Why do dogs use my yard as thier toilet? WWYD?

Brooke&Ryan

DH mowed last night, when he came in he said he found a lot of dog poop in our yard--we don't have a dog! This happens to us all the time, but we never catch any dogs in our yard, because if we did we would call the owner out on it.

The house on one side of us had two dogs (who are just allowed to go out without leashes) and two of the houses across the street from us have dogs, plus there are several others on our street so we don't know who's dog it is. We think a lot of it is coming from the house next door (since they just let thier dogs out) but we haven't seen it so we can't be sure. We were thinking of saying something to the house next door next time we see them. We wouldn't accuse their dogs of doing it but just let them know we have found a lot so if they happen to see thier dog do it to please clean it up. We don't want to start off with our neighbors on a bad foot (we've only been in our house about 6 weeks) but we don't want dog poop in our yard.

K-hart

Hmm, perhaps you can install a motion detector light outside so that you will be notified when a dog comes into your yard? Maybe this is a more discreet thing to do if you don't want to be confrontational.

If it continues to happen I would say something to the neighbors. I'm the kind of person that will give people the benefit of the doubt but if something like that continues to happen I will say something to them. I'm sure they will understand and hopefully take better care of their pets. They really should we watching their pets anyway. I would never let my dog outside and not watch him while he does his business (or if I do, it's in our back yard which is completely fenced).

RaeAnt

You can always put the signs in your yard, but that doesn't really help much (No Dumping and Please curb your pet) We've had it where the one person purposely walks her boxer through our yard on her way form picking him up from the pet sitter and has him go potty. Apparently where we are, no one thinks anything of it. Not a happy camper,though. Just because my dogs go in my yard doesn't mean yours can,too. I mean they have a large dog... and obviously don't feed it good food (really big poo). So I feel your pain. But I agree, your is even worse since you don't even have a Fido! Other than putting up a fence, I can't think of any sure fire way to stop it. You can talk to the dog parents, but that may either do nothing or tick them off and they will do it on purpose.

fxz109

Do you have a home owner's association?  I'm sure unleashed dogs are against the covenance if you do.

jjenkins

You might want to check your township codes and regulations.  In ours there is a leash law (although some of our neighbors don't follow it) and there is also a rule that you need to clean up after your dog.  It's included in our HOA stuff too.