...we inadvertently created a healthy ecosystem in which dog droppings are naturally and rapidly decomposed

Pet dog breeders Janine and Rod Smith are proud of the pleasant outlook their densely grassed dog runs offer. But there is much more on offer than aesthetic value alone: these well grassed runs also bring pleasure to their dogs, plus significant management economies.

You don’t need to be a dog owner to know that grass plays a big part in a dog’s life. Just take a look at your local park if you need convincing: sniffety-sniff and-some. Not surprisingly then, many breeders are keen to keep their runs grassed and the Smiths are no exception.

“Dogs love grass. It helps keep them entertained and active as they explore scents, add their own scents, bury and re-bury bones, or even dig holes. They are political and social creatures and the ground is a part of this. Plus their natural instinct is to toilet on an absorbent surface and grass is ideal for this. Then there are the other benefits grass gives, such as a cool surface to lie on when it gets hot, or grass for eating as a form of self medication.” [Read more...]