I remember (watching the show in reruns as a kid) the robot as the B-9 Environmental Control Robot. On his packaging (a box or a metal cabinet, I think) you can see the name G.U.N.T.E.R., which is an acronym for General Utility Non-Theorizing Environmental Robot.
It should be your mantra whenever you apply products to the lawn. This doesn't have to be a lengthy ban. The Dog Owner's Guide suggests keeping pets off treated grass for 24 hours, as nitrogen can burn the pads of a dog's foot. The guide also recommends keeping pets indoors during application to prevent an airborne inhalation or skin contact.
When fertilizing a lawn, it is best to apply fertilizer after the lawn has been mowed so it has a few days to absorb the fertilizer. Wait until late summer, fall or early spring to fertilize the lawn. These are the optimal times to apply fertilizer. Mow the lawn and leave a small bit of grass clippings on the lawn. Grass clippings release nitrogen into the grass, which is one of the three main components of commercial fertilizers.