I am thinking of moving to a house which has a large amount of paved  and tarmaced area outside. I was considering the possibility of digging it up and replacing with grass when it occurred to me that covering it with artificial grass might be an option. Has anyone done this? does the grass provide a safe surface for dogs to run and jump on or is it still too hard for them? is it possible to stick it down well as i wouldn't want the dogs pulling it up.

Anyone?

surely this would be like having a pee soaked carpet, being on a solid surface there's nowhere for it and rain to soak away to or wash it away.

Good point. I hadnt thought about that.

OK so how important is a grass type surface in a garden for dogs? In this property I am considering there is a small amount of lawn but the vast majority of the outside area is concrete or tarmac. After investigating the practicalities digging all that up and replacing the topsoil and planting grass is likely to be very difficult and expensive. but if I dont then it means at least 70% of the area available to the dogs will be hard surfaces which they will presumably be running, jumping and playing on. Is this likely to be detrimental to their health or likely to cause joint problems etc? It would obviously be much cleaner than grass but I dont want to risk their health. Does anyone here keep their dogs on the majority of hard surfaces? It is quite a large garden so enough room for them to get up speed and run around, not just a small yard.

We now have no grass at all in the garden. Apart from flower borders everything else is either patio or gravel. It's not a huge garden, but there are areas where it's possible to get up some speed. I used to have two dogs that played about outside when younger, but no physical problems came from it. The current dog just accepts this as the norm. She has been taught to toilet in one small gravelled area which is easy to keep clean (firm poos certainly help) especially as there has been so much rain in recent months. We are surrounded by lots of good dog walks, so I have found that the dogs didn't play much outside anyway as they were well exercised.

Pretty much the same as Jodi. Ours is all paved, easier to keep clean with 6 of them, but they don't play out there really. I think if you're the type to want to enjoy the garden with them it may not be the best, but works fine for us. I don't spend any time out there other than to clean, if I want to be outside I'd rather be on the moor (and so would the pups) so it works fine :)

I guess this is what is worrying me. I do like to be outside with them. we play fetch and tug of war and I also do some agility. Obviously they wouldn't be able to do a lot of regular agility type jumping on a hard surface but would running up and down playing fetch be too hard on them? I am looking at a property with a larger garden so that I can do more with them outside hence the investigations into the surface.

I'm shortly getting rid of all grass, and the dogs don't get access to what we have anyway. 

We are reconcreting their area (at present it's concrete and slabs, and we have serious drainage issues with the ground under slabs as they were just plonked down one very wet winter), and putting in a soak away and gravel in part of it and the rest of the garden that doesn't have buildings on.

I have part dog area and part supposed garden that they only are allowed in on invitation.

So easy to clean area for dogs and you can have them in the grass area if you want when it's dry, and you can supervise toileting.

If you aren't interested in grass for yourself I don't think the dogs will miss it.  I would however, want softer surfaces for the types of activities you're talking about (if they were mine).  Have you thought about the type of surfaces they use in kids outside play areas?

As an aside - it shouldn't be too expensive to lift concrete.  Although you might find that the topsoil that will be pricy unless you buy in bulk ...

Grass is horrible when it rains -all it takes is a few dogs running on it and it instantly turns into mud and the grass gets ruined, and the dogs slide. Before we got rid of most of it, one winter we had to cover the ground with large pieces of wood as it was so dangerous to walk on the mud. I have concrete, flagstones and gravel in the back garden. The front garden has a concrete path then a gravel section then a fenced off grass area, which is ONLY used if it is dry outside. The area is big enough for the dogs to run and play. I know a fair few people who have done the same, have their lawn fenced off so it is only used when it isn't wet.

>Have you thought about the type of surfaces they use in kids outside play areas?

You could have bark (as long as it isn't cocoa shell, which is poisonous to dogs if eaten) in a designated training/agility area.

I too have mostly paved areas for every day use, we do have some lawn for dry days but I have the ability to close that off if it is very wet. Otherwise you are forever re-turfing churned up areas. is there any way you can split this large garden to give you the best of both worlds. If your dogs are anything like mine they only spend time out in the garden if they are with me choosing to follow me around the house most of the day !!
Aileen

I have just decided to have artificial grass. the company who are doing mine have done a number of rescue kennels in the south. Not sure if it went onto hard surfaces but maybe worth a chat . They also do the surfaces for play areas

The company I choose in the end was perfectly green in Sussex although he travels all over

I have artificial grass in my back garden, it's partially covering slabs, partially covering a soil/rough ground area where 2 sheds once stood. I have absolutely no drainage problems at all. If it rains on hard ground and the water runs away why would it not do the same with AG :-) If the ground has standing water already then you may have a problem. MY garden is on a very slight slope towards the drain, even in the worst rain I never have standing water.

My lot say it's great to play on, just like real grass and they are wimpy sighthounds :-)

As for sticking it down well I'm probably not the best person to ask that, I glued mine myself and am not generally known for thoroughness! Mine has lifted along one side in strong wind and I've been meaning for years to glue it back down. It's very heavy though so I wouldn't think dogs could lift it.

Thanks for all the opinions. I  dont really want real grass because of the mod problem. There is a smallish lawn whichtakes up approx 1/4 of the garden and then tarmac/ concrete and paving on the rest. I do like the idea of a paved garden as it will be clean what ever the weather, particularly as the house is a lot smaller than my current one but i just worry about whether the dogs could damage their joints if they run about on it too much. My dogs tend to be very active and run and play with each other. I also like to play fetch with them to help tire them out.

I did email a company (lazy Lawn) who have said the grass can be laid over tarmac if an underlay is used.I need to speak to them to find out a bit more about the underlay. What happens to dog pee and does it soften the surface a bit?

The stuff I bought from asgoodasgrass doesn't require an underlay or sand infilling.