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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Dog poop is created twice daily, at least 365 times a year. The summer months may lull us into taking Spot out while barefoot and drinking lemonade, but inevitably a chill will return to the air, and before you know it, we’ll be wrapped up like Eskimos and tromping a path through waist deep snow just so Spot can do his daily duty.

It may sound cruel to mention this now, when you could be laying on the beach and sipping fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them while bronzed cabana boys rub coconut oil onto your skin, but this is a very special time of year, and not just because of the weather. Now is the time to prepare for winter dog poop with summer sales on all manner of dog clothing.

If Spot happens to be a yellow lab and not a pint sized Chihuahua, you may be questioning my sanity when I mention dog clothing. After all, everyone knows only small dogs should wear fashion accessories. Take heart; I have not lost my mind, merely I have been on the receiving end of a -20 windchill. Dog poop waits for no weather.

In my native Minnesota, the winters are fierce and terrible. Until I succumbed and purchased proper winter dog poop gear, my daily outings with the pups were as follows:

Step one: bundle up in snow boots, wool socks, coat, hat, mittens.
Step two: attempt to attach dog leashes
Step three: start to sweat in so much warm clothing, causing hands to become slippery in mittens
Step three: take off mittens and THEN affix leashes
Step four: venture forth into the cold
Step five: return inside for forgotten mittens
Step six: dogs urinate, and start sniffing around in the dog poop mine field
Step seven: dogs’ feet become cold, whiskers freeze
Step eight: sweat inside of mittens freeze, causing me to drop leashes
Step nine: dogs run back in house, releasing toxic gases because they still haven’t pooped
Step ten: recover leashes, wait until dogs’ feet warm up
Step eleven: whole body sweats inside warm gear
Step twelve: return outside; outerwear freezes to my skin
Step thirteen: dogs become distracted by cold and forget to poop
Step fourteen: repeat steps seven through thirteen as needed
Step fifteen: dog poop occurs
Step sixteen: spend 20 minutes peeling off wet layers
Step seventeen: change bed sheets; melted snow stuck in dogs’ feet has soaked my bed.

As you can see, it’s a long an arduous process, mostly because the pups get so darned cold outdoors. The solution? Coats and booties. The winter dog poop nightmare will become a thing of the past, and your pets’ dog poop outings will be warm and toasty.

For a coat, I recommend the Landa Dog Coat, by Weatherbeeta. These are actually the same technology as Weatherbeeta’s popular horse blankets, so they are tough, weatherproof, and warm. They even come in a few other patterns and sizes, large enough for even Big Dogs. Because of the horse-worthy durablility, tears and soggy coats are no problem here.

Dog booties can be trickier, since most canines contrive to rid themselves of any implement on their feet. There are some interesting and ingenious designs out there, such as suspender-like straps that hold the boots up, but I’ve had the best luck with simple paw-length booties that have elastic in the cuff. If you pull them tight enough, they stay on fairly well for routine dog poop breaks. Just don’t leave them on for an extended period of time. You don’t want Spot’s foot to drop off from lack of circulation. I’m kidding! Mostly.

Now that you’re educated on what to buy, it’s time to talk about where and when. As I mentioned, there are some great sales for winter dog gear during the summer. Check your local petshops and online stores. Big chains, like PETSMART and Petco will often have a clearance section where great deals are to be had, and because they need to move product, you can sometimes get a steal. The most reliable source for the Landa Dog Coat is SmartPakCanine, though some other horse retailers may carry them as well. Talk about having your holiday shopping done early!

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Dog poop is yucky. We humans try to have as little to do with it as possible, though our canine friends do their best to keep it a constant in our lives. It is no wonder that folks may be disturbed when their precious pet actually starts to eat his own poop, or that of another dog or animal (or even his human, but that’s such a horrifying concept I won’t mention it further). Dog that routinely and purposefully eat poop have a condition known as “coprophagia.” There are a number of causes and solutions to this truly disgusting habit, and it’s important that you inform your veterinarian of any poop eating straight away to rule out any serious underlying problems.

Spot might be gobbling up turds for any number of obscure reasons, but this can be broken down into two overall categories: nutritional and behavioral. Identifying the cause of the poop eating may help you put a stop to this condition.

