Dog s**tting in garden

[Londonwriter]

We’re lucky enough to have a (narrow) 50ft garden during lockdown.

My DH has been allowing our dog to s*t in the garden. Everytime my three-year-old DS goes to play in the garden, which is currently his main outdoor recreation as the playground is closed, there is at least one or two cold, dry c*ps hidden in the grass.

My DH says that he feels sorry for the dog because, although we are using our one ‘exercise’ trip each day to walk the dog, the dog can’t manage. He says he doesn’t know the dog is c***g in the garden because he often wants to go in the dark.

I’m sick and tired of it. He’s pooing twice a day (on each trip out) and then, it appears, in addition, he c*d six times in the garden over the Easter weekend. I’m worried that my DS gets sick from the garden being a dog toilet. When my DH isn’t working from home, the dog manages perfectly fine on a short run in the morning, a brief walk around 4pm and a further brief walk around midnight.

I told my DH to try to get the dog to c**p in one place only, but apparently this is not feasible given he’s working full-time and we have a colicky baby.

AIBU? DH thinks I’m a hygiene Nazi and it’s fine provided the c**p is picked up.

I should mention - our entire ‘exercise’ trips are dog walking. Each adult takes the dog out once a day. I go in the morning, DH goes in the evening.

You could have both trained the dog to pee and poop in one place, you can both monitor the dog, and you can both pick it up.
Get a fucking grip.

Why is dog poo solely DH’s responsibility? I think YABU to expect the dog only to poo during specific walks. YANBU to expect the poo to be picked up of a morning before DS goes outside for example, although that is not solely DH’s responsibility.

Pick it up, it's not hard

You're being ridiculous.

Pick it up? Keep the grass short so you can see it easily. My dog doesn’t poo on walks. She waits and does it in the garden... (sigh) My children play outside. I go out and pick up poo in the morning and the evening and check in between. Thankfully she’s only a small dog and usually only poos once a day! She generally poos in the same place too but I check the whole garden too.

He'll definitely need to go more than on a once daily walk. There must be some training tips to get them to go in one area if you both have a read. Then poo pick daily to get rid

Mine only goes in the garden, always has. I pick up daily/every time she goes if needed during the day. Usually she only has one of 2 but sometimes more. My eldest is 10, youngest 2. All still alive & well. I think you're being slightly melodramatic.

I honestly think that's awful - not being able to use your own garden without fear of dog dirt. It's bad enough having to dodge it on pavements. I can't believe your husband is just saying he can't see it so can't pick it up.

YABVU on that poor dog. what do you expect it to do? If it needs to go it needs to go, especially if its exercise regime has changed.

Someone surely just needs to pick up the dog poo - its not hard. Whether thats you or your DH is up to you -but if he's working FT surely you could just do it? It takes literally 2 minutes.

If this is the biggest problem you have please count your blessings. You have a lovely big garden and live with people you love. This is not a big issue is it?

Are you my husband?

We have two dogs, the labrador in particular shits about five times a day. I poo pick as often as I can and certainly every time I go in the garden, or the kids do.

Dh thinks I should train them to only shit on our once a day walk. Yeah. No.

Crap in the garden is unavoidable right now. Is there a reason you can’t poo pick?

Whenever the dog goes out to the garden you go put to check for poop! Would you rather the dog shit indoors? No, of course not! Please use some common sense OP!!!!

The problem is not the dog. It has to go and although some will go on command, others will not.

If the dog goes in the garden, pick it up right away rather than leave ninja poop. Wash it down with water if you feel the need.

Honest question, when you got the dog did you expect it to go elsewhere all the time?

Im a dog lover but this is a complete no-go.
Your DH is outrageous if he risks your DCs health like that. thats grim.

btw its absolut possible to train a dog to only go in a specific area in your garden. we did this with both ours and it works:

• lay down gravel so he learns this is the correct surface.
• when you know he needs the toilet, take the dog with a lead to the gravel patch
• reward with lots and praise and a treat every time your dog goes to the toilet in the correct area.

Dogs crapping in the garden is totally normal. Just pick it up. 🙄

Your own dog, obviously.

Pick it up, rinse the area with water or a bit of washing up liquid and water.

You are the dog owner (one of them)

Pick up the poo. It's not really that hard.

Talk about picking a row with your partner over nothing.

You need to partition off a clean area for DS to play and an area for the dog to crap in (and then clean it up anyway). I hope he is also cleaning up while the dog is walked... with people moving on to verges to social distance, it's more imperative than ever.

Dog crap is a hazard to human health, more worryingly longer term where it may take decades for issues such as sight loss to become apparent.

Would DH let your DS use a toilet as a water table?

We’ve never had the dog poo in the garden. I work from home, I let the dog out to pee in the garden (only). He poos twice a day - morning and evening.

Since my DH has been working from home, the garden is full of s**t. I obviously can’t police my DH’s behaviour - he’s an adult. The dog has never asked me to poo in the garden so I can’t try taking him to a single spot (and fencing it off).

It’s like the dog is asking my DH to go out when I’m not there, and then using it as an opportunity to toilet constantly. DH doesn’t seem to see why this is a problem... I think it is. He says everyone lets their dog c**p all over the garden. I don’t think that’s true.

Was hoping for some feedback from dog owners about who was right...

YABVU If you have a dog of course it is going to poo in the garden.

I assume you pick up the poo when you take the dog for a walk so what’s the difference in picking it up in your garden? You can hose it down as least which you can’t when it shits on a pavement that members of the public who chose not to have a dog have to walk on.

He says everyone lets their dog c*p all over the garden. I don’t think that’s true.

Was hoping for some feedback from dog owners about who was right...*

I'm a dog owner and I can assure you that your DH is right!

Just check the garden every morning, it really isnt that difficult.