[DOGS] Gravel, tiles or..? Advise appreciated!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 09:21

RE gravel: "Where to purchase gravel to cover membrane?" http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/31252.asp

We have two dogs that play in the "garden" - now knee high grass and weeds after the rain... We want to do something about it. What do other dog owners advise: gravel or tiles or..? Phone numbers, prices etc are welcome!

cyprusjoker


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 09:51

Why do you have DOGS in brackets? is this question for dogs. We have shingle and its easy to pick up espically when weather is warmer if you know what i mean. would prefer tiles but depends on your budget i spose.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:08

RE msg 2, cyprusjoker: Thanks for your answer. I put DOGS between brackets because I'm not especially interested in answers from people who keep elephants or mice in their garden.

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:18

Han's,

Tile (slab) is better but more expensive to start with - on the up side you don't have to weed slabs! Gravel - you know we have lots of it - is ok provided you put something under it to stop the weeds (well slow them down at least) but it is hard on the dog's pads. Happy medium is gravel and tiles then you will find the dogs walking around on the tile path's most of the time.



Tiles (concrete colored patio type slabs) cost me 10TL a square metre, that's about 5 slabs for 10 TL. I have just bought gravel and because I can not get anything bigger than a tipper truck down our lane I could only buy 3 ton, cost me 120TL for 3 ton - expensive I know but where you are you could get it lots cheaper, there is a thread on here that sells 25 ton for 450TL! 25 ton should only take you about 2 months to shift!!!!!



I have put slabs down onto soil and onto sand and onto cement - it depends on how much work you want to do.

yorgozlu



Joined: 16/06/2009
Posts: 4437

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:23

msg3;

Navek



Joined: 01/06/2008
Posts: 2656

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:27

Hi DutchCrusader,

Both my neighbours have tiles where their dogs are left to run.

Which would mean retrieving any discarded objects easier to find and lift.

If you have gravel etc, when retrieving some unwanted objects,

it would like lifting an ice cream that had been dipped in "hundreds and thousands" )))

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprinkles

Tiles are best, but would then depend on your budget.

Another neighbour has two tortoises, and one hedgehog, but they are on gravel.

Good luck in your quest,

Navek

cyprusjoker


Joined: 29/08/2009
Posts: 1107

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:43

Dutchcrusader dont be silly. no one keeps elephants or mice in their garden, i just cant wait to see whatever attachment you find now to prove me wrong

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 10:54

Cyprusjoker. Even sillier. I kept ten elephants in my garden in Holland. Then we planted strawberries in that garden so we could easier spot the elephants.

roblyn


Joined: 21/11/2008
Posts: 144

Message Posted:
09/03/2010 22:32

Thankyou for message 3 DutchCrusader.I'm still chuckling at your reply to mess 2.

We had a gravelled garden in the UK it could be a bit sticky collecting deposits left by our dogs.

I used to pour a little disinfectant on the area followed by kettle of hot water.quite easy to keep clean

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 09:28

Any other ideas out there?

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 16:16

Just arrived last month with our dog on a gravel garden thank god its a rented house, If I ever get my own house finished I will definately NOT have gravel in the garden.

Also, as the dog gets older they suffer atharitis in their feet and lets and gravel can be painful

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 16:23

[Message] 3







Don't have a dog so can't comment.

britvic



Joined: 05/09/2008
Posts: 3039

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 16:28

................................But cats, they dig the gravel, do their business, then re-gravel!

spider


Joined: 03/01/2009
Posts: 5527

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 16:55

Spider is on the floor,legs a going.. ))))) Hans we have both,and thank god they dont do anything on the tiles round the pool,Keep a little bit of doggy garden just for them,and if you put their deposits on their own little bit they should start to go their.most of the time it works..





Spider,X

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 17:37

I have tiles, and i must say, that although it's easier to pick up the poo, after long term use, the urine tends to soak into the tile, especially if the dog uses the same place all the time, and can cause a rather unpleasant smell. Plenty of disinfectant and a daily wash should help, but in summer with the water shortages, you may get into trouble for seemingly wasting water.



DD

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 17:38

Re: Msg 10 & 11,

I do agree with Katymackem. Our arthritic dog had to be carried over the gravel as it was too painful for him even to step on it, let alone walk.

In my garden I removed membrane only after 1 year because of all the weeds sprouting ABOVE the membrane after rain. And it takes AGES as you can not use a hoe and have to do it bending or on your knees (hurts!!!).

Couple of weeks ago in a gardening magazine gravel gardens were classified as very high maintenance!

