[TheWarriors]

No, there is just common sense.

[Lanieb]

[QUOTE=robstarzxc;2376360]

Labs are large, they need a lot of excercise. Take it to one of the many doggie parks around.

[ChilePepper]

I bought my fenced-in villa specifically because I had a German Shepherd. I have no grass. Only rocks and concrete. Although, she had no problem using the rocks to do her business. I ultimately gave her away to a vet assistant because I didn't like her being in those conditions since we moved from a huge property in Alabama where she loved to run and dig. She now lives on a farm with other German Shepherds.

[yporter]

Originally Posted by robstarzxc

We recently purchased a home in the village with a fully enclosed fence, unfortunately there's no lawn for our yellow lab. My plans are to put artificial turf/carpet either over the concrete slabs or the gravel area. That being said both seem to have positives and negatives. Any help would be appreciated.

concrete: flat surface but has the epoxy paint, not sure if urine with go through it. Will the Florida heat melt the turf backing to the epoxy concrete.

gravel area: hard to lay carpet on rocky surface, thinking I would have to lay down sand and stake carpet down over it

For years (up north) I had a very large dog and a very small back yard grass area, and trained him to urinate on a gravel (several inches of sandy 9s, small gravel mixed with sand) over dirt area to prevent dead grass patches in the minimal lawn. I found that even with daily rinses and deodorizing regularly, I needed to remove and replace the first several inches of underlying dirt several times; don't remember if it was once a year, or every 2 or 3 years. This is obviously in combination with daily walks (yes, bags in pocket). I'm sure that the smaller the dog, the more successful this strategy. Astroturf over concrete would not have worked at all - the odor would have been staggering without the dirt under the gravel to soak into and disperse.

[dguerini]

Originally Posted by robstarzxc

We recently purchased a home in the village with a fully enclosed fence, unfortunately there's no lawn for our yellow lab. My plans are to put artificial turf/carpet either over the concrete slabs or the gravel area. That being said both seem to have positives and negatives. Any help would be appreciated.

concrete: flat surface but has the epoxy paint, not sure if urine with go through it. Will the Florida heat melt the turf backing to the epoxy concrete.

gravel area: hard to lay carpet on rocky surface, thinking I would have to lay down sand and stake carpet down over it

When we moved here about a year ago, we had a birdcage built that included an area of concrete and a raised bed. It's called a raised bed, but is just a gravel area for the dogs to do their business. We regularly spray the gravel to eliminate odor. Here's the product we use:

Amazon.com

[DonnaNi4os]

Originally Posted by robstarzxc

We recently purchased a home in the village with a fully enclosed fence, unfortunately there's no lawn for our yellow lab. My plans are to put artificial turf/carpet either over the concrete slabs or the gravel area. That being said both seem to have positives and negatives. Any help would be appreciated.

concrete: flat surface but has the epoxy paint, not sure if urine with go through it. Will the Florida heat melt the turf backing to the epoxy concrete.

gravel area: hard to lay carpet on rocky surface, thinking I would have to lay down sand and stake carpet down over it

Dogs adapt quickly. I was concerned that my yard was stone. The breeder told me to look around. She didn’t have grass either. Mine uses the yard with no problems. Obviously yours is used to grass but in time he will get used to his new environment. Welcome to The Villages where our dogs are our kids.

[lucyemmi@icloud.com]

As per my concrete installer, back when I lived up north, dog urine on concrete will cause pitting and spalling. I found this out after the damage was done.

[RRGuyNJ]

Didn't someone recently get called on the carpet because they didn't "Kiss the ring" and get ARC approval for artificial turf? I would start with them to see if it's OK.

[kendi]

Originally Posted by Grinchie

There are many district-owned grassy areas nearby. I have a grass yard for my dog, but she still needs to sniff the air, smell everything & have a walk (with doggie bag at hand).

Very nice except in bad weather or if owner is feeling too sick to walk to the grassy areas.

[bmcgowan13]

This is certainly a bit off-topic but it sort of relates to our weather this week.

I purchased a few of the cheap vinyl shower curtains from WalMart ($3 each). Today I will stop at Lowes on the way home and purchase two squares of sod. I place the large plastic liner in my garage (we park one car outside for a getaway anyway) and place the two squares of sod on top.

It took about two seconds for our dogs to sniff the grass and mark the sod in the garage. Now--we don't even have to go outside to relieve them when the storm is bad. We toss the liner--and we usually find a spot in the yard we can re-sod a bare spot.

It's only for a day or two at most and we haven't had any smells to deal with. We are out $6 per storm but that seems to be worth it for us.

Good luck y'all...

[TomSpasm]

Check your deed restrictions, they almost certainly prohibit artificial turf (mine do), even in the back yard. The issue is drainage, not aesthetics.

Go here to find your deed restrictions - http://https://www.districtgov.org/d...ptedRules.aspx

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by robstarzxc

We recently purchased a home in the village with a fully enclosed fence, unfortunately there's no lawn for our yellow lab. My plans are to put artificial turf/carpet either over the concrete slabs or the gravel area. That being said both seem to have positives and negatives. Any help would be appreciated.

concrete: flat surface but has the epoxy paint, not sure if urine with go through it. Will the Florida heat melt the turf backing to the epoxy concrete.

gravel area: hard to lay carpet on rocky surface, thinking I would have to lay down sand and stake carpet down over it

Just use your neighbor's lawn like everyone else does. No one minds...

[Sandy and Ed]

Originally Posted by Jewelz

We have a courtyard villa with just cement and rocks and the dogs don’t mind using the rocks at all… And when it rains, it all gets rinsed away!

Ditto! We also have a CYV with zero grass. Our Lasa Apso has no problem relieving herself on the stone and we use “poop” bags to retrieve and discard. Urine soaks through. Really not a big deal. Even if your dog is use to grass, she/he will quickly learn to use the rock. Will also make it easier when you walk the dog since neighbors grass might be easier to avoid

[Velvet]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Just use your neighbor's lawn like everyone else does. No one minds...

They might not know you are being sarcastic…

[Bwanajim]

Get rid of the gravel and put down some grass!!