I've got a little dilemma with my backyard gravel. My senior dog, who recently passed away, preferred peeing on the gravel instead of walking to the grass. Now that we have a 7-year-old dog and a new puppy, I'm trying to stop them from using that same spot. The puppy tends to go there a lot, and we sometimes have to carry him to avoid it, but I'm looking for ways to completely eliminate the smell so he doesn't feel the need to mark that area. Would putting new gravel on top, spraying vinegar, or rinsing with water help? I want to avoid harsh chemicals if possible. Any suggestions?
4 Answers
You should definitely try using an enzyme-based product like 'Nature's Miracle.' It breaks down the urine and removes the scent, which helps keep your puppy from being attracted to that spot. Just as a note, vinegar and ammonia only dilute the smell but won't really eliminate it.
When I had the same issue, I replaced the rocks and it helped, but dogs can still smell past that. A temporary fence might help keep your puppy away from those spots. Training is key; if the older dog pees there, the puppy might just follow suit.
One great option is to wash the gravel or even replace it, but just a heads up, the smell might have seeped below into the base material. It might be worth starting some training for your dogs to steer them away from that area!
A cool trick I've used is placing an outdoor water bowl right next to that gravel spot. If your puppy gets used to the bowl, it might help divert him from peeing on the gravel. Also, don’t stress too much; gravel pretty much gets rinsed with rain, so it's not as bad as it seems!
Totally agree! I’ve been keeping an eye on them, especially since the older dog didn’t seem to have the habit until the end.