If your lawn is suffering from "lawn spot disease" due to you - or your neighbor's - dog's elimination habits, you may need to repair the lawn after dog urine damage. Here's all you need to know about this frustrating problem. Causes
While small amounts of solid dog waste can actually green up a lawn, dog urine often creates unsightly dead brown spots. Although small amounts of nitrogen are good for a lawn, urine contains large amounts of nitrogen. Large nitrogen dumps (as occur when a female dog relieves herself on your impeccably manicured lawn) burn the lawn. This is especially problematic on lawns that are well fertilized as they already contain appropriate nitrogen levels. A male dog is not as damaging because male dogs tend to lift their legs on trees and mark in many different spots, resulting in smaller nitrogen deposits.
Prevention
Obviously, keeping your dog off the lawn is the best way to prevent urine damage. Try using a traditional or electric fence to keep your dog away. If that's not practical, an odor repellent may encourage your dog to find another place to relieve herself. Alternatively, you can thoroughly water the area right after your dog piddles to dilute the nitrogen. Taking the time to train your dog to relieve herself in one part of the yard can minimize damage. Try collecting urine or urine-soaked soil and depositing 
it in the designated area for a few days to attract your dog with the appropriate scent. Train her with patience and tasty food rewards to speed up the process. Teaching her a command such as Potty will help expedite things when it's raining or very cold.
Lawn Repair
If all else fails and your lawn looks like a polka-dotted mess, then you've got some repair work to do. Mild cases of lawn burn can repair themselves over time, especially if your lawn is a warm-weather turf grass. Unfortunately, once severe damage is done the only repair option is to dig out the spot and reseed or take the dead grass up and lay down a sod patch. Be sure to flood the area with water to remove the nitrogen from the soil before laying down new seed or sod.
By understanding the causes of these unsightly spots and knowing how to prevent or repair them, you and your dog can live happily together and your yard can remain the showplace you want it to be.
