Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask dog walkers to be considerate

209 replies

hestialou · 15/04/2015 08:33

I have a garden to the side of house and people seem to think it is fine to allow their dogs to do their business in it, i asked one dog owner to not allow his dog on garden his response -but I'll clean it up, fine but why cant they clean it up off their own gardens or even clean up off pavement....why allow dog to go in someone elses garden in first place?

OP posts:
Arsenic · 15/04/2015 12:43

Arsenic what's rilling the OP, me and a couple of others is the fact that's it's in her garden.

Oh yes, I get that bit Dr0p. It would annoy me too.

The question is how to stop it.

I was just getting a bit confused by some of the other posts.

SirChenjin · 15/04/2015 12:44

Yes, obviously the first clue is them actually going - but if you dog can keep its sphincter closed until it gets to a particular bit of grass then it can be retrained to go left instead of right (or wherever the grass is, natch) - or you could even avoid someone's garden altogether on your walk

Stopandlook · 15/04/2015 12:47

That's disgusting. Some dog owners are just disgusting and seem to think dog poo is not the most gross thing in the world.

You need a fence I'm afraid.

fluffymouse · 15/04/2015 12:49

It isn't fenced off so is it clear it is your garden?

If the poo is picked up why does it bother you so much?

Get a cheap fence, it will help your blood pressure!

nickersinaknot · 15/04/2015 12:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SweetPeaSoup · 15/04/2015 12:53

Surely if dog owners just didn't let their dogs walk onto land that appears to belong to someone (e.g. it's right next to a house), then the dog wouldn't be pooing on it.

If you can't control your dog well enough to stop it from walking where it shouldn't (in the road / on someone's garden), then you've no business keeping one.

WindMeUpAndLetMeGo · 15/04/2015 12:54

I'd be more worried about cat shit tbh!

tabulahrasa · 15/04/2015 12:58

"but if you dog can keep its sphincter closed until it gets to a particular bit of grass then it can be retrained to go left instead of right (or wherever the grass is, natch) - or you could even avoid someone's garden altogether on your walk "

Like I said, mine is walked well away from gardens...I just know that sometimes it really is a case of, walking past somewhere and suddenly the dog is going to the toilet when a second ago it was walking on the pavement next to you.

I don't think it's ok to be routinely taking your dog out, walking on grass in a residential area knowing that it is likely to go to the toilet - I'm just saying that sometimes you get caught out.

Dr0pThePirate · 15/04/2015 12:59

Nickers My last post was to Arsenic.

But yes to the council getting involved. Thats a good idea. Unfortunately there's more dog shit around here than signs. And there are signs on every lamp post. People don't care. They must have the same attitude as some of the people on this thread.

WindMeUpAndLetMeGo · 15/04/2015 13:01

There would be less dog shit about if there were also more bins to put it in - I can be out and see 1 in an hour walk!

SirChenjin · 15/04/2015 13:07

when a second ago it was walking on the pavement next to you

Keep on a lead? I know people and their dogs do get caught out, but that doesn't sound like that's the case here - it sounds as if the OPs garden has been thought of as the local dog toilet because no-one has challenged the dog owners up until now.

Wind there are loads of dog bins here, it's a very popular dog walking area. Does that stop the dog poo? Does it hell - some really thoughtful owners will even leave their dog shit right next to the bins. It's a bit like rubbish though - if there isn't a bin in the vicinity then take it home.

Staywithme · 15/04/2015 13:10

I can't imagine how someone wouldn't be able to tell the difference between common land and a garden. If it is between the house and the pavement then err on the side of caution and assume it's a garden. I collect a friend's dog for day care and all the houses have this new shit open gardens and their dog would be happy to poo/pee in the neighbours garden but I make her go to the common land and I then clean it up.

I think my dog must have an unusual tummy. Grin
I can't understand what in Dog's name people are feeding their dogs if you can't pick it up cleanly? If your dog's poo is that mucky I'd be concerned with it's diet. Any time I take my dogs or friends dogs out I carry a bottle of soapy water with me and some wipes with me just in case speaking from bitter experience I keep a small ruck sack which everything can be chucked in.

Sorry, back to the garden. Could you buy one if those small plastic fence things that you can get in the bargain shops? Not very nice I know, but it would do until you put something more substantial up.

tabulahrasa · 15/04/2015 13:15

"Keep on a lead?"

