure something out! Holler, and as always, thanks for any good input! | ||
| Reepicheep |
Golf ball sized creek rock maybe? | ||
| 86129squids |
My GF's brother works at a mulch/topsoil/rock/gravel company, gonna check them out. I need to build a surface that won't go away, but won't hurt the dog's paws either. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Chat chips mixed with sand to keep them loose. Small enough to not hurt their feet. Large enough that it wouldn't get tracked in. Fairly inexpensive. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Brad- I've seen some solid rubberized surfaces used in several locations (paths in a park, running tracks) that might work well, but I have no idea what they cost. I'll check with a couple of people at work who know more about them and pass whatever info I get along. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I put pea gravel down in a couple of the hard hit spots. It works but I need to add more to it every now and then. | ||
| Reepicheep |
OK, I give. Whats a chat chip? | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Reep, Limestone ground into small, pea gravel sized pieces. Usually used for chip and seal or asphalt. Usually a byproduct of mining but can just be a quarry product. Vulcan Materials down the street sells it.  | ||
| Ratbuell |
the gravel idea could serve 2 masters - durability, as well as "we should run somewhere else". Although...it plays hell with mowing when the season comes. My dogs have a "racetrack" about ten feet from the fence line (radio collars) - but come springtime and grass-growing weather, it all vanishes. How's drainage? Would it help if things were less-wet? | ||
| Ourdee |
Concrete slabs. | ||
| 86129squids |
I've got +- 130 linear feet along the fence line, estimating I'll need about a 2 foot width on the line. I'll probably look at their paths to the fence too. On one hand, I'd love to have grass grow there (aint gonna happen), on the other, if I DO lay down some kind of material, I'll have to deal with random grass growing through with herbicide. Well, I might try some of the same fabric weed barrier that I use in the garden. Gonna take some fair R&D, fo sho. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Nah, Roundup and you're good. | ||
| Skntpig |
Don't use rubber multch if it's recycled tires. It still has the metal cords. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Huh. Now I know. I think we are doing river rock (golf ball to baseball size). | ||
| Blks1l |
I've seen the rubber mulch at my daughters school play ground and also wondered about the wire. It looks like they pull the top layer off of the steel belts and then they also dye or paint the stuff, it seems like it serves its purpose in a playground but maybe not in a dog run. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
What about those concrete blocks with holes in that they use for parking areas. You know, the ones that the grass grows through. If you set them level you'll have no trouble mowing. | ||
| 86129squids |
Hmmm, dunno about those, Grumps- I'll look into those too. Thanks. | ||
| Sifo |
K9 grass? http://www.phillyfido.org/connector/dog-run-surfac e/ | ||
| 86129squids |
OK, just scanned through their site- pretty cool stuff! Thanks, Sifo! They've even done an installation at a location here in Knoxville, might go take a look. Kinda scared to look at the costs though, and dangit if it wouldn't look better than the rest of my yard!  | ||
| Sifo |
I was just looking through their site too. For the record, I don't know anything about it. Looking at the price of their "mats" is a bit shocking though. Maybe you get a better price per foot on a roll? |