Nutritional

Dog poop comes from dog food, as we have discussed. It follows, then, that a problem with the dog food may also cause a problem with dog poop – namely, it’s being re-eaten. There are several food related reasons for this irksome habit. Your dog may simply be hungry, and lacking any other food source, turns to his dog poop to fill his tummy. If your dog is underweight, work with your veterinarian on developing a diet plan to improve his condition. This may stop the poop eating in its tracks.

If, however, your dog is grossly obese and has a fatty diet, he may be eat poop to compensate. Dogs are weird like that.

Spot may also feel that he should be getting fed more often, particularly if he only eats one meal a day, and ingesting his dog poop may be his way of stating his opinion. Try dividing his portion in half and feeding once in the morning and once in the evening.

Your dog may also be lacking necessary nutrients. Feeding a low quality dog food that doesn’t have a properly balanced diet may be the cause, and such foods often contain un-digestible ingredients that produce a dog poop that looks and smells just like Spot’s breakfast (so really, he’s just having his cake and eating it too). Also have your pet checked thoroughly for parasites and worms which can eradicate his body’s nutrients and also make him exceptionally hungry. Regular deworming and parasite control can help to avoid this situation, but always seek veterinary treatment if such organisms are suspected.

Some dogs also have an underlying chronic condition that causes them to be deficient in certain nutrients. Dogs with intense hunger or no appetite that also eat poop should be taken to the vet immediately for testing, as most of these illnesses can be treated with proper medication and diet. I have known several dogs whose poop eating stopped immediately once the vet diagnosed the problem.

Behavioral

As pack animals, dogs look to their alphas and friends for guidance, including proper conduct. Dogs who see another canine eating poop may pick up the habit, simply because he believes it is the right thing to do. They may even observe you picking up the dog poop in the yard and follow your example. My father’s dog watched a horse lean down to graze and promptly followed suit, though he seemed rather displeased with the whole idea. With you (hopefully!) as the alpha, your dog may simply be trying to get rid of the dog poop in his own way to lend a hand.

In a similar vein, if you become upset when your pup has an accident, he may devour the dog poop in order to hide the evidence. A bitch will sometimes eat her puppies’ defecations to protect them from predators for this very reason (whereas puppies will sometimes eat poop just because it looks and smells interesting). Be sure that you’re not making a big deal out of the poop eating, other than a simple reprimand. An attention seeking dog may thrive on your interesting sounds and bizarre behavior when you discover his secret obsession.

As we talked about in dog poop personalities, some dogs are quite cleanly and fastidious. If your dog lives in a kennel or small, confined area, he may be trying to keep his area tidy. Most dogs don’t like living in their feces anyway, so picking up after Spot often could stop the poop eating and make him happier. If your dog does live outside or away from you for long periods of time, he may eat poop out of stress, boredom, or separation anxiety. Your vet will best know how to advise you in such circumstances, but always be sure Spot has plenty of toys and company as much as possible.

Finally, some dogs are just strange. They may enjoy the taste of poop, or they might just be so curious about everything that even eating poop is a novelty, or they might be so obsessed with picking things up in their mouths that the poop eating is inevitable.

You can mitigate Coprophagia by picking up dog poop after every bathroom break, but finding the issue beneath the behavior will be more satisfactory in the long run. Even the odd dogs who just like poop may be diverted from eating it when presented with other alternatives, like exciting bones and toys. Plus, should the cause be health related, discovering the source could save your dog’s life.

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Dog poop, like other canine bodily functions that insinuate themselves into daily life, continues to happen - even on the go. When traveling, it is even more important to properly clean up after your pet, since you are in unfamiliar territory and the laws could be more extreme. Taking your pet on vacation requires some additional planning that may be inconvenient, but you will appreciate the forethought when on the road.

First and foremost, always be sure to carry the proper supplies. Dog poop bags are a must, and I also recommend a good carpet cleaner like Resolve. A bottle of hand sanitizer can be helpful for the road-side dog poops, when a sink is unavailable. Keep these necessities easily accessible; don’t waste valuabley driving time trying to dig through suitcases or under the seat.

Ensure that you have enough dog food with you to last the whole trip, particularly if the brand is hard to find. To acquire a bag of Sirius’ Innova Evo Small Bites, I had to make a two hour (one way) detour when in the south of Texas. Switching dog foods when on the road is a bad idea, especially if you’ve never used the brand before. Diarrhea is less fun in the car than one might imagine, and foul smelling air poops can ruin an otherwise pleasant ride.

