Thistle is one of the exceptions, as are Horse tail and variegated ground elder, also known as goutweed. With the thistle, if you don't do it right now, then when you do, cut it down to near the ground first, and wait for new growth to come, and paint that. Unfortunately he doesn't go in just one spot, so they are all over the yard. Oddly enough, males are usually less problem with lawns than bitches. Males usually pee against trees and other plants which may or may not be affected.
Bitches usually pee on lawns.
The partial answer is hosing the affected spot right after they've peed, and on the lawn, keeping some old gyp roc handy. Grind it up and apply it to the affected spots. If this is done soon after the pee, it should neutralize the urine, and there will much less, if any affect. I am not a fan of chemical treatments, pets and small children abound in our neighbourhood. Neither am I a fan of chemicals, but really they are the best way to go.