My lawn is patchy and dead where pets have used it for bathroom

It's the nitrogen in their diet that kills the grass. Watering on a regular basis dilutes the nitrogen. If you live in an area that is watering restrictive, use a spray bottle of water.

Not much you can really do except keep removing the dead grass (just pull it out or sort of scratch it up with a little hand tool to remove the dead grass), fill in the space with some soil, then replant with grass and remember to keep it lightly watered so it'll grow. We have 3 dogs. Every year we do this process in several backyard areas. By about midsummer, it's all filled in again. We figured it's just part and parcel having dogs ;-)

Choices: keep the pets out, reseed, or live with it! lol

Remove the dead grass and make a mixture of one gallon of water with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and pour in the dead area.That will neutralize the soil.

We have 3 dogs so we have this problem. Here's what we do: Remove the dead grass either by pulling it out or 'scratching' it up with a little hand tool. The idea is to have a place for the next step which is putting new soil over the affected area. Blend it in smoothly with surrounding grass. Plant seed and keep lightly watered. We have to do this every spring. By midsummer (or earlier depending on rain, sunshine, etc.) it's all filled in. Just part and parcel of having dogs and lawn. ;-)

Mix Baking soda and water pour in spots and water regularly

Part of my problem (I believe) is the sod is so thin and is layered on sand. Will try the baking soda and of course, reseeding...next spring. My water is on a timer and is watered every morning. Thank you for your input. BTW, Robyn from Florida, your answer was no help at all.