Hi Avi,

Thank you for your question.  What an interesting project! Here are some suggestions.  Ground covers will not withstand dog foot traffic or pet urine. A good choice is tall fescue, while not explicitly native to Maryland,  it would work because of its toughness and ability to handle foot traffic.  Be aware that dog urine will have an impact on your turf grass. This may be addressed by installing  a designated potty area of pervious artificial turf  or by rinsing the urine from the lawn. If you are planting turf, wait for it to be established before letting your pet use it.  You could edge the area with native grasses, that grow taller, and mulch giving texture and varied height to your lawn design. Here is a link to native grasses from the University of Maryland Extension site.   If you do use mulch choose a dog-safe mulch. Opt for natural, untreated mulches like pine, cedar, cypress or pine straw needles.  These are generally non-toxic and less appealing for dogs to chew on than some other options. Avoid cocoa bean mulch, as it's toxic to dogs.

Best of luck with your project. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have any other questions.

Christine