3. You would be fighting a losing battle on the side where the dog has already worn away 80% of the grass. I have a similar strip. We're just piling leaves in there for him to walk on and to keep the weeds down. Any mulch will do although anything but pure bark mulch is better than bark mulch. Most mulches will help feed the soil, but bark mulch has no nutrients in it.

2. We created a landing made of flagstone at the bottom of our back stairs. That give us and the dog a place to hit the ground when coming down the steps. Then we can stand there or take off in a new direction. We have never had a path develop coming off that landing...until this new puppy. He has created a path to the side (same side as #3 above). It's not bad. He has to live there, not us. Eventually he'll stop tearing up the yard and we can go back and do our gardening again.

1. It could be there was some fescue in the fence area last year and the dog tore it up. Fescue does not spread to fill weak spots like Kentucky bluegrass does. It will probably look good again in a few weeks as the KBG fills in where it can. If/when the KBG does not fill in completely this summer due to the partial shade, then next fall (August) you should seed in some more fescue. Get into that habit every fall for the shady areas.

I've never seen a liquid fertilizer of any kind that can apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Grass needs nutrition by the pound, not the fraction of an ounce. If you want to continue with organics, look into the local cost of alfalfa pellets (rabbit chow). The application rate is 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. As with your liquid organics, you can apply it any time of year.

Thanks!
3. Yes, grass does not seem to be the answer. Although, I did look it over today and the grass has sprouted up a bit (probably a 5 day interval of warm weather). There has been plenty of moss. I have considered adding another gate between the fence & deck posts. Or maybe some Turfstone with a shade loving ground cover. It is a very steep slope, so i am concerned the mulch would all accumulate along the fence.

2. I am hesitant to place stone down there, as the dog tends to launch from the deck to the grass instead of using the three stairs.

1. Straight tall fescue seed? I may just replant some of the sod I remove from the new garden this summer.

I believe alfalfa is (3-1-2) and liquid soluble blood meal is (12-0-0). I use the blood meal in my containers and garden. My potted bamboo (Gigantochloa atroviolacea) loved the soil to be misted with a dilution of bone meal, superthrive, hydrated lime, & blood meal. I understand that the alfalfa has more benefit with the trace nutrients than blood meal, but my concern is what effect the neighborhood rabbit will have. Any advice on the corn gluten meal as a weed suppressant?
Thanks

Here is a link that might be useful: Turfstone

Photo of the dog afflicted area. I can't rotate it...

I have a similar problem with my fence line and dog activity.

Have you thought about maybe something other than grass there? Mulch, pebbles, etc.?

I'm going to see how it turns out this summer, since we moved in last July. My neighbors have mulch, but the wife hates it. Functionally, I think a deep strip of sand would be great. Ugly, but it sure would tire the dog out; running up and down all day & night. I still don't have an overall plan for the yard, but I know I need to account for this high traffic area into it somehow. I don't want to make it inaccessible since the neighbors on that side all have dogs, hence the heavy traffic.