Dog-friendly backyard
May 1, 2010 8:09 PM Subscribe
What is the best backyard rock for our 3 dogs that will work for our house in Arizona?
My wife and I just moved into a new house in Arizona with a backyard that is currently all dirt. We have 3 dogs: 2 pitbulls (40lbs and 60lbs) and 1 mini dachshund (8lbs). We originally planned on having river rock (pea gravel) due to its smooth, rounded nature for the dogs' feet.
I started hearing that it may get too hot in the summer and also that it might make it tough for the little doxen to walk around. We are in search of a better solution or contradictions to what I've heard if that is incorrect.
We are most concerned with the rock not being too rough on the dogs' feet and also being easy to maintain (pick up after the dogs). We are working on a budget of up to $1,000 so we are looking for a relatively inexpensive solution. The estimate for our backyard with the pea gravel was about 10 tons and also included installing a few small trees and bushes.
My wife and I just moved into a new house in Arizona with a backyard that is currently all dirt. We have 3 dogs: 2 pitbulls (40lbs and 60lbs) and 1 mini dachshund (8lbs). We originally planned on having river rock (pea gravel) due to its smooth, rounded nature for the dogs' feet.
I started hearing that it may get too hot in the summer and also that it might make it tough for the little doxen to walk around. We are in search of a better solution or contradictions to what I've heard if that is incorrect.
We are most concerned with the rock not being too rough on the dogs' feet and also being easy to maintain (pick up after the dogs). We are working on a budget of up to $1,000 so we are looking for a relatively inexpensive solution. The estimate for our backyard with the pea gravel was about 10 tons and also included installing a few small trees and bushes.
Best answer: I'd think pea gravel might be great for this. Any rock or gravel will get hot. Pea gravel is small enough that your little doggies will be able to push through the top layer and get to the cooler underlayer just by walking on it.
As long as you only lay it a few inches deep at most, and not like 8 inches, I don't think they'd have a problem running around in it.
posted by sanka at 8:32 PM on May 1, 2010
As long as you only lay it a few inches deep at most, and not like 8 inches, I don't think they'd have a problem running around in it.
posted by sanka at 8:32 PM on May 1, 2010
Response by poster: @Sasstfras and sanka:
That is what we thought too but the two landscapers we spoke with were the ones that told us that it might not be best. I wasn't sure if they were being sincere or trying to upsell me to more expensive rock.
@jamaro:
Very interesting about the decomposed granite. I'll have to research that more but I am concerned about the level of dust that it might add. The whole reason we want to get away from just dirt out back (aside from the aesthetics of course) was to reduce the amount of dirt and dust being tracked back into the house by our dogs.
Thanks for the great feedback so far!
posted by chillax at 11:55 PM on May 1, 2010
That is what we thought too but the two landscapers we spoke with were the ones that told us that it might not be best. I wasn't sure if they were being sincere or trying to upsell me to more expensive rock.
@jamaro:
Very interesting about the decomposed granite. I'll have to research that more but I am concerned about the level of dust that it might add. The whole reason we want to get away from just dirt out back (aside from the aesthetics of course) was to reduce the amount of dirt and dust being tracked back into the house by our dogs.
Thanks for the great feedback so far!
posted by chillax at 11:55 PM on May 1, 2010
If you have wooden floors, decomposed granite will absolutely trash them.
posted by sanka at 8:04 AM on May 2, 2010
posted by sanka at 8:04 AM on May 2, 2010
Response by poster: We ended up going with pea gravel. After letting it settle and compact a bit our small dog has had no problem walking around on it. We rake it regularly to keep it from mounding up and making it too difficult for him to maneuver. We've had a few 100+ days and so far they have been able to walk out on it without burning their paws.
They definitely enjoyed the dirt more but our house is much cleaner now that we have put the rock in.
posted by chillax at 7:53 AM on June 2, 2010
They definitely enjoyed the dirt more but our house is much cleaner now that we have put the rock in.
posted by chillax at 7:53 AM on June 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Sassyfras at 8:16 PM on May 1, 2010