A plastic container that has a tightly sealed lid can be a lifesaver during a bumpy car ride, but in most situations, securing the bag of dog food with a rubber band or twine should be enough to keep it contained. You can bring your pet’s regular food dish or a special fabric travel dish that folds up to save space. Just be sure Spot doesn’t think the fabric dish is a toy, or he might shred it. Of course, then you could claim your dog was so hungry that he ate the whole darn bowl. Sirius did this once; I found the remnants in his dog poop later that day.

Dogs need to drink a lot of water, but often have trouble doing so on a trip. An easy solution is to fill a gallon container with water from your home, so that it smells the same to Spot. Also, should you have car troubles on a hot day, you and your dog can stay hydrated until help arrives.

Be sure to offer as much water as your dog will drink, but take him out every few hours as needed. I have Sirius trained so that if I cup my hands around any water, he will drink from it. He’s afraid of hoses otherwise, but our system works well on the road. A plastic Tupperware container with a tightly sealing lid can be a lifesaver on short trips, or when you have to leave Spot in the car.

A small tangent: please don’t ever leave your dog in a car that’s sitting in the sun during the summer, unless it’s below 50 degrees outside – and still crack the windows even then. A car can heat up to over a hundred degrees in a matter of minutes when in direct sunlight, and many pets suffer heat stroke or even die from the extreme temperatures. If you must leave your dog in the car for a while, always find a well-shaded parking spot, even if it means walking a few blocks. Use sun screens and open the windows as much as possible, though not enough for Spot to stick his head out. If your dog is aggressive or snaps at people, consider purchasing a grate to put in your car window that will let in the maximum amount of air while keeping him safely inside. Leave an open bowl of water as well, but place it somewhere it won’t be knocked over. If Spot has foam-like saliva or begins to vomit, he may be suffering from heat stroke. Proceed to the vet immediately.

As a final note on traveling with your pet, be sure to let your dog out often. Dog poop doesn’t wait because you’re driving, and Spot will still need to go every four hours or so. You must pick up the dog poop even in designated doggy areas at rest sites and hotels, even if other folks haven’t. Be careful about letting your dog wander through tall grass or brush areas when in different climates; he may not know how to deal with a rattlesnake if you’re from Minnesota!

Keep these tips in mind when planning your trip and you should have a successful vacation with your pet. As always, have a happy dog poop day.

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Butt rubbing by canines has long puzzled and disgusted the human race. Where did this behavior come from? Why are brown streaks left on my new white carpet? For some dogs, this is a chronic problem; others suffer only rarely. There are three main causes: debris, overfull anal glands, and worms.

Dogs who have never rubbed yet suddenly exhibit this habit may simply have something stuck in or near that orifice. Lift the tail and inspect the cavity for protrusions like leaves or grass – materials that aren’t easy for a dog to digest and expel. If your dog is leaving brown streaks, he may have a bit of residual fecal matter stuck in his tail pipe.

A simple swab with a tissue may remove the offending article and stop the rubbing. Don’t, however, delve below the surface. Your dog won’t appreciate it and you may do serious harm. If nothing is visibly evident, it’s time to give the vet a ring.

Let’s talk about anal glands. These pesky little puffs sit down and slightly to the left and right of the anus. When your dog excretes a poop, the anal glands are squeezed, causing a terribly stinky fluid to coat the droppings as they exit. This is how your dog “marks” his pile as his own. Isn’t that sweet?

Yet anal glands are not all fun and games; occasionally, under stress, the dog may release his glandular fluids all at once. This happened to a friend of mine once (in the car no less, and Febreeze is no match for that stuff), and groomers experience it all the time (let’s face it – the grooming salon is pretty scary for a pup). Such epic smells are recollected for years to come.

Fortunately, releasing the glands doesn’t cause butt rubbing; it’s usually the opposite problem. Clogged anal glands are the primary cause of dogs who rub on the floor. Some poor mutts have this as a chronic problem, while others may experience it only once or never in their lives.

Unclogging the glands is a task best left to your vet, who has the lucky job of reaching inside and squeezing them clean. Don’t try this at home; you can damage the glands and your dog will be most unhappy. You may, however, have to get the fluid expelled every few weeks in the most extreme cases. Your vet will best know how to proceed for these constant butt rubbers.

