We find pea gravel in a specified space like a dog run works well since it also makes it easy to pick up poop where most ground covers make that job a lot worse. There are actually fake grass products made for dog runs BTW. I aslo think a dog run space is best for both your yard and the dogs ours is quite large since we have 3 larg dogs that love to play.

We have rock mulch instead of lawn in our present and previous house and our Salukis who love to run have no problem with it. They do dislodge the gravel somewhat so you can either rake it smooth periodically or leave it lumpy. Fines or decomposed granite can be tamped down to a harder surface that stays flat and smooth.

I would think pea gracel would be hard on dogs feet i know i cant walk on it barefoot sorry i dont nave another suggestion decomp granite is good but very messy and dirty

No wood chips for sure they cause slinters all the time . Actually our dogs never seem to mind the pe gravel it is a rounded stone not crushed gravel.

^^ That's more of a myth than a reality, otherwise wood chips would not be so highly recommended to surface dog runs, used routinely in off-leash dog parks and even in kids' playgrounds.

Facts, people - not just an opinion!!

Hell no on wood chips. We have it in our backyard and it’s awful. Tracks all over the house, especially three years in as it gets finer and finer from breaking down. Sticks to the dog. We all get splinters. If you go this route, REALLY do your research about size and the specific type from the specific company you’re buying from to see how it breaks down.

If I lived in an area where gravel-based xeriscaping was an option, I'd for for that. Droughts will be problems in the future too to plan ahead. Good advice to see and handle any mulch material -- rock, wood, gravel -- before accepting a truck load of it. Dogs can adapt to about anything, although I have read that whatever surface they learned to "go" on as a puppy is the surface they will seek out to do their business the rest of their lives, so that might be a consideration.

I had river rock and the dogs hated it. They refused to walk on it. i put down mulch instead. We havent had any issues with splinters or tracking it inside.

We have had rock mulch in our yards for twenty years and it hasnt bothered our dogs in the least.

When I was in San Diego we used a deep rooted drought tolerant grass that didn't require much water consumption. That was 25 years ago. Today they have even better alternatives that take very little water. Using hardscape with a small area of drought resistant ground cover can be lovely and water conscious.

Saw this from Bosler Earth Design - Los Angeles https://www.houzz.com/pro/boslerearthdesign/bosler-earth-design

Drought Tolerant, Dog Friendly Ground Cover- Back Yard · More Info

the ground cover they used was Kurapia

https://www.westcoastturf.com/Kurapia-Drought-Tolerant-Ground-Cover

Artificial turf will be much hotter than live ground covers. Okay if you have enough shade. Light colored stone pavers stay cooler and won't burn paws in the strong Southern California sun.