In my garden I have paving slabs and a little bit of grass ( I know, not an option in Cyprus), as our dog likes to roll in it.

So my advice would be: think about gravel carefully , because if you change your mind later it is a pig to remove!

Regards,

Clarissa

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 18:11

Sheesh! After all the hints and tips: two dogs need to be rehomed (not!).

waddo


Joined: 29/11/2008
Posts: 1966

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 18:37

Han's, train them to carry their blankets around from spot to spot instead of barking to make you do it - then you won't need slabs or gravel!



There is no easy answer, apart from some gravel, some slabs, some mud and constant brushing and mopping up afterwards - its great, now try chickens!!!

spanna


Joined: 12/01/2009
Posts: 544

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 18:54

Hey Hans... Just train them to pee on someone else's patch - hey presto!!! ;) Just make sure they do it in the small hours when no-one's looking!!!



Just kidding... obviously!! We are just having gravel put down and will have some slabs and pathways too... I have been informed by a gardener friend of ours that the weed problem tends only to arise when too little gravel is used and the overlap on the membrane is insufficient. He suggested at least 3-4 inches of gravel is needed to avoid weeds. He said you may still get the odd one or two if it is particularly wet but these will be on top of the membrane so should be easy to remove if 'plucked' as they arise.



We have a dog and she does seem to quite happily walk on anyone's gravel when she escapes!! Sorry neighbours!! But then, she is only a youngster so couldn't comment otherwise.



Good luck with your decision!!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 19:01

RE msg 19, spanna: (...) Hey Hans... Just train them to pee on someone else's patch - hey presto!!! ;) Just make sure they do it in the small hours when no-one's looking!!! (...)

=> Where do you live, spanna..?!

=> Thanks for your answer!

littleme


Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 19:19

My great grandfather had an elephant in his garden 100% true

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 19:29

Hans we put gravel done for our zoo, and the buggers ripped the membrane under apart, your two would possibly do the same.The best bet was thier walks where they did the biz, however where they tore it apart the weeds well thats another story, no amount of killer would killit xxxxxxx

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 21:21

Lilli. What do you think of the latest from the government in the UK, every dog owner to take out insurance costing up to £600 a year in case the dog attacks anyone, and every dog will have to to chipped. Apparantly more than 100 people are treated in hospital for dog attacks every week. Can't see the yobs who have their dangerous dogs for protection will bother having insurance and the dog chipped, do you? The real dog lovers will have to pay the price.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 21:33

Thyank you, Woodspeckie, for bringing this thread back to the top. And now back to the subject title: "[DOGS] Gravel, tiles or..? Advise appreciated!"

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 21:52

Hans. That's me told off then!

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 21:56

Hans - my Dutch friend - I know you (of all people) will appreciate this (my pedant hat is on) - it's advice



J



Advise is the verb

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 21:59

Thank you for your advise (says my American spellchecker in my Camino browser for Apple Macintosh), Jeannie... (Probably seen as anti-British, I suppose..?).

spanna


Joined: 12/01/2009
Posts: 544

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 22:00

Hans,



> Where do you live, spanna..?! <



That would be telling!!!! It's top secret!! ;)



Back to the top!



I'd like to know people's advice too... I think Lilli is right though - making sure they get plenty of walks and time out to do their business is probably the best plan! Dogs are born to dig... I guess it's a part of life!!! :( We try and make sure our Daisy has plenty to chew and plenty to keep her occupied... but for digging - I know of no cure!!!

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 22:01

Perhaps he was advising me not to post on his topic.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
10/03/2010 22:05

Hmm. I'm confused now. Is this right in the English language: “Advice” is the noun, “advise” the verb. When someone on this board advises people, he/she gives them advice. Then why does my spellchecker keeps changing what I write?! Jeannie, you're a troublemaker!

HildySmith


Joined: 02/07/2009
Posts: 1708

Message Posted:
11/03/2010 20:07

Just put 25 sacks full of weeds out for the binmen this week from the gravel garden and there is still more to come.

My neighbour came over and said that the council had been knocking on my door, when I said I wonder what they want, he said -

'they were all waving white flags in surrender'

I definately won't be having gravel (if Cafer ever comes out of hiding and finishes our house)

BoTanica


Joined: 22/12/2009
Posts: 714

Message Posted:
11/03/2010 20:17

Natural garden is best. The weeds are here in the cooler wetter weather, but soon die back. I hate grey gravel, and the weeds form a carpet to stop the dog getting muddy feet. The garden is a mess at the moment - but I am very patient, I have lived here for years and always let nature take its course...............