I meant on a lead, it's nice and loose, it goes tight, you look to see what your dog is sniffing and it's already going...some dogs are that quick, lol.

SirChenjin · 15/04/2015 13:19

Yes, I don't suppose there's much you can do - providing you've already taken them to your own garden before you go out to minimise the chances of it happening, and then cleaning with water/wipes after picking up like Stay and other considerate dog owners do Smile

muminhants · 15/04/2015 13:29

Of course people can help where their dogs go. In my view they should be on leads at all times, but at the very least in a built-up area. So if they are on a short lead, they are very close to you. That means, that when they start exhibiting behaviour that shows they are likely to do a poo any minute, you make sure they are not on someone's garden or something that could be a garden. Not everyone has fences. Not everyone is ALLOWED to have a fence - some roads have restrictive covenants to keep an open look.

Dog poo can spread disease and their owners have got to accept this. However well you clean up, that area of the garden will still be full of germs.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/04/2015 13:38

"However well you clean up, that area of the garden will still be full of germs."

Every area of the garden will be full of germs, surely, muminhants? It's not like any area that hasn't been pooed on by an animal is going to be aseptic and germ free, is it?

Note - I am not saying this is a reason or an excuse for anyone to allow their dog to poo on someone else's garden. But we are becoming increasingly germ-phobic as a society, and maybe need to understand that we cannot render every part of our environments germ-free - but that sensible hygiene measures will keep us healthy - and that over-cleanliness can actually make us less healthy, because we don't build up a decent level of immunity.

Reginafalangie · 15/04/2015 13:42

Gardens are full of germs any way. Not that I think dogs should poo on them or poo be left by the way.

My dog stops to sniff. Sometimes he just sniffs for a bit sometimes the sniff becomes a wee or a poo. He is pretty quick and I cannot always catch him and he is on a lead although not a short or long one as he is a good dog and doesn't need to be restrained. He is encouraged to use our garden before his walk. I live in a residential area and have no choice but to walk him there.
Nine times out of ten he manages to wait until we get to the scrub land. I also do not walk him if he has an upset stomach as trying to scoop that up is a nightmare.

I just think it is unfair to damn all dog owners because of the actions of some. Cats crap all over and frankly it is never picked up by the owner yet I don't hate cats or their owners.

SirChenjin · 15/04/2015 13:45

I think there is a massive difference between the naturally occurring bacteria in a garden, and the bacteria that a dog owner has introduced into your garden by letting their dog crap there, though.

Reginafalangie · 15/04/2015 13:48

Do you think wildlife does not poo in your garden? Foxes/mice/voles all manner of pooping wildlife will crap everywhere in a garden and considering dog food is regulated and not say the meat of another wild animal or rotting food waste I would say it is probably less harmful than wildlife crap.

SirChenjin · 15/04/2015 13:51

Of course they do. They are not pets though - big difference.

tomatodizzymum · 15/04/2015 13:53

No you're not being unreasonable. Unless someone doesn't have a garden there is no reason they can't use it. Dogs like to have one spot, they don't actually like it everywhere and anywhere. We have stray dogs all over our town in south America but not a dog shit in sight. They don't shit where they walk, just like most intelligent animals.

Reginafalangie · 15/04/2015 13:56

No there not pets but you were the saying I think there is a massive difference between the naturally occurring bacteria in a garden, and the bacteria that a dog owner has introduced into your garden by letting their dog crap there, though. I was merely pointing out that gardens have all manner of bacteria some worse than others.

End of the day no good dog owner would allow their dog to mess in a persons garden. Good dog owners are respectful, clean up after their dog and try to ensure there dog goes in the appropriate place. However life is not perfect and shit happens.

Reginafalangie · 15/04/2015 13:58

Obviously it should be their not there.....twice Blush

SisterJulienne · 15/04/2015 13:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Reginafalangie · 15/04/2015 14:03

Oh get a bloody grip!!! Dogs will always be around and given I now see less dog shit about then when I was a child the situation is improving.

I find such things as lack of support for abused children, families living on the breadline short of the basics does more to lower the quality of peoples lives than dog shit.

Oh and humans crap all over the place too which I find more disgusting than a dog who is unable to use a toilet!