A final cause of rubbing in dogs is intestinal worms. There are many different types of worms, from round- to hook-, and it’s vital that your dog is on a deworming program as recommended by your veterinarian. Some worms will show up in the fecal matter. Look for tiny white grains, especially at night. Others are more sneaky; tapeworms seldom have such obvious symptoms.

You must take your dog to the vet immediately if you suspect worms, especially if the butt rubbing is accompanied by other symptoms like a dull coat, weight loss, or lethargy. Worms are painful and can be deadly, so don’t take any chances. Also be extremely careful handling fecal matter with a worm infestation. You, your family, or other pets can easily acquire them. Pick up all dog poop and dispose of it properly, and wash your hands with a good disinfectant afterward.

When these matters have been evaluated by your veterinarian, the butt rubbing should stop. Now if only the streaks came out of the carpet as easily…

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Dog poop is smelly and gross. After it has been expelled, most people have no desire to examine the steaming specimen, let alone collect it. Yet that is what we must do as dog owners. Picking up dog poop is of vital importance to the local ecosystem, your pocketbook, and your dog’s health.

Dog poop, unlike the fertilizing feces of animals like horses and chickens, adds harmful bacterial pollutants to the local water system. Like all manure, it can affect the nitrogen levels in the soil, as well. Dog poop is one of the chief pollutants in many streams and bodies of water. The green solution is to keep the earth and water healthy by picking up dog poop.

On a closer-to-home level, dog poop can carry such microorganisms as E. coli, giardia, and various worms. The bacteria can stay in the area for up to four years after defecation is complete; any family members or pets exposed are at risk of illness. Picking up dog poop from your own yard protects those most important. Additionally, becoming up close and personal with your dog poop can help you identify healthy feces and recognize causes for concern, like the aforementioned worms.

Due to increasing dog poop pollution in public areas, most cities now impose fines on dog owners who don’t clean up after their pets. Avoid a hit to your pocketbook by picking up dog poop. Many public outdoor spaces now offer dog poop friendly trash bins and complimentary poop bags, but as a responsible dog owner, you should always be prepared with your own supplies.

Picking up dog poop is simple and stinky. The frugal dog owner needs only a supply of plastic grocery bags to do the deed. Turn the bag inside out and over your hand like a glove, grasp the poop in your palm (now is a great time to check consistency), use your other hand to turn the bag right-ways around the dog poop, and tie it up. Toss the package in the trash and wash your hands for good measure.

For those particularly environmentally conscious dog owners, you can purchase supplies of biodegradable dog poop bags for the same purpose. Even the squeamish need not worry; handy pooper scoopers are available so that you don’t have to touch the pile.

Keep a stash of bags in your car for the park or trail, or use a fanny pack for taking walks. A tube of hand sanitizer may relieve the minds of the most cleanly dog walkers, so keep one handy. What ever your method, be prepared. Picking up dog poop ensures that our public places remain pet friendly, our water is clean, and our environment healthy.

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Dog food is an imperative component to dog poop. Dog food determines in part the base color, consistency, frequency, and odor for your dog’s droppings, and as such is the unchanging factor from which deviant dog poops can be recognized.

Yet, dog food is available in literally thousands of brands, with a variety of styles and ingredients from which to choose. So how do you pick the best dog food for your pup? What form should it be in – canned, dry, or tube? Your veterinarian can be an excellent resource for choosing the best dog food, but do your own research as well. Certain brands will offer vets a financial incentive for endorsement, so make sure that your dog’s health is the primary concern.

There are essentially three different types of dog food: natural, premium, and non-premium. The best dog food choice is a natural brand, such as Innova, Wellness, or Natural Balance. The next best selection is a premium brand, such as Eukanuba, Iams, or Purina. Avoid the non-premium, non-natural brands like the plague. These brands, like Kibbles and Bits, tend to come in gigantic bags because your dog needs to eat so much of them to maintain his health, and do not offer proper nutrition. They might seem cheaper at first glance, but in the long run you will spend much less money on a premium or natural brand, just in sheer quantity.

When choosing the best dog food brand, start by examining the back of the label. A high protein percentage is of chief importance, so compare a few bags and weed out those under about 20%. My favorite, Innova Evo, is an impressive 43.16% protein.

Next, take a careful look at the ingredients. The first ingredient should be some type of meat: chicken, lamb, turkey, etc – avoid those that start with meat by-products or meal. As you scan through the rest of the list, watch for large amounts of grain, as it is not a necessary or healthy part of your dogs diet. Vegetables are fine. Also be wary of endless streams of long, scientific-sounding words. These preservatives and additives are better left on the shelf. If you can’t pronounce it, you don’t want your dog to eat it.

