Our dogs appreciate our lawns as much as we do, though perhaps for different reasons. While we love our lawns for their looks, our canine pals enjoy them as a place to run, play, roll on their backs, and do their business. Here are a few simple tips that will help you keep your grass looking good and your dog safe and happy.

Don't Panic If Your Dog Eats Grass

You shouldn't be surprised if your dog sometimes eats grass and vomits. Most do that occasionally as a way to treat an upset stomach, and it would take more than a few mouthfuls of grass clippings to cause harm.

Repair and Prevent Dog Damage

Salts in your dog's urine can cause those familiar brown spots ringed by

dark green, fast-growing grass. Keeping the lawn mowed high will help lessen the effect, as will flushing the affected areas with water as soon as possible. Badly damaged spots will need to be repaired, however, with a seeding product like Scotts® EZ Seed® Dog Spot Repair that's specially designed to repair bare spots caused by dogs. It neutralizes those areas in your lawn burned by dog urine by minimizing the effects of the salts in the urine. For a more permanent and convenient solution, create a mulched area at the back of your yard and train your dog to go there.

Feed Your Lawn Regularly

Feeding your lawn on a regular schedule (4 times a year is best for most grasses) helps the grass

grow thick and strong so it will stand up to heavy use. Over-applying fertilizer won't help the lawn, and, in some cases, can harm the lawn. Be sure to follow the directions and spreader settings listed on the package when applying fertilizer and other lawn products, and keep your pets off the lawn during application.

Wait As Directed

After applying any lawn product (including weed or insect control), keep your dog off the lawn for

the length of time listed in the label directions. You can let your dog back on the lawn right after applying Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Food, unless you choose to water immediately afterward. In that case, allow the lawn to dry before letting the dog out on it to help prevent the particles from being tracked back into the house. Any product spilled or accidentally applied on the driveway or sidewalk should be swept up right away to prevent it from being washed into storm sewers or waterways. All lawn products should be stored properly, in a dry place where kids and pets can't get into them.

Keep Unwanted Dogs Off Your Property

As much as everyone loves man's best friend, dogs can be hard on the lawn. Here are some tips and tricks to help keep unwanted dogs off of your lawn.

• Plant lavender.While lavender smells great to humans, dogs don't enjoy the scent and will usually avoid it.
• Spray vinegar.Spray a vinegar solution around the edges of your lawn. Dogs will smell it and move away.
• Use a motion-activated sprinkler.A motion-activated sprinkler is a good way to scare away dogs and other animals from those areas of your yard..
• Build a fence.To keep animals like dogs from constantly coming in and out of your lawn, surround it with a sturdy fence.
• Plant spiky shrubs.Planting spiky shrubs around the perimeter of your lawn creates a natural barrier that can help deter dogs from entering.