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By Matthew Impelli
Life & Trends Reporter
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A pet owner says the lawn in their garden has been turned into what can only be described as a mud-splattered battlefield by two excited dogs—a story that’s resonating across the internet.
On Reddit, user PrizeTruck8524 shared two photos showing the dramatic transformation of their backyard lawn over the course of six months.
What was once a grassy area has been worn away to mud after repeated play sessions between their two Lurchers, with the original poster (OP) describing it as “destroyed.”
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"They play fight constantly, and their paws might as well be mini shovels," the OP wrote, adding that the dogs need to be cleaned every time they come back inside because their paws get covered in mud.
"We’ve looked into artificial grass and would be willing to pay for it, except we’ve heard that their claws will do just as much damage to fake grass as they have done on the real grass," they continued.
"We have also considered paving the whole thing, but that would be quite pricey."
The OP concluded the post by asking other Reddit users for affordable ideas that could help fix the yard.
Why Active Dogs Can Ruin Lawns
Large and energetic breeds often wear down grass quickly, especially in wet conditions. When dogs run the same routes across a yard, their paws gradually strip away grass and expose the soil beneath.
One Reddit user noted, “Big dogs, a relatively small garden and winter rain will never be pretty. I think a lawn and those two dogs would be a full-time job.”
They suggested altering the layout of the garden to redirect how the dogs move through the space.
'Limit destruction'
“A possible but costlier solution could be raised beds," they noted. "You might want to put sides on them to prevent your beauties from jumping up and injuring themselves.
"But breaking up the flow of the garden by adding obstacles can provide entertainment and limit destruction.
"Perhaps create a final run that guides them through something to remove at least some of the mud.”
Alternative Ground Cover
Several commenters suggested replacing grass with materials better suited for heavy dog activity.
“We put pea shingle down," one contributor wrote. "The girls can run on it if they want to, and it doesn't get muddy. Bonus point was that I could sell the mower!”
Another commenter advised, “Put down bark chipping—they’ll enjoy scratching in it, and it’ll save all the mud and keep your garden draining better than if you pave it or do artificial grass.”
Other options the OP could use to help prevent further damage include cedar mulch, which may need to be paired with garden edging stakes to be held in place.
They could also look into plastic garden mesh to lie on the bed of their garden to hopefully prevent the dogs from digging holes.
Doggy Drama
This isn't the first time a pet damaging outdoor spaces has attracted online attention.
One previous Newsweek story reported on a viral TikTok video that showed a puppy's nonchalant reaction to digging up the entire backyard.
The video shows grass and dirt dug up and scattered, while Bear rests inside, blissfully unaware of the extent of the upheaval.
Another Newsweek story covered a TikTok video showing a dog with “no shame” after walking all over the owner’s DIY concrete project.
Newsweek has reached out to PrizeTruck8524 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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