AIBU to not pick up my dogs poo?

[MrsRaegan]

Went for a walk today with the dog. He's not been out for a couple of days other than in the garden. He's been unwell and had the runs.

This morning he seemed to be feeling a bit better and was hanging about the front door so I decided to chance it. Anyway long story short. Round our local "walk route" and heading back to the house. He had an incident. There was no way I could have physically picked it up (sorry tmi) even though I do carry bags.

So I thought the best thing I could do was head home (about 6 houses away) grab a bucket and sluice it away. I did this and was heading back out with said bucket when a woman from down the road came up my drive ranting and raving that I should have picked it up. Or at least made an attempt to. I tried to explain the situation but she was having none of it. She has now flounced off, harping on about reporting me to the council.

Am I going to get a fine?!?

[odyssey2001]

You did the right thing. End of story.

[ernesttheBavarian]

My dog suffered a lot from runny tummy. I was recommended carrots. You can buy dried carrot pellets. Not expensive. just put a couple of spoonfuls in his bowl, pour on boiling water, once it's cooled down and swollen up, add rest of whatever he normally eats. Works unbelievably well for my dog.

[SauvignonBlanche]

YWNBU in the circumstances OP. Crazy lady may have had enough, we had an elderly lady a few doors walk her massive dog which always crapped right outside our house and she never picked it up but she was so infirm I don't think she could. It did get annoying as no sooner had DH picked one up then another appeared.

I want some of that poop freeze spray. I can't bear the idea of picking up dog poo and have never done so, it's never been my role to walk it but DH has a new job, the DCs go back to school tomorrow and I'm off sick for the next 2 months. It would be good for me to take a stroll to the park and we'd save a fortune on the dog walker. This could help with my aversion.

[Zara8]

YANBU, you did what you could! Your poor dog. Hope he feels better soon.

[MrsRaegan]

bohemond he's a Bernese and gets 1 and a half mugs of dry food a day is that too much?

grocklebox the other party may have thought otherwise but she saw me clutching a bucket of hot soapy water heading back to the pavement. Your right that I shouldn't have taken him out if I thought he was still unwell... I didn't which is why I took him.

There's bacteria in dogs urine too, what do you suggest I do when he cocks his leg against a lampost? Bleach it down?

[tiredoutgran]

Funnily enough I was going to ask if it was a large dog, our mastiff X was horrendous with runny poo until he was put on a diet and his food reduced from the full huge dish my OH thought he should be having to what it said on the pack. He has completely normal poo now because I have ensured his food has not been increased 'just because he is a big lad'. The amount you state doesn't sound anything like the amounts our boy got but do check and, if he can afford to lose a bit of weight, try reducing it slightly to see if it makes a difference. YANBU and should have thrown the bucket over the neighbour!

[Staywithme]

Ynbu but could I please point out to dog owners that jeyes fluid is extremely dangerous for cats. I know you mean to clean the germs to protect humans and other dogs but in doing so you could easily kill a cat. They find the smell attractive and are drawn to it.

[Bohemond]

MrsRaegan - it really depends on the type of food and the weight of the dog. Some foods are richer or more protein heavy than others and all dogs take different amounts of exercise. If you are feeding a decent food that is not full of filler and crap you will need much less (and will save money).

Take a look at the feeding guide on the back of the bag. They are usually set for dogs that do moderate to lots of exercise everyday (up to two hours in some cases) and, as we all know, very few dogs get that much (ours certainly don't). Calculate the amount you need to feed for the weight of your dog and then try reducing it by 40% for several days to see if it makes a difference. Feed 2/3 in the morning and 1/3 at night and avoid treats for a few days (or use a few kibbles of the food if you need something for training). You'd be surprised at the number of our customers on top of the range foods that supplement with crapola like dentastix .

After 5 years we still religiously weigh out our food every day and never do it by eye - it is certainly worth a try and may save a vet bill!

[Bohemond]

tiredoutgran is spot on - it is usually men who think that the big lads need a big bowl of food!

For an example, our 8.5kg border terrier has only 75g of food a day plus a few treats and is as trim and energetic as anything.

BTW, my OH has just piped up and said start with reducing by 25% rather than 40% (he is the nutritionist) and then try 40% if the 25% doesn't work.

