You can get pattio carpet, its green or brown, plastic and can be used out doors. (home depot or lowes) I dont know what you will use under it though. You might have to put a layer of play sand down and pack it and level it.
With that, you have to use a glyphosate to keep plants, weeds and real grass from growing on it if it stays wet.

I read an article recently about artificial turf that said that it is much improved from the original Astroturf (some will even create blades of different shapes to mimic the mixes that are most common in the area). But there are still problems, for example, they can accumulate leaves, debris, dirt etc, they can get uncomfortable on bare feet, they have to be replaced periodically, they're expensive.

I don't remember the details and don't have a link.

If I remember correctly, the author was impressed with the improvements, but not willing to switch, but said that there are times the new stuff might work for some people.

Thanks, Bill and BP.

I suspect that the new stuff may be cost-prohibitive for me, but I do so want a patch of green rather than the wide swath of brown that is there now. Not sure if it would hold up to the dogs' romping. I will keep investigating.

Thanks again for your responses!

Yes, the new stuff is very much costly. I think this site might help you in this regard. They have some good stuff out there!

Here is a link that might be useful: artificial lawn

Lawn1298 registered today and posted (in a year old thread) a link to the site that is also the site he lists in his user profile.

I'm not at all suspicious.