🐾 How to Build the Perfect Dog Run with Pea Gravel ?

Hello fellow dog owners! We know that your furry friend needs a safe, clean, and dedicated space to play, exercise, and take care of business. While a lush green lawn looks beautiful, it often turns into a muddy mess or gets completely worn down by enthusiastic paws. That’s where the magic of Pea Gravel Dog Run construction comes in. It’s an easy-to-maintain, durable, and Pet-Friendly Landscaping solution that we absolutely love.

In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the simple steps to create a backyard dog run using pea gravel. It’s a project that is surprisingly manageable, and the results are fantastic for both you and your pup!

Choosing the right location for your dog run

The first step in building your perfect dog run is choosing the right spot. This decision will impact drainage, sun exposure, and how easily you can keep it clean.

• Consider drainage: Pick an area that is naturally well-draining or slightly sloped away from your house and other structures. This is crucial when using pea gravel, as you want urine to filter through quickly and rain to drain away without creating puddles.

• Sun and shade balance : Dogs need protection from the sun, especially during the hottest parts of the day. Aim for a location that gets a good mix of sun for warmth and shade from a tree, fence, or a planned structure like a shade sail or small dog house.

• Accessibility : Make sure the dog run is easily accessible from your home. This makes supervision, cleaning, and letting your dog out much simpler.

Once you’ve selected the ideal spot, measure the area. We recommend a minimum of 10 feet by 10 feet for a medium-sized dog, but bigger is always better if you have the space!

Design and preparation: laying the groundwork

Proper preparation is key to a long-lasting, successful dog run. Skipping these steps is the number one reason dog runs fail.

1. Define the borders

You need a clear boundary to hold the pea gravel in place. We suggest using landscape timbers, pressure-treated lumber (always safe for pets, but consider non-toxic sealants if you are worried), or even specialized dog run border kits.

• Install the border: Lay out the timbers or lumber to form the perimeter of your dog run. Secure them firmly into the ground with landscape spikes or rebar driven through the wood. A border height of at least six inches is ideal, leaving about four inches below the surface and two inches above.

2. Remove turf and excavate

The entire area inside your defined border needs to be cleared.

• Remove grass and weeds: Shovel or use a sod cutter to remove all the existing grass and organic material down to bare soil.
• Excavate: Dig down a few inches below the border’s top edge. We want the finished surface of the pea gravel to be slightly below the top of the border to prevent it from spilling out. A total depth of about four to six inches is what we are aiming for to accommodate the sub-base and the gravel.
• Level and compact: Once excavated, rake the soil to a relatively level surface (maintaining any necessary slope for drainage) and then compact it lightly with a hand tamper or plate compactor.

3. Install a weed barrier

This step is essential for keeping weeds from growing up through your gravel and for separating the sub-base from the native soil.

• Lay the fabric: Unroll heavy-duty, commercial-grade landscape fabric over the entire excavated area, overlapping the seams by at least six inches. Run the fabric up the inside walls of your border.
• Secure the fabric: Use landscape staples to pin the fabric securely to the ground.

The layering process: creating optimal drainage

This is where the magic happens and where the right materials make all the difference. We use a two-layer system for superior drainage and stability.

1. The sub-base layer

The sub-base is what provides the structural integrity and the primary drainage pathway. We recommend using a crushed stone product like ¾ inch clear stone, ¾ crush, or crusher run limestone for this layer.

• First layer application: Apply the crushed stone to a depth of about three to four inches. This layer allows water and urine to quickly filter away from the surface.
• Level and compact (again): Rake the sub-base to level it out and then compact it thoroughly. This creates a solid foundation for the pea gravel.

2. The pea gravel top layer

Now for the star of the show! Pea gravel is a fantastic option because the small, smooth, rounded stones are comfortable for paws, easy to clean, and excellent for drainage. The rounded edges mean your dog’s paws won’t get cut or scratched.

• Calculate your needs: You will need to determine how much gravel you need based on the size of your dog run. We can help you with the calculations, and we offer fast and reliable Pea Gravel Delivery in Toronto & Vaughan. To get the right amount for your project, just give us a call!
• Application: Spread the pea gravel over the compacted sub-base to a depth of about two to three inches. This is the finished layer your dog will be walking on.

We supply a wide range of durable, quality aggregate products, including sand, stone, HPB (High Performance Bedding), Granular ‘A’, ¾ crush, and limestone screenings at affordable rates in Toronto, Vaughan, and the GTA. We are able to deliver almost anything from aggregates, soils, and mulches—we’ll be happy to deliver to your home or project site.

Maintaining your pea gravel dog run

One of the greatest benefits of a Pea Gravel dog run is the low maintenance.

• Waste removal: Solid waste is easy to scoop up off the gravel surface.
• Odor control: Urine filters through the gravel and sub-base and into the soil. For occasional odor, you can lightly rinse the area with a hose or use an all-natural, pet-safe enzymatic cleaner.
• Raking and topping up: Over time, the gravel may shift or settle. Occasionally raking the surface will keep it level. Every few years, you may need to add a thin layer of new pea gravel to keep the depth consistent.

Your dog run is ready! You’ve successfully built a safe, clean, and dedicated space for your dog to enjoy.

Contact us for your gravel delivery

We Deliver Gravel is your local source for all the materials you need for your Pea Gravel dog run and any other pet-friendly landscaping projects. We offer fast and reliable delivery service in the Toronto, Vaughan, and GTA areas.

Call us: To inquire about pricing or to place an order for your high-quality aggregates, Call at 647-868-2447 or get in touch.