[KnackeredMuchly]

Does he poo start off firm and end wet and sloppy? That is a classic sign of overfeeding.

For some reasons vets are crap at dog's dietary advice. What fiid is he on? If it contains the same meat/carb as his other one he could be still having the same intolerance.

Look at the Which Dog Food guide, very helpful comparing foods etc.

We use a food where the recommended amount is half other foods, so you can't go by "it looks right", as it would seem I'm horribly underfeeding him!!

[PartTimeModel]

Would you have cleaned it up if your dog did that runny poo at home?

Or would that have been too hard too?

Perhaps if you know your dog is unwell you could get them to poo on some newspaper so you can clean up properly. Like you might do at home?

[gentlehoney]

Part time, the OP already mentioned that she went back for the mop and bucket. Are you suggesting she carries them around on walks?

[MrsRaegan]

I would have hosed it, he's been going in the garden.

Or are you suggesting I get an extra long hose and take it with me just in case?

[PartTimeModel]

No - I suggest that she picks up after her dog, whatever state it come out as.

I hate dog poo in public spaces and have zero tolerance for it.

The OP did ask and I do have an opinion - so there!

[sillystring]

My dog has very loose stools, fortunately he normally goes in the heavy undergrowth of hogweed and nettles and rarely if ever on any kind of footpath. I got moaned at once by someone and asked them to take a look at it themselves and consider how they would "pick up lentil soup". It just can't be done.

[PartTimeModel]

Keep him in your garden until his dicky tummy clears up properly?
Or go out prepared?

You have options.

Some children don't have gardens - the only option they have is to play in parks/outdoor spaces filled with dog shit.

[PartTimeModel]

and this is AIBU, not IABR!

[Gen35]

Yanbu. We changed my dog to salmon and potato food (even the chicken and rice have him the squits) and after years of dicky tummies he's completely fine now. I think he has an intolerance too. I hate runny dog poop, I remember one memorable Boxing Day having to hose and shower him after he had a bad case and the wind blew it back all over his back legs etc. yucky yuck.

[PartTimeModel]

OP you do carry bags, and you know full well they are useless in the event of a runny poo.

You were expecting a runny poo but decided to "chance it" anyway.

So why weren't you prepared to deal with the runny poo with some newspaper or something - knowing full well there was a big chance he'd do a sloppy poo somewhere enroute.

I do appreciate you went back with a bucket of water (many don't) but a bucket of water doesn't cut it. That shit is still there - just spread more thinly. Lovely.

I really hope you are fined. I don't know how on earth councils fine dog owners though - it pretty toothless I imagine so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

[OwlCapone]

So why weren't you prepared to deal with the runny poo with some newspaper or something

What do you think a newspaper is going to do?

[MrsRaegan]

Really hope I'm fined?

I decided to chance it because he went this morning and last night in the garden, both of which I could have picked up.

I went back with hot soapy water and sluiced into a drain.

Was I to walk behind him clutching said newspaper, hovering under his backside just waiting?

I always pick up after my dog. Always. Had I been able to pick this up I would have. What if he'd had an episode without any warning? would I have been out of order then?

[MrsRaegan]

And like I said he seemed to be feeling better, he wanted to go out. He hasn't wanted to when he's been unwell.

[PartTimeModel]

go under the poo - the dog can poo on the paper instead of the grass/park/pavement whatever.

Wouldn't a "responsible dog owner" (MN is riddled with them) have a contingency for these situations where the dog is poorly? From this thread this is really a very common problem. From what i physically see it is a very common problem too.

Do responsible dog owners prepare for theses very common situations (it seems not), or feel they have the right to let their dog shit anywhere because "it's runny - yuk!"?

[NoWayYesWay]

I do a lot of walking and it's fantastic how little dog shit there is about these days. Most dog owners seem to pick up now. I fell into a pile of poo when I was a little kid and I remember it all too clearly.

[Bulbasaur]

Growing up, we had a dog with bad diarrhea to the point it would bleed. We had to take away his food until he stopped pooping and then slowly give him food again each day starting at a bottom full and working our way up to half to full dish again and that always cured it.

Though now I'm sure there's better treatment for sick dogs without starving them like that. He had to be put on special dog food and we could barely give the poor guy treats.