Grazing on grass that dogs go onto?

[kayemerton]

Hi all

We have a fairly large garden and patio but we have 2 border collies that will wee on there if they aren't taken for a walk around the fields. As I am in the process of getting Guineas in the next month it just dawned on me that somewhere someone had mentioned you can't stick Guineas on grass where dogs may have done a wee? Any suggestions? If that is the case not quite sure what we shall do, may have to turf an area just for them!

Thanks

 

[skrikopanik]

I wouldn't like to eat something that someone else weed on... . Could you maybe fence off part of the lawn so that the dogs can't wee everywhere? You won't need to sow new grass, a few rains will wash it clean...

 

[fritsthegirl]

I'd go with fencing off a small area for the guineas too, depending on the size of your lawn and run, I would say if you corner off 3 times the run then you can let the grass grow back by rotating the cage every day or second day. Perhaps choose a long thin strip, to leave as much room as possible for your dogs. It's not just the wee that's a bit gross, but your dogs might poo on the lawn once in a while too. Even a small amount of poo will carry a lot bacteria and attract flies. Guineas can get fly strike which can be a fatal condition so best to keep the flies away as much as you can. We trained our dog not to go on parts of the lawn, she was very good about it. It only took a few days of supervision to stop her jumping into the forbidden area. The area was 'fenced' with a few thin wooden slats nailed onto posts that were about a foot high. She respected that fence...even though she could step over it.

 

[CiaraPatricia]

To be honest, I think it's ok as long as your dogs are vaccinated (especially lepto) and wormed. If there is a bit of dog poo then avoid that part, or scoop the poo and hose the grass or something.

Maybe I'm taking a risk, as my guinea pigs and dogs are in seperate bits of the garden (the dogs have half the garden fenced off) but when I'm outside I let the dogs have the full garden and they pee on the grass and sometimes poo. I usually just scoop the poo and don't use that part of the grass until a few days later when the rain has washed it away. I know there could still be bacteria but they don't poo there much cos when I let them out they usually run into the fields behind my house.

I do think dog poo is dangerous, but can anyone explain why dog pee is dangerous besides being gross?

 

[kayemerton]

Thank you, yes I was wondering more about the dangers of urine if any really. Of course it is gross and when they do poo it is cleared up straight away anyway as we have a toddler. To be honest the whole lawn is going to be returfed as in the winter the dogs used it a lot and its contaminated as far as I'm concerned and now my son is old enough to play outside i don't want him on the same grass. So dogs will have run of the grass when we are outside playing but on the patio fenced off when not.
Thanks for the advice on fencing off bit of the lawn