How to make a DIY Dog Run to save your dog’s feet + yard

A dog run is an easy DIY solution for a yard that’s been extremely well enjoyed.

If you’ve got a dog, a fence, and a yard smaller than a football field, chances are your dog has burned trails into your awesome grass.

Those bare spots—along the fence, by the gate, at the deck stairs—become become Insta-mud when it rains or snows.

And that mud ends up on your dog, shoes, and in the house.

Replanting grass is futile. But there’s an easy DIY landscape fix that’s good for your yard, your carpet and your dog’s feet.

Every dog I’ve known loves to race along the fence line. Replacing the grass with pea gravel is a sweet solution that your dog will love.

Dig in. One approach is to dig out the sod and a few inches of soil.

1. Install a border to contain the stones and keep them out of the grass.

2. Add a line of Western Red Cedar 2x10s set on edge (the tall way) about 4-feet out from the fence.

3. Install it so it’s about four inches above the grass to contain the stones. Note: if you install it flush to the grass, the stones will get kicked all over the place when the dog run is being used.

4. Add about six inches of stone between the fence and the border. This is a lot of digging and dirt to get rid of. 5. You may also have to add boards to the bottom of the fence, but it’ll integrate with the landscape nicely and there’s lots of dirt and rocks to help support the boards on both sides.

Build up. Another approach is to build the dog run up above the grass.

1. Set the 2x10s the same way.

2. Leave a few inches of the board above the stone to help contain it.

3. Drive stakes into the ground every 3 feet or so before adding stone to help support the board.

4. Near gates, deck, stairs and other high-traffic doggie quick stops, add blue stone pavers big enough that your dog can stop and stand and move around on. This will help manage mud on the dog run.

You may be able to train your dog to do his business on the stone. The acid in the pee and poop that pockmark your grass are harmless to the stone. The pee can be hosed down and the poop is easier to scoop.

Finally, the stone is good for their pads. Your dog’s pads should be callused, like a carpenter’s hands. It protects them from sharp stuff on the street or in the woods.

DIY dog run done.