Artificial grass for dogs, and why the backing matters
Check the backing before the pile. A perforated latex backing drains urine straight through to the stone base below, which is what stops the smell. Solid backing traps it.
- Pile
- 25mm
- Infill
- Silica sand, never rubber
- Backing
- Perforated
- From
- R159/m²
Keeping it clean
- Pick up solids as you would on real grass.
- Rinse the used area weekly with a hose.
- Rinse with an enzyme cleaner monthly if more than one dog uses it.
- Brush the pile against the lean every few weeks.
Kennel disinfectant is unnecessary and strips the infill. Water does the work.
What it costs for a dog run
| Area | Size | Installed |
|---|---|---|
| Side passage run | 15 m² | R2 385 |
| Small back garden | 40 m² | R6 360 |
| Full back garden | 80 m² | R12 720 |
Dog runs are usually part of a larger job. See the full price list or how the base is built.
Questions about dogs and turf
Is artificial grass good for dogs?
Yes. The backing drains straight through, so urine washes away instead of sitting in the pile. Dogs cannot dig through a properly pinned lawn, and nothing turns to mud in winter.
Does dog urine make artificial grass smell?
Urine smells where it cannot drain. A perforated backing over a free-draining base clears it with a weekly rinse. Rubber crumb infill holds odour, so we use silica sand instead.
Will my dog dig it up?
A lawn fixed on a timber perimeter resists digging. Dogs dig at edges, not in the middle, so the perimeter fixing is what matters.
Is astro turf good for dogs?
Yes, and astro turf is usually the right choice for a dog. The word normally means the short dense sports pile, and short pile is exactly what stands up to paws and drains fastest.
Which pile height suits dogs?
25mm at R159 per square metre. Short dense pile springs back under paws where long pile flattens into runs along fence lines.