Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog using grass verge?

109 replies

namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 13:43

Sorry for the terrible title. Obviously name changed.

I'd just mown and strimmed the grass verges in front of my house and was in process of sweeping. I stopped sweeping temporarily as people approached on the path so they could get past. One woman and her dog left the path and started walking directly over one of the verges. She then let the dog stop and use the grass as a loo, it was crouched and she waited, she had a waste bag ready in her hand, but didn't need to use that.

I didn't say anything but I thought it was inappropriate and rude. I'd clearly just mowed it and now there will be a patch where the dog used it. I know I don't own the verge but I maintain it (the local authority only does them once every few months and not well). I'm not a dog owner and wondered if this was normal and I'm being unreasonable.

OP posts:
HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 14:16

MistyRuins · 29/05/2022 14:14

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?

You think people should train their dogs to go into the road to pee? I can imagine drivers just loving that idea, they dislike cyclists and horse riders using it as it is, and they are supposed to be there...

Also, a grass verge is not someone's garden.

Yep that possibly is the most bonkers thing I've read all week. Also, calling dogs 'dirty.' Very rude.

HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 14:15

OP you don't get a brown patch from one dog wee. Mine pees on my lawn and the grass is fine.

I'd find something else to worry about if I were you.

MistyRuins · 29/05/2022 14:14

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?

You think people should train their dogs to go into the road to pee? I can imagine drivers just loving that idea, they dislike cyclists and horse riders using it as it is, and they are supposed to be there...

Also, a grass verge is not someone's garden.

Original poster
namechanger0002 · 29/05/2022 14:11

I don't suppose I'd have ever known about it (aside from a brown patch) if I hadn't been out there and the owner had cleaned up most of any mess. I didn't say anything to the owner as I didn't know what was usual, as I've already said.

People don't walk on the grass verges either, and they're directly in front of our walls, with a narrow flower bed near the wall, then there's a path next to the road. I had stopped to let her pass on the path, and was standing there waiting,

OP posts:
PugInTheHouse · 29/05/2022 14:09

@Babdoc obviously if it's their front garden that would be awful but its a public grass verge is fine. I wouldn't even bat an eyelid if it was on the outside of my forecourt wall TBH.

Lou98 · 29/05/2022 14:07

It just seemed rude and entitled

The irony! What's entitled is expecting a dog not to pee on a public area of grass that you don't own because you've decided to maintain it.

If it was your garden or private property that's completely different but it isn't - as you've said, you don't own this grass! Do you know how many other animals have also probably peed there??

HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 14:05

Soubriquet · 29/05/2022 14:03

I also look at it as the dog version of Twitter.

Pisser is you will

A dog wees, another will sniff and wee on top, and another will sniff and wee on top of that.

It’s like Rover has tweeted, Fido replied and Fifi replied after that.

😂😂

Soubriquet · 29/05/2022 14:03

I also look at it as the dog version of Twitter.

Pisser is you will

A dog wees, another will sniff and wee on top, and another will sniff and wee on top of that.

It’s like Rover has tweeted, Fido replied and Fifi replied after that.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 29/05/2022 14:03

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

But it is not their front garden
It's a grass verge
I would never allow my dog to go into someone's garden
But this is a grass verge

Blinkingheckythump · 29/05/2022 14:03

Jaysus. Please get a life

potteringinmysocks · 29/05/2022 14:01

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

It didn't wee in her garden. It was never in her garden.

BiteyShark · 29/05/2022 14:00

Just read back and realised the dog peed rather than pooed.

Do you also police all wildlife from peeing on a verge you don't own 🤔

HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 14:00

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

But it's not her garden. It's a public grass verge.

My neighbour's cat shits in my garden. But I can do naff all about it as 'cats are wild' or whatever nonsense cat owners come out with. But I'm not allowed to let my dog shit in their garden.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 29/05/2022 13:59

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

But your front garden is private property, a grass verge is not.

The reasons dogs pee on grass is often due to scent-marking. They communicate via their pee and if another dog as peed there, they will be there themselves to "mark their territory" in a way.

Notonthestairs · 29/05/2022 13:59

Dogs don't cross their legs you know. They just wee when & where they feel like it.

"There’s some bonkers threads on here today" - absolutely!

MrsBagshot · 29/05/2022 13:59

I don't know why someone would allow their dog to do that on something clearly well maintained. There are fields and parkland literally around the corner

Out of interest, how does one stop a dog weeing until they reach the field around the parkland? The dog literally just drops and wees.

Also, other animals wee outdoors. Are you only concerned with dog wee? Or would you be cross if a cat did a wee on the land you don't own a as well?

potteringinmysocks · 29/05/2022 13:59

Unfortunately op a dog does understand the instruction 'you'll have to hold it until we get around the corner!' A dog knows that inside - do not toilet, out can toilet and they just go.

Soubriquet · 29/05/2022 13:58

Dogs go where they go!

as long as you clean up after them, it doesn’t matter.

Though lately I’ve been having to bag up other peoples dog poo because they are leaving it where children walk

PuffinMcStuffin · 29/05/2022 13:58

Did you come down in the last shower?

Babdoc · 29/05/2022 13:58

Roads all have storm drains for surface water. Why can’t owners train their dogs to pee over these, rather than using other people’s gardens as toilets?
I’m with you, OP. I have shouted at owners when I catch them with their filthy dogs in my front garden. Some of the sods have the brass neck to shout back. I have been sorely tempted to follow them home with a shewee and piss on their gardens, see how they like it!

HandbagsnGladrags · 29/05/2022 13:58

Eh?! Should the dog have pissed on your foot instead? You really can't control where a dog goes to the loo. As long as any poo is picked up you have no reason to complain.

CounsellorTroi · 29/05/2022 13:53

There’s some bonkers threads on here today

girlmom21 · 29/05/2022 13:53

I think you're overestimating the damage a dogs urine is going to do to the grass verge.

My back garden is well maintained. My dogs still allowed to wee out there.

BiteyShark · 29/05/2022 13:53

It is very hard to stop a dog from pooing when it needs to go.

If the owner picked it up and left no residue what is the issue?

axolotlfloof · 29/05/2022 13:53

Lots of local authorities doing no mow May, so grass verges should be long and brimming with weld flowers.
I guess it's a good thing that you are willing to maintain public space but it is for everyone.