Grass Seed Questions

You have to water it in and keep watering it throughout the season... AND keep the dog off it until it is established. You usually seed grass in the fall because it gives it plenty of rain/moisture and people tend to stay out of their yard in the cold season which gives it time to establish itself before if is stepped on.
If it's just a few patches I would use a watering can every couple of days until the rain sets in.
And no, it will not just lay dormant. If will either sprout (which is what you want), rot or most likely be picked up by birds.

Yes the seed will stay dormant. I was told you need to put down lime or Gypsum to change the acidity of the soil before the grass will grow.

When I seed my yard I do it in the fall and usually it germinates in the fall but my point is it does it without watering. So long as you are getting rain here and there it should germinate without you watering it especially since it is still cool out.

The only thing you need to watch out for is if it germinates, ya know, sprouting, and then you don't get water you will have to water it or it will die before taking root.

It's very difficult for grass to grow where there is a lot of traffic. Especially, dog traffic. (Even little ones.) Especially, when they pee there. If you block off the area you are trying to grow the grass, you will have more success. You're not likely to get any growth, if your dog runs or walks there, or uses the bathroom there. Make sure you do water, if it starts sprouting.

Do you turn off all your water? Is it because your weather is so cold? Sorry, I'm just wondering :) I am down south, and I've never heard of such a thing. We can use our outside water all year long.

I seed spots all the time and don't do a thing. I always get grass there eventually, though it'd be faster I bet if I watered it regularly. I just sprinkle seed on the dirt and leave it. The rain takes care of the rest! I've heard the best time to plant grass seed is before winter, and the snow somehow helps.