My parents' main problem with their late dog, Goober, was that she ate the heads off the drip water system. Instead of spraying down, they went UP. So the yard was dotted with 6inch clay pots over the drip things. But they don't have a lawn, they do xeriscape. Patio, native groundcover, trees, shrubs, flowers, clay/sand and the ever present craxy desert weeds which get pulled and burned.
Goobs did have a place where she was allowed to dig (cleverly disguised by desert willow) so that part was a non-issue.
As much as I like where I live, I miss the xeriscape. Sounds strange, but....desert is me.