about leaving bagged dog poo to collect later?

[SquigglyLine]

I am partially sighted and have recently (a few months ago) got my first guide dog. We have a routine where he 'spends' (i.e. poos) at home before we go out. He needs to go twice in the morning.

Occasionally he's not ready to do his second one before we set off on the school run, or occasionally needs to do an 'extra' one. It happened quite often when I first got him, but as we've settled into the routine it's only occasional - it happened last week, but hadn't happened for over a month before that.

Anyway, when that happens, I bag up the poo and leave it out of the way, up against the wall, to collect on my way home. There are no bins on the way to school (residential streets) and I can't take it into school with me. I always take careful note of where I place it (as my sight's not good enough to just notice it on the way back), and I always collect it on the way back.

On Thursday there was a dog walker coming past when I was bagging up the poo and putting it against the wall. The DC said that he stared at me and said something but they didn't hear exactly what he'd said. I didn't notice him.

On my way back, the poo bag wasn't there. I know it definitely was missing and not just me not seeing it, because DC2 was with me (not well enough to go to school but had to walk with us). I am now a bit worried that the dog walker (or someone else) thought I was just abandoning the bag!

AIBU for bagging and leaving to collect on return? It is always well out of the way tucked in where no-one would accidentally tread on it, and not left for very long.

Thank you for reading my unreasonably long update and the nice comments!

Crohnically - that's a lovely thought that if you see a Guide Dog owner carrying a poo bag you would offer to put it in the bin for them. I think most would be very grateful for such a kind offer. I certainly would! It is actually very hard to find a bin when you can't see much (or in many owners' case, anything at all!) You can only really find one when you know exactly where it is. I have asked people to direct me to a bin before, and they have waved their arms and said 'Over there' which doesn't convey anything at all to me!

I also read Emma when I was a child - long before I had any idea that I would end up being a guide dog owner myself! It made a big impression on me. I haven't reread it since then, I must do so and see how it relates to my experience now.

And, I forget who asked, but yes, I can tell when my dog needs to go (he stops dead, turns round and stares at me with a general air of urgency!) and I take off his harness and steer him into the gutter, so he goes there, not on the pavement. Then I pick it up.

Just as an additional comment to the posters who have suggested carrying empty jars, special poo containers, etc. etc. with me, and mentioned what they take with them when walking their dog. But, do you carry this with you EVERYWHERE you go, EVERY time you leave the house? School? Hospital appointments? Shopping? Parties? etc? My dog comes everywhere with me. Also, obviously, I have to walk everywhere and carry everything we both (and the DC need).

I do take this sort of thing with me when I am taking my dog for a free run (which he gets 1 or 2 times a week, though I need someone sighted with me in order to tell me when he's 'been' and point the way for me to pick up). I expect a poo then. But I don't expect a poo at other times, and 360 days of the year, won't have one. I always have a poo bag in my purse, so I never have to leave a poo unbaked if it does happen. But carrying extra jars etc. with me for all those other days seems to me that it would be overkill, when it is so rarely needed. Of all our regular routes, it is only the walk to school that has no bins anywhere on the way, so that is the only one where I would be leaving a bag, and returning for it (within 20 mins).

Brenda - yes, dogs are not allowed in our school playground (apart from mine, obviously) and no-one brings one with them at all (apart from people who leave them in their cars). Definitely no-one brings a bag of poo with them, and I am pretty sure that if they saw me stuffing one into my bag and bringing it into the playground, they would stand a long way away from me foreveR!

In the sense that as a visually impaired person, you're not required to pick up after your dog by law, YANBU.

However, that's not the full picture here.

You do bag the poo and you pick it up to bin later. You are capable of bagging and binning the poo so I think morally you should. The reason you're leaving it to collect later is because your hands are already occupied carrying/holding other things. But there are many hands-free ways of not leaving that poo bag behind until later. And as your route is obviously on a residential area and near a school, I think YABU for leaving it behind, legal or not.

I can totally understand not wanting to put a bag of shit in your backpack. I used to do it and it split one day, covering everything inside in a layer of shit.

Would the council install a bin if you contacted them?

Squiggly I am in awe of you. Thank you for explaining so carefully how you have to be in continuous communication with you dog. As a sighted dog owner, I feel I have a lot to learn. I am also impressed that your children respond to the same commands. I think mine might respond to biscuit, but I'm not sure about anything else.
I don't think you are unreasonable. At All.

Wow! You deserve a medal. Seriously managing a guide dog, walking to school with small DC. Parenting them. Getting them ready for school. Dealing with being partially sighted.

I really think a small bag of poo occasionally left to the side of the road that you go back for is the least of your concerns. Ignore the tutters, both online and IRL and if someone's already taken it to the bin then that's a little bonus for you.

