Artificial Turf for Dogs | Choosing the Right Turf for Your Pup

Choosing artificial turf that both you and your dog will enjoy can seem overwhelming at first, especially with so many options and opinions out there. At Purchase Green, we’ve helped many customers find turf solutions that work well for pets and people alike, so in today’s post, we’re bringing you our top tips and PG know-how to arm you with the knowledge you need.

But first, we’d like to introduce you to the inspiration for this post. Meet S’mores the puppy!

S’mores was our special guest at the office last week. He mainly trundled around seeking belly rubs, causing a moderate amount of puppy mayhem (as pictured), and inevitably looking for a place to snooze. After endeavoring to make his stay a bit more comfortable with a bed of turf samples, we were inspired to write today’s post, walking you through the process of choosing the right artificial turf for your four-legged friend, just as we do with our customers. (We also wanted a reason to post a picture of a puppy on our website.) *ahem* Let’s jump in!

If you’re thinking about installing artificial turf for your dog, you’ll want to consider both the turf itself and the infill. 

1. The Turf.

Yep, it’s safe.

Many pet owners are concerned about possible hazards to their pet’s health – particularly lead. So, first things first: Purchase Green products are tested in the U.S., are verified safe for humans and animals alike, and are lead free. 

You might think, “Ok, that’s great, but there’s still a zillion different types, so… a little help here?” Glad you asked! Let’s break it down.

Keep it short, keep it dense.

In general, we find that short high-density grasses are preferred by dog owners. This makes for easy cleanup. To that end, stay away from plush grasses, since they’re tall, and grasses like groundcover that are low in density.

Right, short and dense narrows it down a little. Now, let’s consider what your dog will be doing out there on the grass.

Traffic level and durability.

For example, if you’re installing turf where your two large rambunctious dogs play, you’ll probably want grass with good memory, meaning it always returns to its original shape, and high durability, which is a combination of several factors, including blade thickness, blade material, and backing system.

On the other hand, let’s say you’ve got one small dog who mostly lies around. A softer, more natural-feeling grass might be the better choice for this pup.

The cool factor.

Many pet owners have legitimate concerns about the temperature of artificial turf. Yes, it can get pretty warm, but don’t worry. We’ve got work-arounds.

First, artificial grass only warms up when exposed to direct sunlight. Believe it or not, air temperature has no effect on grass. It could be 115 degrees out, and as long as the turf isn’t in the sun, it’ll feel pretty cool.

Second, it takes direct, intense sunlight – the kind which only occurs between 11AM and 2PM – to heat up turf. You won’t experience it if you and your pet aren’t going to be outside at that time.

Third, we incorporate CoolYarn technology into many of our grasses. This reduces the temperature by up to 15% and is usually enough to make it comfortable at all times and in all seasons.

With this information, you have been equipped with everything you need to choose the right grass for your pet or pets. But… we’re not done yet!

2. The Infill

Oh good! This section is short! Even so, infill can make or break an artificial turf installation. If you’re not familiar with it, infill is a sand-like substance that supports grass blades and prevents matting. In pet applications, however, it also has to deodorize and sanitize, both of which our Zeolite, MellowFill, and HeroFill infills do. Silica Sand, on the other hand, traps and collects odors and microbes, so it’s a decidedly BAD MATCH for pet applications.

Next steps

There you have it! We hope this breakdown has given you some clarity as you seek the best turf for your pet. Of course, there’s a lot more that goes into deciding exactly which turf is for you  than we could ever fit in a simple blog post, so we highly encourage you to visit one of our stores, talk with our experts, and get a feel for the solutions available to you. We’ll happily provide a free estimate too! We look forward to working with you, and have a great day!

P.S. And remember, “What would S’mores choose?”

Got questions? Give us a ring at 844-877-3444 and we’ll be happy to help!