Your dog may have food allergies just like you do. Sirius vomits if he eats dog food containing barley or oatmeal, so I have to be careful that neither of these land in his bowl. Keep an eye for what ingredients make the healthiest dog poops.

Once you’ve picked your brand, you must decide whether to pick dry food, canned food, or the slightly rarer tube food. For small dogs, canned dog food can be an excellent choice because of the high moisture level. Some of the canned foods even offer better nutrition than their dry food counterparts. However, for those of us with large beasts, canned food just isn’t financially viable. Tubed dog food tends to be packaged in larger amounts than canned, and is much easier to work with. It is an excellent supplement to dry food, and many dogs find it a tasty treat. Still, it is not the most budget friendly, which leaves large dog owners with a single choice: dry dog food.

Here is a fantastic secret to dry dog food: add water. That’s right, simply pour some warm water over the food (think breakfast cereal and milk for the correct amount) and let it soak for a half hour before feeding. Both Niko and Sirius had deep chests and would often erp up some food after meal time. Adding water aided in digestion, stopped the erps, and created healthier dog poops for all.

What dog food do you like the best? I am sold on Innova brand, though I have also fed Wellness in the past, and have experience with Eukanuba and Science Diet as well. In a jam, a can of Iams beef in gravy will work for Sirius. Most other foods upset his stomach.

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Dog poop can indicate when your pet is feeling good, when he’s under the weather, and even if there’s a medical emergency. Watching your dog poop and knowing what is usual for him or her will help keep your canine up to par and set you on alert if anything is amiss. A healthy dog poop will have several common elements: color, odor, frequency, and consistency. Diet and exercise may alter these patterns, so it is important to keep a close on your dog poop at all times. Picking up after your pet will guarantee your familiarity with his or her feces and will help to prevent water contamination.

Color
In general, dog poop will have approximately the same color as the food you’re providing, though it may be lighter or darker or slightly off hue. If the stool changes color to a yellow, green, gray, or black color, or if it significantly lightens, you should contact your vet immediately about possible intestinal or liver problems. If the stool is tarry black or bloody, get your dog to the emergency vet straight away, as he is bleeding in his intestines or colon. Small flecks of blood in dog poop also require veterinary counsel, but can usually wait until proper business hours.

Odor
Dog poop doesn’t smell good. It also shouldn’t smell like the spawn of the devil has crawled up into your dog’s innards and horrifically died. Nor should dog poop smell good, or like food, or like sour milk. Get to know your dog’s particular musk. If any unusual odors are permeating from the dog poop, it’s time to call the vet. Occasionally Fluffy’s delving into the donuts or eating that whole pot of baked beans may cause some unusual scents, but should the smell persist or make your eyes water, it’s time for the doc to take charge.

Frequency
Most dogs poop about twice a day. Sometimes Sirius will squeeze out just one large dropping and holds one over for the next morning. When he was younger, he’d even poop twice in a row, or after vigorous exercise. If your dog is pooping more than twice a day, especially if they are trying to poop more and not succeeding, give your vet a call. (Don’t you have him on speed dial by now?) If Fluffy hasn’t released a dung bomb in two days, it’s probably a good idea to look into the problem. Your dog should develop a common pooping schedule. If you want, you can even mark down his droppings on your very own Dog Poop Calendar to keep track and ensure he stays regular.

Consistency
This is my very favorite category. Depending on how mushy the dog poop, I can tell which dog ate my turkey sandwich, or who’s feeling a little down. A healthy dog poop should be somewhat firm and plump. The stool should keep its log-like shape when eliminated, not splatter like ice cream when it hits the ground. Also be wary of dog poop that is too dry or hard. When you pick up your dog poop, don’t be afraid to give an experimental squeeze to test its firmness. If it mushes with little pressure but holds its form, you’re good to go. If it’s hard and dry like an acorn, your dog may not be drinking enough. Repeated dryness requires a trip to the vet. Also be aware of watery, foamy, greasy, or mucusy stools. These, too, require veterinary attention. Be sure to take a sample for illustrative purposes!

Following these guidelines and keeping a close eye (but not too close) eye on your dog poop will help to ensure that you catch most health problems before they become severe, and you, too, can discover which mutt ate your cheetos!

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