Types of Sand Used in a Dog Run

Dog runs frequently incorporate the use of some type of sand, whether it's used for the dogs to run, play and "do their business" or as part of the floor foundation. Before you build your dog a run, knowing how to use sand and which type to use for your purposes is important.

  1. Decomposed Granite

    • Decomposed granite is an organic, environmentally safe reddish brown sand or gravel that decomposes from its original form, which is granite rock, according to the Collier Materials Inc. website. It is commonly used as a fill material for dog runs, driveways, patios, horse stalls, bike trails and playgrounds. It's also used in soil mixtures and mulches for flower beds and commercial botanical gardens.

    Foundry Sand

    • Foundry sand is the red, soft, molding sand largely used in the metal casting industry, but it makes an excellent base for a concrete dog run floor because you can easily pack and shape it. After you build the forms for your run, lay in two inches of foundry sand and cover it with wire mesh. Then pour four inches of concrete over it and allow it to dry.

    Polymeric Sand

    • Build your pooch a flagstone run with polymeric sand. This is a granular sand composed of quartz and crystalline silica and is used to bind joints or seams in driveways or stone and brick patios, according to the Ground Trades Exchange website. The purpose of this type of sand is to improve the durability of paved and stone surfaces by sweeping it between the stone or bricks to bind them together. To use polymeric sand in a dog run, lay the stones on top of a concrete floor and bind them with the polymeric sand mixed with either an organic or chemical binder.