Where to let your dog poop
Picking up dog poop is no one’s favorite past time, but as we have talked about, it ensures a healthy environment and is a general public courtesy. Even if you’re a responsible dog owner with a 100% cleanup rate, there are still places we shouldn’t let our pets go poop. Besides, we’ve all experienced those wet, diarrhea dog poops that are impossible to scrape up, and even the most fastidious person misses a glop now and then. Out of respect for our neighbors and land, it’s important to teach our dogs and ourselves where the appropriate places are for pooping.
Your yard
This is the best place for dog poop to occur. The dog recognizes his own territory and feels comfortable (hopefully) in defecating on it, and if you forget to pick up dog poop, there’s little harm done. Avoid the drive- or walkway and heavily trafficked or play areas, as others in your family won’t be as thrilled as you that Spot has eliminated (especially if they find it on their shoes).
If you don’t have a yard, you’ll have to get more creative.
Your patio/deck
While it’s your own home to treat any way you’d like, this is an unsavory spot for urine and feces, especially if it’s ever used for family or public gatherings. Repeated dog poop and urine can rot wooden planks and leave unsightly stains, even with frequent cleaning. Plus, visitors will not be watching for dog poop on these areas and may not realize they have stepped in some. You can place bets on who will be more upset: the guest with the stinky shoes, or the home owner with the poop-printed carpet.
The neighbor’s _____
Stop right there. Under no circumstances should you allow your pet to plunk dog poop on another person’s property, even if you are prompt in picking up such deviations. Few occasions irritate me more than the lazy dog owner wandering aimlessly down the sidewalk while their pet roams willy-nilly into other folks’ yard, leaving droppings as they go. Plus, the more dog poop your neighbors find, the less tolerant of your pet they become. There was a stray lab that wandered through our suburban neighborhood a few years back, and we received several heated notes from folks who thought our dogs were responsible for the happy brown packages on their driveways! People really don’t like other peoples’ dog poop, even temporarily. Stay off the grass.
Public parks or beaches
I always try to make my dog poop before we leave the house for such places, but sometimes the exercise works the brown stuff right out of them. I tend to discourage people from letting their dogs defecate in public areas unless it is unavoidable. First, even if you are a solid citizen and pick up dog poop, there will be some other loser who didn’t, and if yours is the next dog an unhappy person sees, you can guess who will get the bum rap for the poop. Also, we are privileged to bring our pets to such places at all, and a squatting dog tends to reflect badly on our kind.
Wild/overgrown areas
If you lack a proper lawn for dog poop duty, an overgrown area by the side of the road may be a great place to train Spot to release his bowels. Always pick up dog poop left here, and beware of areas with tall grass that may house ticks or snakes. This tends to be the lesser of evils, however, for yardless folks, so scout around your area for some wild brush and have at it. Make sure you keep Spot on his leash at all times.
Repetition will help your pet learn the proper areas for making dog poop. A daily walk to the poop corner of the yard, or down the street to the wild corner will ensure Spot does his dog poop business in an appropriate place. Going to such places can even encourage a recalcitrant dog to complete his task, and it will keep your neighbors pet-happy.
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