Dogs...and doggy-doo management

[Dru Edwards]

Growing up with had a great dog and it seemed like every few weeks I'd have to go in the backyard for "poop patrol". Easy to do in the winter when it's frozen.

[Nimiety]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Growing up with had a great dog and it seemed like every few weeks I'd have to go in the backyard for "poop patrol". Easy to do in the winter when it's frozen.

At -40C we'd need a pick axe.

I wish we could let it go as long as a few weeks.

[Mooh]

Just came inside from this exact chore. I don't mind at all.

We ran out of space to use it as landfill long ago, though the odd bit gets buried to discourage skunks and digging. Some goes in a composter and used later to spread under trees and bushes (as distinct from the garden compost which is kitchen waste), and some gets bagged/boxed up for a trip to the local landfill site. I get boxes from the liquor store and fill them from a pile we maintain under a lilac. The boxes are easy to transport in the pickup truck or utility trailer.

It's still February so there's another month or more before the great spring clean up, but I like the yard totally spruced up before the bride goes out to plant the vegetable gardens.

[Nimiety]

Originally Posted by perttime

Living in an apartment, using the little plastic bags and throwing them in the trash is the way. Here, you are not supposed to put it in organic waste recycling, so trash it is.

I have only one dog and he isn't all that big.

If I lived on my own property, I might consider composting it with garden waste.

Yes. If we go on a city walk we stoop and scoop as well.

But I've always had an issue with the concept of placing organic matter in inorganic plastic so it can't decompose. Seems like a double negative.

I am waiting for "them" to come up with a sturdy, but 100% degradable bag, for all kinds of waste management...not only for excrement.

I know the technology exists. I don't know why it's taking so long.

[Nimiety]

Originally Posted by Mooh

Just came inside from this exact chore. I don't mind at all.

We ran out of space to use it as landfill long ago, though the odd bit gets buried to discourage skunks and digging. Some goes in a composter and used later to spread under trees and bushes (as distinct from the garden compost which is kitchen waste), and some gets bagged/boxed up for a trip to the local landfill site. I get boxes from the liquor store and fill them from a pile we maintain under a lilac. The boxes are easy to transport in the pickup truck or utility trailer.

It's still February so there's another month or more before the great spring clean up, but I like the yard totally spruced up before the bride goes out to plant the vegetable gardens.

Our 4 mostly use the "dog yard" but our Australian Cattle Dog does chores with us, and poops all over. I am going to have to start picking up that mess too. It's not particularly offensive (we live in a dry, sandy area) but the visuals bother me...lol.

If he'd just go at the edges/borders of the lawn/bush I wouldn't notice, but he likes to use the pathways we tend to walk on.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Nimiety

At -40C we'd need a pick axe.

I wish we could let it go as long as a few weeks.

We used a shovel. Some snow/ice got included in the plastic grocery bag but that didn't matter.

[RP]

In June I'll be dog sitting for my cousins three canines outside Philadelphia. We were going over some logistics last night, and she told me that they'd arrange for their "waste disposal" person to clean up the yard. I was incredulous; that's actually a job? Evidently it is, and the guy evidently has more work than he can scoop....

[Nimiety]

Oh yes! It's a job! A service mostly utilized by the wealthier among us. I do think it has a more "legitimate" place for seniors or those with mobility issues though. But, if you can afford it, why not?

With all the pandemic pets, I'll bet that service will see growth.

Actually, if you were in good shape, wouldn't be a bad post-retirement job.

[Nama Ensou]

The best situation is to have enough open acreage and the right breeds of dogs. My friends with German Shepherds never had any dog poop anywhere that you could find, because those dogs went far, far from the house before doing anything. That all changed when they got a succession of 'in front of the porch poopers', and the Cocker Spaniel was the worst. Right in front of the steps and all along any trails made in the snow to get out to the cars.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by Nama Ensou

The best situation is to have enough open acreage and the right breeds of dogs. My friends with German Shepherds never had any dog poop anywhere that you could find, because those dogs went far, far from the house before doing anything. That all changed when they got a succession of 'in front of the porch poopers', and the Cocker Spaniel was the worst. Right in front of the steps and all along any trails made in the snow to get out to the cars.

Ha!!! We agree on that, we have 165 acres and two Aussies. While in the winter time they do sometimes dump on the side of our driveway or road. It freezes and snow blows quite easily, Only rarely does it require a shovel in hand mine sweep operation

[Nama Ensou]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Ha!!! We agree on that, we have 165 acres and two Aussies. While in the winter time they do sometimes dump on the side of our driveway or road. It freezes and snow blows quite easily, Only rarely does it require a shovel in hand mine sweep operation

I don't know how much of a difference the intelligence level of the breed makes, but isn't it interesting that while the Cocker Spaniel poops right at the house, the Aussies and German Shepherds make sure to get as far away as possible.

[Silly Moustache]

We have a cat . Cat poo is the neighbour's problem! neaahhahaha.

Seriously we have a litter tray for him, but he prefers to take his business elsewhere .. so many cats in the neighbuorhood - who's to know?

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

We have a cat . Cat poo is the neighbour's problem! neaahhahaha.

Seriously we have a litter tray for him, but he prefers to take his business elsewhere .. so many cats in the neighbuorhood - who's to know?

Well, all I can say is it’s a good thing you don’t live near me.
Mr Kitty might have a problem doing that in my yard.

[stokes1971]

My hounds go as far from the house as they can,which is along the back fence.Behind my property is a piece of basically unused property owned by the town,it has a pond used by the fire dept.Over the fence it goes.When I first moved here my neighbor was feeding the feral cats in the area.They ate at her house and used my yard for a litter box.For the first year my dogs were eating the cat poop and had a near continuous case of various worms and intestinal parasites.The feeding station she had also attracted every skunk in the county.One day she says to me "have you smelt the skunks,I wonder why there are so many around".I said if you keep feeding them they wont go away.She says, oh no, I only feed the cats.Doh! She finally stopped the feeding when one night both her dogs got sprayed.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by llew

A very small price to pay for what we receive in return. I'll scoop poop and wipe paws for as along as I can...

What is that benefit, exactly? Not to diminish your affections because even parenthood is a mixed blessing but there's also the drooling, the shedding, the begging at the table, the getting in your way when you're trying to walk somewhere. If you can put up with that then you must have a lot of patience.

Originally Posted by Nimiety

Yes! The spring melt! *bleh*

We do our best to keep things under control during the winter, but at -40 C it's not easy and no one is motivated to stay totally on top of it. A couple of years we tossed it over the fence and then raked it up when it all dried out late spring...and yes, it was a sh*tty job. I'd almost rather pick it up right away than do that again. But with 4 dogs emptying their bowels 2-4X a day it's not quite doable.

Yes, winter can be unsightly with all that unsightly muck but summertime is especially odorific. How close are you with your neighbors? I ask because I have a neighbor with a German shepherd and I've found some landmines on my side of the property line beyond the fence. She makes sure that I respect it and I'm thinking of throwing bacon through the gate when she charges at me; she's not always "neighborly." I fault the owners more than the dog though.