Pick up after your dog sign

[MinnieMountain]

Worth it on private property?

We have a gravelled parking space at the front of our property but no car. I went to weed it yesterday and discovered three small dog poos

We're on a busy road, so could be one of many people.

Is a sign effective or should we jump straight to CCTV?

If they're small, they may well be cat poo, not dog. Gravel drives are like large litter trays.
I've twice had gravel drives, but behind closed gates and they still got poo in them, so I had to conclude that cats rather than dogs were the culprits.
If this is the case for you, a sign won't help!

However, it may be dogs so a sign might help. Then again, if the owners are the sort to let their dogs soil on someone's property like that and just leave it, then they'd likely just ignore it. 😒

You could buy a dummy camera initially, that may scare them off!

Definitely dog. The poos are too big for a cat.

Nothing is effective. My old house had a postbox outside by a huge ancient oak that was half in my garden. Most people walked the dog to the box, and allowed the dog to poop on my garden. Despite the fact my kitchen window overlooked this, and despite the fact I had a box of doggie poo bags and rushed out each time with a bag and said 'I can see you forgot to bring a bag, here is one for you' , there was always poop in the garden. So annoying that they moved the post box a couple of years after I moved.

You did say small dog poo. All the houses near me with gravel are covered with cat poo. You’d be surprised how big they are! And I know it’s cat poo, otherwise my dog wouldn’t want to eat it!!
I feel sorry for these people who get nice neat gravel laid, only for it to become a huge litter tray.
I love cats, by the way, so not cat bashing.

Agree with @DarcyProudman that cat poo can be bigger than you think! My small cat does some whoppers.

Laminate a sign that reads
"CCTV IN OPERATION PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG"

I did that and it worked for a while. We did have CCTV installed on the front eventually. Came home one night to a poo on the grass within my drive. Checked CCTV and found a bloke with a yorkie who watched it shit, ignored it and left.

I'd not gotten around to shifting it, so imagine my glee when driving down the road the next day and spotting the man. I pulled up and told him he needed to go and clean up my garden. He was so shocked it was funny. Lots of stuttering about not having bags at the time etc.
When I got home the pile was gone and he crossed the road before he got to my house from then on.

More likely to be cat or fox.

Either way cats and foxes can't read and if dog owners are letting them crap in your garden they are not going to start paying attention to a sign.

Fox poo?

Dog's don't generally like pooing on gravel. Cat or fox much more likely

I've got 3 cats. Honestly I'm horrified at the size of what comes out of them 💩. Could well be a cat

I genuinely think its probably a cat, we have gravel outside our house and the neighbourhood cats seem to think its all for them. My dogs on the other hand, avoid it at all costs! I don't think (as others have said) that dogs choose to go on gravel as they don't like it.

Much more likely cats.. I have both and we got rid of our own gravel because they loved using it as a giant litter tray. I have Maine Coon cats..big beasties and they can easily do poos that rival the dog's!

I didn't ask "what poo is it?", I asked if a sign would be any use.

Well, a sign would be no use if its a cat :)

I doubt the sort of person who lets their dog crap without picking it up would pay any attention to a sign.

@MinnieMountain

I didn't ask "what poo is it?", I asked if a sign would be any use.

Well those people who think it's cat or fox obviously aren't going to think a sign will help, are they?

A sign is pointless. Someone who is happy for their dog to shit in your garden isn't going to take any notice.
It might even make it more attractive.
I hate tailgaters but the minute I see a car with a back off sticker or similar it makes me want to tailgate them all the way home. I know it's petty and I don't do it but still.

FFS.

"On the basis that I know for certain it's dog crap, would a sigh be any use?".

Clearly not and thank you for the sensible replies.

Wherever you go these days there is a plethora of signs telling people what to do/not to do:
Don't cross here
Pick up after your dog
Don't throw chewing gum
Don't throw rubbish
Don't walk on the grass
Etc, etc

Signs don't change behaviour - you're either the person who does throw rubbish/let your dog poo anywhere/etc, or you're not.

Putting a sign up won't change that.

@MinnieMountain

FFS.

"On the basis that I know for certain it's dog crap, would a sigh be any use?".

Clearly not and thank you for the sensible replies.

How do you know for certain though?

Posters are being helpful pointing out alternative likely explanations.

If you want to disregard that and be rude as fuck, crack on, and enjoy your shitty gravel

I suppose the issue is whether dogs can read?

I know cats can't.

Gosh, that's kinda rude, OP, people have taken time to try and give you advice.
If it is fox or cat poo (how can you know for sure that it isn't?) then the solution you need will be different. Won't bother making suggestions as I'm sure it'd only annoy you.

I suppose the issue is whether dogs can read?
I know cats can't

I wouldn't put it past them to be able to! Furry little Overlords that they are!

I think the kind of people who will let their dogs go on what is clearly private property are more likely to be antagonised by a sign than to comply. My Dad's neighbour put a sign up and they started throwing it over the fence!