Can you post a picture that shows the whole front of the house straight on?

Whole front

If the reason for adding the step is to prevent the dog from digging and trampling the ground, will it just push the dog out to tear up your grass instead?

You want the one step down to be as wide as the distance from side of garage to the first supporting column.

This step would not pass code in my town. Check in at your town building dep't and bring your photos. Just in case you want to sell in the future.

Do you mean just an extension of the step you have now or what. IMO get the dogs a dog run when you are not around , the step will do nothing to protect your plants I had to put chicken wire into my perennial bed to keep the neighbors cats out . We have always had a dog tun with a doggie door so when we were home the dogs could come play where were but always in the run when we were not home . As for the step I would run it the whole lenth of the porch

JT7abcz, the grass is stronger than the other perennials, so won’t get torn up as much

No step. Ground cover junipers.

I don't think you need a step all across the whole porch but I do agree that you should make the step in front of the entry larger so it extends to the garage. Then add a hardy ground cover like blue creeping juniper as suggested. Hooks for hanging baskets on the columns would add pretty summer color.

If budget allowed, what about a curved rock garden? I don’t think the dog will be interested in trying to negotiate the stones/rocks, your porch will feel more finished (increasing curb appreal) and over the winter it won’t feel bare.

I think after looking again the step all the yay to the garage on the left and I love the idea of the rock garden

Oh I love a full step across a porch. Bonus if the step is a bit deeper to put potted plants on.

Debbie Washburn I love these photos