Sometimes I see a person with their guide dog and a friend when the guide dog is having a free play. He is the naughtiest dog! Humping, going bonkers - it's so cute to see him wildly letting off some steam. (At least I hope he's supposed to be letting off steam and not on duty!!!)

I think the only reason I'd "avoid" a person with a guide dog is that we are always told to not pay attention to the dog, so I might extend that to the owner for fear of putting the dog off its stroke. I'm sure if the mother/father were in my dc's class though I'd try to instigate a conversation if only to get to be allowed to get to know the dog! (Unashamed dog person here!)

When I was a DC about a hundred years ago I walked a dog that had been trained to only poo on the drain grates at the side of the road. It was when most people didn't pick up after their dogs so I was always amazed when he did it. It was a very well trained dog who could do lots of tricks.

I used to poke the poo into the drain . Looking back, I don't think it can have been that safe for the dog.

Hello again, OP.

As you will see, AIBU continues to be populated by posters who probably get their kicks contributing to the Daily Mail comments section and taking pride in how many red arrows they get.

Anyway, ignore them and carry on what you are doing; getting your DC safely to school with the help of your lovely dog.

I remember reading 'Emma' decades ago

When you say other mums shun you, I wonder if - as another poster has suggested - it's because they don't want to distract your dog whilst he's on duty. What is the protocol for this?

Hi, OP.
Thank you for your very informative post. I can understand why you've chosen the pick- up later option. I wonder if this might be a partial solution: could you get a pad of post-it notes and pre write a message, stating you will be back to retrieve? Sign it with your first name?
Just a suggestion that might help.
Hope you and your lovely dog have many happy years together.

someone had a good idea - one which I used - i walked my ds to nursery along with my ddog.
no poo bins on the way.
can you ring council and ask for more poo bins? That is what I did. And they responded with poo bins aplenty!

Maybe you could pre-print some stickers for the bags?

What loon goes around reading stickers on poo bags?!

Sorry haven't read the whole thread. I think it's fine to do what you're doing OP. Some people blow this whole topic way out of proportion.

I would. I am so impressed by guide dogs, that I would even be impressed by a bag of guide dog poo!

I don't think the OP is doing anything wrong at the moment, but if she feels anxious about being challenged, it might make her feel less worried and would be less of a faff than writing a note in the road.

I am so impressed by guide dogs, that I would even be impressed by a bag of guide dog poo!
ha ha merry, I have a lovely bin of the stuff by my dog's spending pen which you are welcome to come and admire any time

Those of you who said that other parents might be worried about distracting the dog and not talking to me because of that may have a very good point actually. I hadn't thought of that.

For the person who asked, there is no problem at all about talking to guide dog owners! And you are very welcome to come and tell me how handsome and clever my dog is at any time! In fact, it's really nice if people come and talk to me, because it's harder for me to start conversations - I can't spot people to go over to them, and often can't recognise them unless they're standing in exactly the right place in front of me (so a tip, if you're out of context it's great if you can tell me who you are!)

In terms of my dog, yes, if he's got his white harness off then it's best to just completely ignore him. It's easier for him, because he knows he shouldn't be distracted, but if someone starts patting and cooing over him then it's almost impossible for him to resist, and he feels all conflicted, poor boy. It undermines his training to behave well in public places.

Even if he's not got his harness on, but we're out in public (for example, if I've taken his harness off so that he can lie comfortably under my chair at a meeting etc.) then it's best to ignore him for the same reason - he's trained to quietly stow himself away, and if he gets lots of attention, he'll stop doing that. But if you ask the guide dog owner, they'll always say if it's okay or not in any particular situation - I think as the dog gets older, it's easier - mine is still very young and can get a bit excited!

Great idea about asking the council for a bin - it had never occurred to me. I would only be using it very rarely, which might put them off. But a lot of dog walkers pass up and down along our route, so I'm sure they would all be very grateful and use it - and then it would be there on the odd occasion I need it, which would be a big relief! Do councils install them on residential roads? Anyway, I will find out and ask mine.

There's a mix of dog poo bins ( mainly en route to a popular park) and regular bins with the words Dog Waste Welcome on them in our residential area, so it's worth asking the council if they woul consider one or the other where you are.

I'm sorry if you found my suggestion of a container unhelpful or unworkable. It wasn't meant to be and I can see the reasons why it wouldn't work for your school journey. For anyone else who finds a swinging bag of dog crap a hindrance, give it a try

You are absolutely not being unreasonable OP. I can't believe some of the replies you've received, clearly from people lacking any ability to sympathise. Do whatever helps you best - sod anyone else's opinion.

I have no sight issues and often leave dog poo tucked to the side and pick up on my way back. I'm not leaving it hanging in trees, or abandoning it forever, so let's keep this in context. Easier to carry leads, harnesses and hold onto dogs without a poo swinging all over the place in a bag for the whole walk.