Question
I own a couple of German Shepherds, my brother's wife breeds Dobermans and we just bought a Mastiff.  My family is always coming over and they bring their dogs in the van with them. No kids, but the dogs have the run of the yard and do a lot of damage to the lawn in the back.  This is not a daily situation but it happens enough that some of the grass wore away and didn't regenerate quick enough.  Winter it is not a problem but in the summer the worn out spots get muddy when it rains and it gets to be a real mess.  Is there something I can plant, grass or landscape plant, that be able to take this much punishment?

Answer
The best dog traffic grass I know of is going to be Tall Fescue.  It's the kind of supergrass that you can play football on, and if you can do that, it's going to be OK with your canine companions.

In days of yore, Kentucky 31 -- still on the market but so passe -- was the answer.  That's a grass that LOOKS as tough as it is.  "Rebel" and other newer varieties would place in the top 5 of any lawn beauty contest, easy, and they are tougher than non-Tall Fescue, but in this case, for your purposes, the Quarterback is wearing Kentucky 31 shoulderpads and kneepads.  It also goes by the name K31.  Remember, this is the Tall Fescue type -- NOT Kentucky Bluegrass.  Kentucky 31 or K31 Tall Fescue.  TALL FESCUE!!!!

Give it your best shot and let me know how it goes.  Thanks for writing.