“Why Does He Eat Grass?” (February 16) was the title of a blog about Harley who I thought might be part poodle, part retriever, and part cow! Since then, Leo has begun to nibble on a blade or two (or seven!) when we roam around the great outdoors. And they both have the nerve to be particular about which lawn to graze as if there are different flavors to choose from.

I remember sharing a suggestion from Pet Med http://www.petmd.com/dog/wellness/evr_dg_eating_grass#.T4-KhOAyFXl

“…buy a small tray of grass just for the dog, or start an herbal home garden. This will give your poor pooch an alternative to the outdoor grass and landscaping, the eating of which could lead to accidental ingestion of pesticides, herbicides, or chemicals that have been used to treat your (or your neighbor’s) yard.”

Now I must be brutally honest with you, I haven’t started my grass growing project yet BUT I’m gonna do it – really I am.

The other weekend, the weather was gorgeous, so I asked my husband if he wanted to take a trip with me to our favorite nursery http://www.stadlergardencenters.com It was there I’d pretend I was “Lois Lane” and interview someone – anyone, about the fixation the boys had with grass.

When we arrived, I went inside while Lee and the boys disappeared around back looking for more flowers to plant in our patio area.

Jennifer volunteered to spend a few minutes with me, and patiently listened as I rambled on and on about the boys and their grass eating frenzy of late. She assured me (along with the Vet) their behavior wasn’t that bizarre, and understood why I wanted to “grow my own grass”!

Here’s what I learned from Jennifer of Stadler Nursery & Garden Center:

• If I tried to grow my grass from seed, it would take a while to mature into what the boys are attracted to. Seeds would first sprout into those thin tiny blades that are so “fine” it probably would not be very appealing to the boys. I guess it’s like eating a burger when you really want a steak!

• If I wanted to “mimic” what was found in yards along our walk routes then she recommended I start with a small patch of sod (less expensive) and either plant it in the corner of my yard, OR add some dirt to the bottom of a shallow planter (I found the bottom tray I could punch holes through for drainage).

• The benefit for using sod? It doesn’t have any fertilizer in it! Sod farms typically use “chicken manure” instead, it doesn’t burn the grass AND it’s safer for your pet.

By my calculations – this is about a $10.00 project, and that’s if you “spring” for the drainage tray vs. a corner of your lawn. I’m leaning towards the potting concept, so I can leave it on the deck and make them think it’s something special….

I did learn a little about other harmful plants your pet might encounter during springtime (Jennifer has two dogs of her own). When you get a chance take a look at this website from the ASPCA:  http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants It provides pictures, toxicity and clinical signs or various plants (both toxic and non-toxic).

Our visit was fun, a special Doodle hug to Jennifer       and all the staff at Stadler’s for their wonderful customer service, breath taking displays of beautiful plants and trees.

As for the boys and Lee, as soon as I turned my back, they slipped away again – back to the pansies….

yes we brought some home!

Come back on Thursday for Part 2 of IS IT GOOD OR IS IT BAD? THE THINGS THEY EAT...
I want to share a media tool I stumbled on that could potentially save your pets life – something “some of you” probably have at your fingertips all the time…..

Thanks for reading, I’ll keep writing…